Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Welcome to episode #56. We’re thrilled to be joined by Christal Wang today.

Christal (Forbes 30 under 30) is a startup founder, expert ADHD advocate & speaker, angel investor, and forever tinkerer. She is the Co-Founder & CEO of Shimmer (YC S21, Google for Startups, StartX): the first-ever comprehensive behavioral tech platform for adults with ADHD. She is an avid snowboarder, amateur surfer, world traveler, and coach-in-training for founders with ADHD. She is a part of and cares the most about: LGBTQ+, AAPI, women/non-binary, and neurodiverse.

Welcome to the show Chris!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? 
   1. When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? 
      1. Used to be different: only Asian in her primary school
      2. The difference was apparent early on in school
      3. She was great at coming up with fun scenarios for her friends - they’d follow along
   2. What challenges did you face? 
      1. She was called nosy and loud
      2. She’d often get kicked out of class by teachers who didn’t understand
      3. School seemed overly focused on memorizing
      4. Challenges at work with managers who expected linear progress
   3. What is it like now?
      1. Much better thanks to being able to delegate weaknesses, ADHD meds, and coaching
   4. What neuro-exceptional strengths are you leaning into now?
      1. As a startup CEO, she naturally shares an inspiring vision and mission that excites her team
      2. “Nosiness” translates into curiosity
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Shimmer ADHD coaching platform (Jeremy uses it 🙂)
      1. Affordable ADHD coaching
      2. She started it because it was what she needed and she couldn’t find anything that was accessible
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Sabbaticals: 6-12 month cultural immersions/work aways
   2. Adrenaline activities: snowboarding, skiing, surfing
4. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours? What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
   1. Body doubling (does it in person with a friend)
   2. Time blocking in the calendar (blocks out 2hr deep work blocks)
   3. Planning
   4. Taking breaks (15-minute coffee break instead of trying to stuff in admin tasks every minute of the day)
5. COMMERCIAL BREAK
6. How do you manage communication with neurotypical folk?
   1. Overcommunicate: explain your process and what you need to be successful
   2. Soften feedback:
      1. Smile
      2. Use I statements (I observed)
      3. Receive feedback yourself
7. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Set the alarm for the latest possible time!
   2. Currently, it’s just drinking coffee
   3. She has gone through phases of hitting the gym first thing but not right now
8. How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Challenging - her circadian rhythm doesn’t match her NT boyfriend’s. Creates friction sometimes
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. Instagram: shimmer.care
   2. Website: shimmer.care
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Try new strategies but don’t feel bad if they don’t work - there are always more strategies

Connect with Christal:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shimmer.care
Website: https://www.shimmer.care/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wangchristal/

Connect with Jeremy:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Joey's Creativity course:
https://thepluckyjester.com/habitling-habit-building-course

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io 

Welcome to episode #55 We’re thrilled to be joined by Nathan Sherratt today. 

Nathan Sherratt is the Managing Director of The Third Team, a company that provides resilience training for referees. He is an active football referee and an educator passionate about supporting officials and improving their mental well-being. Nathan also works as a mental health ambassador and a speaker, using his off-the-field story to inspire and improve the lives of others. His work focuses on helping referees deal with challenges and pressures better, to enable them to stay in their roles longer, enjoy refereeing more, and enhance their performance. Additionally, he is involved in communicating similar messages through the vehicle of refereeing in schools, colleges, universities, and in the industry.

Welcome to the show Nathan!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Was diagnosed with autism at age 14/15
      1. Struggled with situations where things didn’t go to plan (traffic jams, the bus didn’t come on time)
      2. Illegible handwriting
      3. Some accommodations, e.g. extra time in exams
   2. Learned a lot more about ASD in my 20s
      1. Gave him a lot of self-compassion for the struggles he experienced as a teenager
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Helping sports officials all over the world manage the mental game 
   2. Trustee of ND charity
   3. Coaches ND individuals - helps them deal with work challenges
3. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours? 
   1. 1. Outsource things that aren’t in your sweet spot
   2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
4. How do you manage communication with neurotypical folk?
   1. Masking: 
      1. eye contact, etc. learned skill
      2. Exhausting
   2. People appreciate directness
5. COMMERCIAL BREAK
6. How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Midnight to 7 am
   2. Tech sometimes gets in the way
7. How do you fit exercise into your life?
   1. As a sports official himself, he does a lot of running for work and for recreation
   2. Aims to get out into the sun in the morning
8. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Golf
   2. Long charity walks
9. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Alarm 15 mins before need to get up
   2. Shower
   3. Hair
   4. Shave
   5. Brush teeth
10. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. The Third Team website
    2. LinkedIn
11. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Don’t feel limited by your neurotype - be prepared to push yourself out of your comfort zone at times

Connect with Nathan ⚽️
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-sherratt-508634137/
Website: https://thethirdteam.co.uk/

Connect with Jeremy 🐻
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: [email protected]

Joey's Creativity Course ✍️
Click here: https://thepluckyjester.com/habitling-habit-building-course

More from Focus Bear
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Welcome to episode #54 - We’re thrilled to be joined by Shea Belsky today.

Shea Belsky is an autistic self-advocate. He is the Chief Technology Officer of Mentra, a hiring platform for neurodivergent job seekers. Shea brings several unique perspectives to supporting neurodivergent colleagues: He has been the manager of neurodivergent & neurotypical employees, has reported to neurodivergent & neurotypical managers, and has advocated for the needs and well-being of his peers. Shea is excited to share these experiences with others to create a more neuro-inclusive workplace for everyone.

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Diagnosed at a young age (2 y.o.).
   2. Had a lot of support throughout school (physical therapists, speech therapists, individualized education plan, etc.). 
   3. Did well at school and got into Cornell University where further development opportunities as a TA helped him grow his communication skills
   4. Lucky to be able to pay it forward now as part of my work with Mentra
2. How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Sleeps well (apart from cats sometimes waking him up!)
   2. Mental exercise to shut off thoughts when he gets to bed so he can sleep quickly
3. How do you fit exercise into your life?
   1. A big part of his life. He and his wife both enjoy hiking, running, cycling and skiing
4. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. CTO of Mentra a careers site for ND people. Connects NDers with companies looking to hire ND talent. 
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours? What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
   1. Walking meetings
   2. Blocking out time for deep work
   3. Careers coach to help deal with communication challenges
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Outdoor activities (see fitness)
   2. Dungeons and Dragons
8. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Feed cats, shower, and head to work
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheabelsky/
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Check out Mentra if you’re looking for work or looking to hire someone

Connect with Shea:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheabelsky/
Mentra: https://mentra.com/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: [email protected]

Joey's Creativity Course:
https://thepluckyjester.com/habitling-habit-building-course

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Welcome to episode #53 We’re thrilled to be joined by ST Rappaport today. 

ST Rappaport is a brain engineer who works with ADHD entrepreneurs to unleash their potential via Peak Brain Performance. ST assists them in optimizing their ADHD so they can remove overwhelm, get more done in less time, and enjoy growing their business again. 

Welcome to the show ST!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. From young age
      1. Felt like she didn’t fit in.
      2. Didn’t like constraints
         1. Didn’t like school
            1. 1st day of 1st grade
         2. Thinking in a box
   2. College in England was much better
      1. Left two years ago
   3. Key challenges after school
      1. Personal development
         1. Self-awareness
      2. Never had a boss
         1. Always run her own ship
            1. Photography business.
            2. Creative journal expressive arts
               1. Creating with non-dominant hand
      3. Internal locus of control
         1. Creating her own environment
2. How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Making the rules for herself is fine (just when other people tell her what to do)
   2. Does believe in the power of sleep (but struggles sometimes to get enough sleep)
      1. Goes in seasons
         1. Sometimes sleep is less of a priority when working on something else.
            1. Deadlines.
   3. Wind down routine:
      1. Think about three wins from today + anticipate 3 good things that will happen tomorrow
      2. Visualisation of calm
      3. Journal
3. How do you fit exercise into your life?
   1. A priority even higher than sleep
      1. First thing in the morning
         1. Go running - part of habit.
            1. 45-60 zen time, thinking time.
            2. > 60 minutes, listen to something to avoid 
   2. Novelty key - different types of exercise
      1. Strength and cardio
      2. Swimming
4. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Coaching ADHD entrepreneurs (loves it)
      1. Meaningful transformation not just hacks
         1. 28 thinking skills
         2. Coachees come to the conclusions themselves
         3. Try to solve the root issue
            1. Why do you want to procrastinate while working?
            2. It’s ok if you’re conscious that you’re putting on a band-aid until you can find the root cause.
   2. Podcasts + YouTube vids
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Band-aids
      1. Work with your brain, not against it.
         1. Get to the sweet spot of challenge/flow:
            1. Make easy tasks harder (do it really fast/add fun)
            2. Break hard tasks into smaller ones.
      2. Pomodoro with a twist
         1. Has a list of tasks
            1. After 10 minutes, change tasks. Doesn’t matter where she is at
            2. Gets her to work faster
      3. Taking breaks
   2. Surgery
      1. Interpret the procrastination as a signal.
         1. Which sub-task is challenging?
            1. Is it
               1. Boring?
               2. Repetitive?
            2. Which part does my brain not like? In the seemingly smallest tasks, there are big sub-tasks
            3. By pinpointing the part it doesn’t like, you understand the why.
         2. Same thing with jobs/roles/gigs
            1. Identify what you don’t like.
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Travel + research beforehand (do things that the locals would do - authentic experiences)
   2. Dancing/painting
   3. Deep conversations
      1. Finding time to talk with strangers:
         1. Appropriate event (networking event, podcast)
         2. Prioritize it if it’s important (time scarcity)
      2. Strategies for escalating small talk
         1. Questions:
            1. What’s been the highlight of your week? 
8. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Brain sharpest in the morning
      1. Workout
      2. Shower
      3. Into the most important task
         1. Prepared the night before
            1. Make it as easy as possible
               1. Workout clothes
               2. Any documents open
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. Lifepixuniversity 
   2. 28 thinking skills
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Stop caring what other people think.

Joey’s creativity course

Welcome to episode #52 We’re your hosts, Jeremy Nagel and Joey Corea, and we're thrilled to share our 2023 reflections with you today!

Key points:

• Structured reflection
  • New Years resolutions
    • Why wait? If it’s important, do it now
    • Accountability Group
      • Sharing vs doing it on your own
    • Timing:
      • Birthday
  • Structured reviews
    • Format
      • Wins: what worked well
        • Joey:
          • Released book: Dilemmas to Decisions
          • Increased workouts from 4 to 5 per week - plus 12 reps per set 
          • Started Plucky Jester business and got first $ in
          • Got back into social media for business purposes
      • Insights: learnings
        • Most satisfaction from gaming if take breaks (e.g. play for an hour, take 10 minute walking break, and then play for another hour)
        • “Life is happening for you, not to you” - Obstacle is the way
        • Trying to do everything on his own is not always the best way
      • Pivots: what will I do differently?
        • Cultivating self-healing - time for meditation/time in nature
        • Anxiety management - “Cognitive Dominance” 
        • Diminish victim mindset
  • Review Frequency
    • weekly/monthly/annual
  • Monthly reviews
• Unstructured reflection: Remembering to be mindful
  • Re-entry meditation (shoes -> breaths)
  • Walking through doors
  • Posture
  • Peeing

Welcome to episode #51 We’re thrilled to be joined by Giles Dickenson-Jones today. 

Giles is an independent consultant specializing in public policy (economics), international development, and data science. Giles was diagnosed with ADHD in his early teens and was shuttled off to one of the few schools he hadn't already been kicked out of: a boarding school in rural NSW. 

Giles leverages his ADHD by combining his interdisciplinary range, creativity, and expertise in data analytics to help clients tackle tough public policy problems.

Welcome to the show Giles!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Grew up in rural NSW
      1. Diagnosed with ADHD amidst being shuffled across schools.
      2. Initially confused
         1. Initially thought it meant he wasn’t getting enough attention.
      3. Coping strategies didn’t stick
      4. Interpreted it as lacking in something as an explanation of why he was different.
   2. How he sees it now:
      1. Knows he was different
      2. Was working ahead to fit in
      3. Strong sense of justice, hyperfocused on that
         1. Acting out
         2. Getting approval from others
      4. So eager to fit in
         1. Somehow not be the
            1. Cool kid
            2. Dorky kid
         2. Almost got into a Montessori-style school
            1. But mother wanted tougher discipline
   3. How neuro divergence led to the current line of work
      1. Analytical framework hooked him
      2. Economics sticks its nose into everything
      3. Range, Epstein
2. How has your neurodivergence affected your financial life?
   1. Special interest in finance including personal finances - complicated Excel model + savings model
3. How has it affected your relationships?
   1. Enjoys socialising but won’t organise it
      1. Work often gets in the way.
      2. Blind to the need of tending to relationships.
   2. Interested in people
      1. Likes the diversity and variety of Lunchclub
4.  What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Independent economic consultant
      1. Program evaluation of social policies, e.g. how to help more students graduate
      2. How can we make the policy stronger (without incurring additional costs)?
   2. Board member of local NFP
   3. Policy Analysis Lab 
      1. Online course teaching policy analysts how to use data science
      2. How to work with messy data
         1. How to clean it up
5. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Quit drinking in 2015
      1. Found it difficult to continue
      2. Replaced it with art classes
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Set up day similar to 9 to 5 job
   2. Get up at 6 am
   3. Go to the gym (do boxing)
   4. Review to-do list
8. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Normally external deadlines push him to hyperfocus
   2. Softer deadlines are harder (e.g. finishing the online course)
      1. Go to the library for focus
      2. Turn on hyperfocus
   3. Keep desk distraction-free
   4. Simple structures/routines
      1. Momentum method - get started with easy tasks
         1. Make tasks really small (break down responding to an email into - read email, write email, hit send).
         2. Reduce friction for good habits
      2. Hiring freelancers - keeps him accountable
         1. Similar to body doubling.
9. What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
   1. Watching videos while having meals (lowers boredom threshold)
10. How do you switch off at night?
    1. In theory
       1. Get to sleep by ten.
          1. Loose during the holidays
    2. Practically
       1. Keeps the 6 AM boxing class
          1. Fun
          2. Fitness
          3. Discipline, consequences for staying up late
11. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for dealing with your brain?
    1. Apps:
       1. OneNote for organizing notes
       2. Excel for To Do lists
       3. Chat GPT
          1. Focus Coach: ADHD Coach GPT
          2. Askly 
       4. Pocket for reading later (on Kobo)
       5. Read aloud (proofreading own work, reading websites)
    2. Etsy
    3. Books:
       1. “Deep Work” Cal Newport
       2. Range by David Epstein
       3. “How to have a good day”
12. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. Etsy store - Turkey cards
    2. LinkedIn
    3. Website - gilesdj.com?
13. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. The emperor has no clothes: the person you are putting on the pedestal has foibles and got where they are through a combination of hard work and good luck. You can get there too.

Joey’s creativity course

Welcome to episode #50 We’re thrilled to be joined by Brent Huras today. 

Brent Huras is a Productivity & Flow State Coach whose practice evolved from the single purpose of answering the question: "How can I get myself to do my work?" To this end, he has spent the last two decades reading, studying, philosophizing - and eventually - coaching on the answer to this mysterious question. His studies have taken him along multiple paths including psychological and spiritual ones which have culminated in his body of work that he calls Sustainable, High-Level Productivity which he describes in his work on YouTube, TikTok, and blog. He currently operates out of Stratford Ontario where he serves 1-1 clients and small groups.

Welcome to the show Brent!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your brain? When did you realize that your brain was different? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Suspected undiagnosed ADHD
      1. Bulk of clients are people with ADHD
         1. When they describe their experience, he felt it resonated.
      2. Brought it up with his parents
      3. Saw challenges in himself that wasn’t evident in his peers
         1. Focusing at micro and macro level
            1. Able to start but losing focus in the hour.
            2. Or not being able to see project through to the end of the week.
   2. How he learned the strategies
      1. Everything leads to mastery (wanting to be really good at something)
         1. Give himself to something so he is free to focus and go deep on something.
         2. Reframe that he’s not missing out on something.
         3. Developing skills/mastery opens up other opportunities further down the road.
   3. What’s the realization like?
      1. It was a slow realization
         1. It’s not what you choose, it’s that you do choose.
2. How has your neurodivergence affected your financial life?
   1. Family very disciplined around money
   2. He inherited that mindset - frugal 
   3. Enthusiastic about investment opportunities
      1. Sometimes good: early investor in BTC
      2. Sometimes bad: bought PSYK and it didn’t go well
3. How has it affected your relationships?
   1. Quick to love people
      1. Not necessarily a bad thing - assumes positive intent.
      2. Sees the becoming/potential.
4. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Raising toddler 
   2. 1 on 1 coaching
   3. Group Coaching
5. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Raising toddler
      1. Watching become a person.
         1. Not quite like raising a cat.
         2. There’s frequently a “new person”
   2. Serve the evolution of humanity
      1. Signaling to other people that it’s ok to step into purpose.
   3. Coaching
   4. Wisdom traditions
      1. Practices of enlightenment and awakening.
      2. Deeper and more grounded layers of peace.
   5. Playing piano.
6. What forms of exercise do you do?
   1. Gym 3x a week
   2. Get a run in per week
   3. Ken Wilbur’s stuff
      1. Meditation and working out complement each other.
7. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Try and wake up before daughter
      1. Do meditation
   2. Catching up later in the day
      1. Find a time to meditate ideally before the morning
   3. Ideal routine (past routine)
      1. Get up
      2. Meditate
      3. Exercise
      4. Shower
      5. Journaling
   4. Prioritizes mindfulness throughout the day
      1. Mindfulness is not just on the meditation cushion - be mindful when leaving a room, getting into the car etc.
8. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Getting self to do the thing:
      1. Flow state
         1. Remove the judgment that some tasks are flowy and others are tedious (e.g. doing tax return can be fun)
      2. “Compressed ease” - expectation that it should be going faster
         1. It will take as long as it will take
         2. Slow down - let it take as much time as needed
9. COMMERCIAL BREAK
10. What is one bad habit you have removed from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
    1. Smoking cigarettes + Drinking
11. What’s your sleep like?
    1. No sleep issues, sleep well.
    2. Toddler wakes them up sometimes.
12. How do you switch off at night?
    1. Trust that there is nothing to think about right now.
13. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for dealing with your brain?
    1. Books:
       1. Falling into Grace - A.. Shanti QQQ
       2. The power of now
       3. The universe always has a plan Matt Kahn
14. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. [email protected]
    2. TikTok: spiritual awakening/flow/high level
    3. YouTube channel: qqq
15. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Radical self-trust: notice when the brain tells you that you’re missing something/doing something wrong. Suggest to yourself that you know what you’re doing.

Joey’s creativity course

Welcome to episode #49 We’re thrilled to be joined by Denise Lim today. 

Denise is a PhD student at Griffith University, where she is currently investigating factors that contribute to academic motivation amongst intellectually gifted students with ADHD in secondary schools, a population she is extremely passionate about given her lived experience and challenges during that time. Denise has completed a Bachelor of Science with a psychology major, her psychology honors, followed by a graduate certificate in educational research, which provided her with the foundation for her PhD. 

In 2022, she worked with a team at The Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney to conduct the world’s biggest umbrella review of COVID-19 and mental health outcomes, which was published in March 2023. She enjoys spending time with her two Guinea pigs Squashi and Squishi, has won multiple state and national titles for chess and table tennis, and recently ranked in the top 10 for speed jigsaw puzzling in Australia.

Welcome to the show Denise!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. During school, grades were very inconsistent, particularly with compulsory subjects. B+ average but never got B+ - always had really good days where she smashed it (particularly oral assignments) and other days where she got low marks even though she was trying really hard the whole time
   2. Teachers said things like “I can see you’re really smart. You’re so good at Chess. How come you can’t…?”
   3. Grade divergence got worse as demands escalated during high school and uni
   4. At the end of her first degree, a friend shared that she had been diagnosed with ADHD and that inspired Denise to seek a diagnosis
   5. Post diagnosis and treatment (meds), her performance in honors + subsequent tertiary study has been consistently high distinctions. She’s learned to work with her brain instead of against it.
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. PhD research looking into motivational theory for twice exceptional (intellectually gifted + neurodivergent) students
   2. The goal is to come up with a personalized motivational framework for each student so they can perform at their best
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Speed puzzling (started during COVID to ward off depression and is now something she loves doing)
   2. Table tennis + Chess coaching
4. What does your start of work routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Jigsaw puzzling - a form of mindfulness
   2. Listens to textbooks via Voice Dream. Currently listening to “Handbook of self-determination theory”
   3. Both activities get her in the zone for deep work
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Multimodal input/output: uses whiteboard/iPad/iPhone/laptop depending on the type of work and how she’s feeling
   2. Wobble chair to give her movement during meetings
   3. Working on trains: go from one end of the train line to another - being in motion helps her focus (planes are also good but expensive)
   4. Rewards: get bubble tea after a deep work session
   5. Body doubling: shut up and write sessions where several students get together and write (no talking)
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. How do you switch off at night?
   1. Feed Squishi and Squashi (guinea pigs)
8. What resources (books/audiobooks, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
   1. Apps:
      1. Voice Dream (text-to-speech app)
   2. Books
      1. Atlas of the Heart by Brenee Brown
   3. Sensory toys:
      1. A multitude of spinners mostly from Kaiko
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. Griffith Uni page
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Talk to other people about your neurodivergence. If her friend hadn’t shared with Denise, it would’ve taken Denise much longer to realize why everything was so hard. Pass on that gift to others.

Joey’s creativity course

Welcome to episode #48 We’re thrilled to be joined by Yvonne Heimann today. 

Yvi was born and raised in Germany where she caught the entrepreneurial bug early on, working in her parents’ business and owning her own pub by the tender age of 22.

Yvonne left the safety net and security she had in Germany to pursue her own dreams. Since moving to the US in 2007, Yvonne’s goal has been to help empower entrepreneurs so they can successfully run a sustainable business while also enjoying life.

Her own life-changing challenge came in 2014 when she lost her husband to cancer. Yvonne was determined to resume her passion for building “bulletproof businesses” that can withstand anything.

Welcome to the show Yvi!

QUESTIONS

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realise that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Struggled with by-the-book teaching style in school
   2. After moving to the US, became aware of ADHD and found it explained the trials and joys of her brain
      1. Divergent thinking is a big asset for her work with clients - sees things from a different perspective
   3. Microdosing 2 times per week helps with cognitive overload (too many tabs) and anxiety
2. How has your neurodivergence affected your financial life?
   1. In business, she’s great at starting things but polishing/last mile is hard
      1. Learning is to delegate the integration work
   2. Advice to only focus on one thing has been unhelpful. She’s been able to form a cohesive niche from doing many different things
3. How has it affected your relationships?
   1. Got told in the past: “You’re too intense/loud”
   2. Moving to the US has made it easier to find people on the same wavelength 
   3. She now warns new clients “This is how I am” and puts out authentic content so she attracts people who like the way she is 
4. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Coaching for digital entrepreneurs who are open to change and want help systematising their business
   2. Recently published a book “Mastering the Basics of ClickUp: Get Up and Running in No Time: Easy project management using repeatable processes”
   3. YouTube channel + Boss Your Business podcast
5. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Fitness: 1-mile circuit around her neighborhood
   2. Going to the beach: amazing sunsets in San Diego
   3. Experiencing food: tamale cooking class
6. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Coffee on the patio - sitting and thinking
   2. Reading
   3. Journaling
   4. Gym
7. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. No client meetings before 10 am
   2. Work mode on the phone
   3. Eliminate decision fatigue: plan the night before (in the future, she’ll hire a business manager to help prioritise)
8. COMMERCIAL BREAK
9. What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
   1. Using phone too much (uses parental controls to help)
10. How do you switch off at night?
    1. Sleep:
       1. Avoid hot baths late at night
       2. Avoid alcohol
       3. Cold room
       4. Weighted blanket
    2. Brain dump ideas (voice notes)
    3. Luna app for sleep: bedtime stories + painting a scene
    4. Aura ring to track data
11. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
    1. Books:
       1. Her book: “Mastering the Basics of ClickUp: Get Up and Running in No Time: Easy project management using repeatable processes”
       2. The One Thing
       3. Atomic Habits
    2. Apps:
       1. Luna sleep app
12. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. askyvi.com
13. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Be kind to yourself

Joey’s creativity course

Welcome to episode #47 We’re thrilled to be joined by Dr. Siobhan Lamb today.

Dr Lamb has worn many hats during her life. Neurodivergent herself, with a neurodiverse family, she spent twenty years as a teacher in STEM and Diverse Learning and is now principal of Embrace Difference, a business supporting neurodivergent children in the education system, including the provision of professional development in educational settings and advocacy services. Dr. Lamb is all the Head of Neurodiversity at a mainstream school in Sydney.

Welcome to the show Siobhan!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and selective mutism at age 7
   2. Was well supported and was able to thrive
   3. Parents encouraged her to be herself at home but also explained societal expectations to help her around others
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Embrace Difference: advocacy for children kindergarten to year ⅘
      1. Helps kids who get suspended due to dysregulation
      2. Works with teachers + parents to identify patterns in behavior that precede a meltdown so that it can be addressed proactively (e.g. go for a walk outside/go to a quiet space)
   2. Head of neurodiversity at mainstream school
      1. Works with ND students at her school in a similar way to plan how to make the environment suitable
      2. The goal is for ND students to be able to say “I feel like I belong here”
      3. Runs workshops on executive functioning and organizational skills
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Loves board games (could start a shop!)
      1. Azul, Patchwork, Dungeon Mayhem, Everdell (longer), Kindomino (good for young kids), a little wordy, splendor, sequence
      2. Bias towards short (sub 20 minute) games due to time constraints
   2. Walks, movies
4. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Organise lunch etc. the night before
   2. Shower to wake body up
   3. Meds
   4. Use clocks to remind you when to make a habit
   5. Some clients use the box of habits (e.g. put a toothbrush in the box and transfer it to another box when you’re done)
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Go with the flow - on days that she’s on, smash the admin. On other days, she works with children as it gives her energy
   2. Try to maximize chances of being on by:
      1. Getting plenty of sleep
      2. Going for a long walk before starting work
      3. Avoiding emotional conversations
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
   1. Losing items. Solution: big notebooks that are easier to see. Use dropzones.
8. How do you switch off at night?
   1. Walk and shower
   2. Keep a notepad next to bed and write thoughts down to combat rumination
9. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
   1. “Power of Habit” by Charles du Higg
   2. Bouncy balls
   3. Visualisation and verbalisation course
   4. Upward diary/planner
10. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. embrace-difference.com.au
11. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Make as much of your life habitual so you can spare your working memory for creativity.
    2. Use visualisation techniques to boost the capacity of working memory

Joey’s creativity course