Inside the Mind, Beyond the Desk

Why are some tasks easy to start while others feel almost impossible?

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore the neuroscience of productivity and what is actually happening in the brain when we plan, start, focus and follow through.

We look at motivation, attention, executive functioning, reward and energy, and why productivity is about much more than willpower or better time management. We also explore practical ways to work with your brain, rather than constantly trying to force it to work differently.

What happens when hormone health, brain health and everyday life collide?

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, Dr Áine O’Dea, Occupational Therapist, joins Professor Mary Ryan, Consultant Endocrinologist, for a fascinating conversation about hormones, menopause, the busy brain, and how changes in our bodies can affect how we think, feel, and function.

They explore brain fog and executive functioning, ADHD and neurodivergence, sleep, sensory regulation, energy, stress and cognitive fatigue and why supporting women through perimenopause and menopause needs to go beyond medication alone.

From pacing and prioritising to nutrition, rest, boundaries and everyday routines, Professor Mary Ryan and Áine discuss the small, practical changes that can make a meaningful difference to performance, wellbeing and daily life.

Because sometimes improving our health starts with stepping back and analysing the ordinary.

Don't miss the upcoming event with Professor Mary Ryan

Empower Her - October 18th 2026

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/empower-her-tickets-1992882152164

Professor Mary Ryan's book

It's Probably Your Hormones

https://www.kennys.ie/shop/it-s-probably-your-hormones-from-appetite-to-sleep-periods-to-sex-drive-balance-your-hormones-to-unlock-better-health-ryan-dr-mary-9781529434866

Dyspraxia is often talked about in terms of coordination, but its impact can reach far beyond movement.

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and what it can look like in everyday life.

We discuss coordination, organisation, planning, fatigue, confidence and the extra effort that can go into tasks other people may barely think about, while also considering the strengths and experiences that are often missed when we focus only on difficulties.

Why do some days leave us completely drained, even when we haven’t done that much?

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore energy management and why managing your capacity can be just as important as managing your time.

We talk about recognising what drains and restores us, planning around our energy rather than constantly pushing through, and finding more realistic ways to navigate work, family life and everything in between.

Ever sat down to do one thing and looked up three hours later wondering where the time went?

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we’re talking about hyperfocus: that intense state of concentration where everything else seems to disappear.

We explore why hyperfocus is often associated with ADHD and other neurodivergent brains, what might be happening with attention and motivation, and why it is not quite as simple as being able to “focus really well”.

We also look at the other side of hyperfocus: losing track of time, forgetting to eat, struggling to switch tasks, staying up far too late, or putting huge amounts of energy into something while everything else waits.

As always, we bring together psychology, lived experience and the realities of everyday life to ask: when can hyperfocus be a strength, when does it become a problem, and how can we work with it rather than constantly fighting against it?

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, often shortened to RSD, describes the intense emotional distress some people experience in response to criticism, rejection, disappointment or the feeling that they have let someone down.

In this episode, we explore why a small comment, change in tone or unanswered message can sometimes feel so painful, particularly for people with ADHD and other neurodivergent profiles. We discuss how RSD can affect relationships, work, parenting and self-esteem, and why it is often misunderstood as being overly sensitive or dramatic.

We also look at the difference between emotional pain and emotional regulation, the role of past experiences, and practical ways to respond with greater understanding, self-compassion and support.

RSD is not a formal diagnosis, but the experiences described by the term can be very real.

Decision Fatigue: Why Your Brain Feels Done Before the Day Begins

How many decisions have you made before 9 a.m.? What to wear. What to eat. Where the missing school shoes are. Whether to answer that email now or later. By the time the day has properly started, your brain may already be running on empty.

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore decision fatigue, the mental exhaustion that comes from making countless choices throughout the day. We look at why it affects everyone, why it can be especially challenging for neurodivergent people, parents and professionals, and how it quietly influences our mood, productivity, relationships and wellbeing.

Getting things done is not always about motivation or trying harder. For many people, the real challenge is starting, knowing where to begin, staying focused, and managing the overwhelm that can come with everyday tasks.

In this episode, we explore task initiation, procrastination, planning, prioritising, and executive functioning through a psychology-informed lens. We look at why tasks can feel much bigger than they appear, why shame often follows unfinished jobs, and how stress, perfectionism, fatigue, and cognitive overload can all get in the way.

We also share practical ways to make tasks feel more manageable, including breaking things into smaller steps, using visual prompts, externalising plans, and working with your brain rather than against it.

Why does time seem to disappear, deadlines creep up unexpectedly, and even simple tasks take longer than planned?

In this episode, we explore the reality of time management for neurodivergent adults and anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by competing demands. We unpack concepts such as time blindness, executive functioning, task initiation, procrastination, and the challenge of balancing priorities when life feels full.

Together, we discuss why traditional productivity advice often falls short, the difference between laziness and genuine cognitive barriers, and practical strategies that can help busy brains work with their natural patterns rather than against them.

Whether you're juggling work, family, study, or simply trying to stay on top of everyday life, this conversation offers insight, validation, and realistic approaches to managing your time with greater self-compassion.

Join us as we move beyond productivity hacks and explore what effective time management really looks like for busy brains.

Working memory is the brain’s ability to hold information in mind long enough to use it. It helps us follow instructions, keep track of conversations, remember what we walked into a room to do, organise tasks, and connect one step to the next.

In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore working memory from a psychology and therapy-informed perspective. We look at what working memory actually is, why it can feel unreliable, and how it affects everyday life, especially for neurodivergent brains, stressed brains, tired brains, and overwhelmed brains.

We talk about the frustration of losing your train of thought, forgetting the next step, struggling to hold multiple demands in mind, and feeling like your brain has “dropped the tab” at the exact moment you needed it.

We also explore why working memory is not about laziness, carelessness, or not trying hard enough. Often, it is a capacity issue. When the brain is overloaded, stressed, dysregulated, or juggling too much, working memory is one of the first systems to feel the pressure.

This episode also considers practical ways to support working memory, including externalising information, reducing cognitive load, using visual cues, slowing down instructions, building routines, and creating environments that do not rely on the brain remembering everything at once.

Working memory is not just about remembering. It is about holding, using, organising, and acting on information in real time. When we understand that, we can move away from shame and towards better support.

Shorter version