Send us a text

Ever wished your ADHD brain came with an instruction manual? Good news – you can create one yourself! Drawing from corporate best practices, a personal operations manual becomes the external structure your neurodivergent mind craves.

The ADHD experience often means struggling with inconsistency, unclear expectations, and forgotten systems. We're constantly reinventing our approach because what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. This episode introduces a transformative solution: documenting your personalized systems, motivations, and strategies in one accessible place.

Your operations manual serves as a trusted companion through the fog of ADHD. It outlines household responsibilities with clarity, reminds you which rewards actually motivate you, and provides a roadmap when executive function falters. The process starts with defining meaningful objectives, then tracking your daily activities to identify patterns. By analyzing what works and what doesn't, you'll build a living document that evolves with your changing needs and circumstances.

The potential benefits extend far beyond basic organization – expect lower stress levels, decreased decision fatigue, improved relationships, financial savings, and greater alignment with your core values. This isn't just another planning system; it's a framework that honors your unique brain while providing the structure needed for sustained growth.

Next week, we'll explore specific categories to include in your manual with detailed examples. In the meantime, consider what format would best serve you – whether digital, physical, visual, or audio-based. Remember, consistency doesn't mean perfection; it means having reliable systems to fall back on when your brain needs support. Ready to create the instruction manual your ADHD brain deserves?

Send us a text

Switching attention appropriately with ADHD is a neurobiological challenge, not a matter of willpower, but concrete strategies can help make transitions smoother and less emotionally disruptive. The ADHD brain can easily get locked into hyperfocus, making it difficult to shift attention when needed.

• External cues and structured routines like time blocking and posting schedules help remind you of upcoming tasks
• Using timers with both visual and auditory cues compensates for the ADHD brain's unreliable internal clock and provides essential external signals for task transitions 
• Creating transition rituals—small, repeatable actions that signal change—helps the brain switch between different modes
• Physical movement and changing environments can increase blood flow to the brain and break the grip of hyperfocus
• Breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable parts creates natural stopping points and prevents overwhelm
• The Pomodoro technique (focused work periods with built-in breaks) provides natural transition points
• Enlisting help from others for gentle transition cues can prevent getting stuck in hyperfocus
• Self-monitoring and celebrating successful transitions provides immediate positive reinforcement

Like, follow, subscribe, let us know how you're doing in the comments, and come back next Tuesday.

Send us a text

The Kipling Method (5 W's and an H) isn't just for writing and research—it's a powerful framework for helping ADHD brains complete work or school assignments and DIY or passion projects successfully. By answering six key categories of questions before starting any task, you can avoid midnight tears and self-recrimination when facing unfinished work and impossible deadlines.

• Ask "who" questions to mitigate ADHD disorganization and take advantage of dopamine boosts from collaborating with others
• Identify your phone-a-friend, emergency contact, potential partners, and body doubling options before beginning
• Define exactly what the task entails and what materials/information you'll need
• Determine where to find necessary resources, where to work most effectively, and where to submit completed work
• Establish concrete timelines including deadlines, optimal work times, and realistic time estimates
• Consider how to make the work more engaging and how you'll reward yourself afterward
• Connect the task to your personal values to enhance motivation when challenges arise
• Students should establish class-specific support systems at the beginning of each term
• Always read assignment instructions twice and highlight key components to avoid missing credit
• Remind yourself of your personal "why" when feeling like quitting

Like, follow, subscribe, let us know how you're doing in the comments, and come back next Tuesday.

Send us a text

Ever promised yourself that this school year or work period would finally be different with your ADHD? That familiar optimism quickly fades without concrete changes to your approach. As someone who struggled through school with undiagnosed ADHD—earning frequent D grades despite occasional flashes of brilliance—I've discovered that environmental modifications make all the difference between failure and success.

Your physical workspace dramatically impacts how your ADHD brain functions. Create a portable "homework launch pad" caddy containing everything you need: timer, sticky notes, colored pencils, calculator, and other frequently-used supplies. This simple preparation eliminates the momentum-killing search for materials that so often derails focus. Then, identify several predetermined work locations throughout your home—perhaps the coffee table, a standing desk, or while gently bouncing on an exercise ball. This variety provides the novelty your ADHD brain craves without the distraction of deciding where to work mid-session.

Many with ADHD focus better with "body doubles"—other people working nearby who create accountability through their mere presence. Whether it's a classmate, family member, or strangers in a coffee shop, having others engaged in productive activities helps anchor your attention. Through careful experimentation and tracking, you'll discover your unique environmental preferences—perhaps quiet solitude for math problems but background music for creative writing. The scientific method of ADHD management (hypothesis, experiment, evaluate, adjust) builds self-awareness and effective strategies over time. The beginning of a new period is the perfect opportunity to implement these changes while motivation remains high.

Ready to transform your work experience? Like, follow, and subscribe for more practical ADHD strategies every Tuesday. Share your environmental modifications in the comments—what unexpected workspace change has helped your focus the most?

Send us a text

Resilience—the ability to recover from setbacks quickly and effectively—is essential for maintaining motivation, especially for those with ADHD who face additional challenges. 

• Building resilience starts with implementing practical strategies and structure that increase opportunities for success
• Practice self-compassion by forgiving yourself for mistakes and celebrating effort
• Remember that setbacks are normal and embrace a growth mindset
• Research shows that dedicated practice, not just natural talent, leads to mastery
• Analyze situations that don't work out rather than internalizing defeat
• Focus on ADHD strengths like creativity, passion, empathy, and innovative problem-solving
• Celebrate small wins to wire your brain for success
• Build a support network of understanding people who can cheer you on

Come back next Tuesday for more ADHD strategies, and don't forget to like, follow, or subscribe. Let us know how you're doing in the comments!

Send us a text

Managing ADHD requires regulating emotions and building resilience, especially when discouragement threatens to derail our progress. While seeking external validation for our ADHD management efforts often leads to disappointment, the real benefits come from the improvements we experience in our own lives.

• Use the STOP method for emotional regulation: Stop impulsive reactions, Take a breath, Observe thoughts without judgment, Proceed mindfully

• Practice 7-11 breathing to physically calm your nervous system (inhale for 7, hold for 7, exhale for 11)

• Acknowledge and label emotions without judgment to reduce their overwhelming power

• Reframe negative self-talk with kinder, more constructive alternatives

• Identify emotional triggers to better prepare for challenging situations

• Develop healthy coping mechanisms like exercise, journaling, or talking with trusted friends

• Consider seeking professional help from therapists who specialize in ADHD

I know your time is valuable, so I hope you found this useful and that you'll like, follow, subscribe and let us know how you're doing in the comments, and come back next Tuesday to learn about building resilience.

Send us a text

Ever felt the frustration of searching for everyday essentials when you're already running late? That's where the magic of launch pads comes in – but not just by your front door. As someone living with ADHD, I've discovered that expanding this simple organizational concept throughout my home has revolutionized my daily functioning and dramatically reduced my executive function demands.

In this episode, I reveal how I've implemented specialized launch pads in multiple areas of my home – from my zombie-state morning coffee station to my streamlined getting-ready space that eliminates decision fatigue. 

The beauty of the launch pad approach lies in how perfectly it addresses executive function deficits common in ADHD. By creating external structures that compensate for difficulties with planning, organization, working memory and time management, you're essentially designing your environment to work with your brain rather than against it. These designated spots encourage returning items after use, building muscle memory that becomes increasingly automatic over time. The result? Less frustration from constantly misplacing things, improved efficiency, better time management, and significantly more mental energy available for what truly matters. Whether you're diagnosed with ADHD or simply seeking practical organization strategies, these launch pad principles can transform your relationship with your living space and daily routines.

Join me each Tuesday for more practical strategies to thrive with ADHD. Like, follow, subscribe, and share your launch pad successes – I'd love to hear how these ideas work for you!

Send us a text

Disordered eating is common among people with ADHD; it exacerbates our symptoms and contributes to the longevity gap where we tend to die younger than those without ADHD. People with ADHD need to establish external supports to maintain healthy eating habits due to weak interoception, which affects our ability to interpret hunger signals.

• Set alarms to remind yourself to eat at consistent times
• Prioritize protein and healthy fats which help you feel full longer and support brain health, and learn the appropriate serving size.
• Limit simple carbohydrates and sugars but allow small treats to prevent rebound overeating
• Use the pause-scan-ask method before eating to identify if you're truly hungry
• Store unhealthy snacks out of sight, preferably behind healthier options
• ADHD medication helps control impulsivity that leads to unhealthy eating, but it needs to be combined with sufficient sleep, daily exercise, and mindful eating habits.
• Practice mindful eating by putting your utensil down between bites
• Document everything you eat for a week to uncover unconscious patterns
• Implement a standard rotation of 7-10 easy-to-prepare meals to reduce decision fatigue
• Always shop with a detailed list heavily weighted toward healthy staples, and write your food-related goals on the list!
• Read food labels and avoid ingredients your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize (I think this tip is from Michael Pollan)

Credit for the nutritional and physiological information to Dr. Roberto Olivardia, a clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD and nutrition. Any errors are on me.

Remember to be kind to yourself on this journey and celebrate all successes. Let us know how you're doing in the comments! Come back next Tuesday for more Thoroughly ADHD.

Send us a text

Having ADHD doesn't mean you need more discipline; it means you need external motivation and structure. Accountability creates the urgency and external pressure that helps ADHD brains initiate and complete tasks.

• ADHD brains struggle with internal motivation and executive functions (planning, prioritizing, initiating tasks)
• Our dopamine system doesn't respond well to long-term or future rewards
• Accountability works because it creates external deadlines and commitments to others
• Find the right accountability partner who understands ADHD without judgment
• Be specific with your goals and timeframes when setting up accountability systems
• Schedule regular check-ins and celebrate all progress, no matter how small
• Body doubling (working alongside someone else) provides subtle external pressure that helps overcome task initiation paralysis
• Using accountability isn't a sign of weakness but a brilliant strategy for giving your brain the structure it needs

Try finding a partner this week, set a specific goal, and check in to report your progress. I know your time is valuable, so I hope you found something useful here and that you'll like, follow, subscribe and come back next Tuesday.

Send us a text

Limiting beliefs about ourselves stem from early experiences of criticism and misunderstanding of ADHD symptoms, but these harmful narratives can be rewritten with awareness, self-compassion, and consistent practice. The journey begins by identifying negative thought patterns and challenging their validity with evidence from past experiences that contradict these beliefs.

• Building self-acceptance by reframing ADHD as a difference, not a deficit
• Shifting perspective to see traits as strengths - distraction as curiosity, impulsivity as creativity
• Cultivating self-compassion through kinder self-talk and challenging negative thoughts
• Creating empowering beliefs by identifying personal strengths and celebrating small achievements
• Maintaining the four cornerstones of ADHD treatment: quality sleep, healthy eating, regular exercise, and mindfulness
• Building a support system of understanding people who offer genuine praise and constructive feedback
• Working with specialists who understand ADHD and can provide objective perspectives

Your ADHD brain is a source of incredible strengths. It's time to stop letting old stories define you and start believing you are capable, creative, and uniquely brilliant.