Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD

Many adults with ADHD struggle to find a calendar system that works for work and home life. And when you're running a household with children, sometimes your calendar system can get more complex. You not only have appointments, meetings and other commitments but every household has chores and other to-do lists. Having them in one place where everyone can see it and use it, is a must-have. Dave introduces listeners to the Skylight Calendar. On the podcast today is Anubhav Sarkar, product manager for Skylight Calendar. He walks us through all the Skylight Calendar's features and how this can be a game changer for individuals with ADHD. Anubhav discusses how Skylight realized this could be tremendously helpful for people with ADHD. Including the ability to have the skylight calendar in a visible location, how we can manage multiple schedules and to-do lists and help the entire family build good habits and routines. He also discusses the following features that are ADHD-friendly. The Skylight Calendar is similar to a digital photo frame but can be placed on a counter or mounted to the wall. He discusses the basic features, including color coding as well as syncing schedules. One powerful feature is the chore chart which can be used by kids, families as well as adults with ADHD managing work to-do lists. And Anubhav goes through how the mobile app helps everyone have their schedules and to-do lists with them at all times. If you want to learn more about the Skylight Calendar, you can find out more on their website: skylightcal.com Use the code DISTRACTIONS for a special offer for Overcoming Distractions podcast listeners.

If you have adult ADHD and you're feeling burned out, you want to listen to Part 2 about how to navigate burnout when you have ADHD. You can find Dave's book Overcoming Burnout here. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WQ17T22 Dave discusses five more areas of your life and career that you'll need to work on if you're feeling burned out. He talks about finding meaning and purpose in work, managing your stress, of course, looking for other ways to develop a new passion for your job or career. And Dave discusses a few other areas that need addressing if you're an adult with ADHD and burned out. If you're new to overcoming distractions, please go back one episode and listen to part one about ADHD in burnout. Find out more about working with Dave for coaching and mentorship at www.overcomingdistractions.com.

Dave talks about the continuing epidemic of burnout on this episode. And he discusses why burnout can affect adults with ADHD faster and even harder than others. And to a greater extent, adults with ADHD have more difficulty sometimes navigating our way out of burnout. Dave talks about some of the reasons including our challenges with executive functions and some of the habits we have built over time contributing to burnout. Dave starts with five must haves for recovering from burnout or preventing it in your life. This is a two-part episode. Dave will discuss another 5 parts to recovering from burnout in the next episode. Do you want to work with Dave? Learn more at www.overcomingdistractions.com

After recording over 200 episodes of this podcast, writing two books and mentoring individuals with adult ADHD, Dave discusses some of the core ways everyone can thrive with adult ADHD. While ADHD can be complicated, there are some must-haves when it comes to managing adult ADHD in both life and the workplace. Managing adult ADHD requires you to focus on several areas of your life; sometimes, there can be roadblocks and complex issues. But Dave feels if you stick to these five simple things in your life, things can only get better. Want to work with Dave? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Welcome to Overcoming Distractions Thriving with Adult ADHD. This podcast is a reintroduction to Overcoming Distractions, the mission and what types of issues we discuss each week. We have had many new listeners in recent months so we decided to introduce new listeners and seasoned veterans about the content published each week here. Dave talks about why this podcast is dedicated to adults with ADHD and discusses briefly why only street smart and real world tactics are discussed on Overcoming Distractions. Dave also discusses the three must haves when trying to thrive with adult ADHD. Of course there are many more, but these are the three core themes all adults with ADHD should try to focus on each day. Get to know Dave and Overcoming Distractions a little better in this reintroduction. Find out more about Dave, ADHD coaching and online programs at www.overcomingdistractions.com

If you are an adult with ADHD you're going to have to find some type of checklist system or To Do List that works for you and your own personal circumstances. Dave gives you a quick primer on some of the criteria you should keep in mind when developing checklists for work and home. We all know we need checklists of some form and Dave discusses briefly a very simple article in a prominent psychology journal that fell short of helping adults with ADHD. The article only suggested to use to do lists which most people with ADHD already know. But if you're like many adults with ADHD, you need to find the right system that allows you to be more productive and less stressed. Find out why the psychology article geared towards adult with ADHD was inadequate and hear Dave's thoughts on developing a checklist system that will actually work for you. Want to work with Dave? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Mindfulness does not mean that you need to sit in a quiet room for two hours and not speak or move. Mindfulness as this week's guest Chris Berlow states is keeping the main thing…. the main thing. That's what we are talking about this week on overcoming distractions is how adults with ADHD, or anyone for that matter can implement some form of mindfulness in their daily habits. Chris Berlow is the founder of Empowered Mastery and the author of the book Mindful Meditation for Busy Lives. Chris and Dave discuss the number of ways that we can make mindfulness easier. Chris talks about how we only have a certain amount of mental energy as well as clarity and that energy gets depleted throughout the day. The more stressful and busy the day is, the more energy is depleted. That's why it is important especially for adults with ADHD to be mindful. Something as simple as getting outside and taking a walk can be a great form of mindfulness. Other people choose gardening, cooking and outdoor sports. All these can be a form of mindfulness. Chris talks about easy ways to even implement forms of meditation. By slowing our busy brains down, we have the ability to choose our own thoughts and gained clarity over what's going on in our lives. Chris and Dave discuss even a simple form such as finding guided meditations on platforms such as Spotify and other streaming services that help you reduce anxiety and other benefits. Want to learn more about Chris Berlow and Empowered Mastery as well as his book on mindful meditation? Find him at: https://empoweredmastery.com/

Are you an adult with ADHD that needs more clarity on the types of activities that energize you as well as the activities in your life that drain your energy? In this shorter version of Overcoming Distractions Dave talks about the importance of making two critical lists to help you thrive with your adult ADHD. Adults with ADHD need to recognize the types of activities that give us energy, provide us with good dopamine and excite us about getting up in the morning. When we understand what gives us energy, We can thrive with our adult ADHD However, we also need to understand the activities in our life that drain our energy. And we need to try hard to eliminate energy-sucking activities. Dave talks about how to go about making these two important lists that will help you in your career, and your personal life. Want to work with Dave? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Did you set goals at the beginning of the year or did you create any New Year's resolutions? Have you gotten off track on your New Year's goals or completely forgotten what you set out to do this year? Many people set goals at the beginning of a new year but oftentimes, we struggle to stay on track. Back on Overcoming Distractions is Sarah Reiff-Hekking, Ph.D. founder of True Focus Coaching. Sarah and Dave first discuss whether the new year is the best time to set goals. Hint, maybe not. Sarah suggests reframing goals and calling them either a target or a vision and even the label ghost targets and visions to better resonate with yourself. Sarah says it's important to find what works when it comes to reminding yourself of your goals. That can include vision boards, all types of visual reminders and regular reminders to keep you on track. Sarah also reinforces something she has talked about before on the podcast which is making sure your personal goals come before your career goals. Sarah advises on ways you can continue to keep steering toward your targets and goals. She also says it is important to create authentic goals and those that are intrinsic. Goals should be about you not what other people think you should be doing. You should also make sure if this is a meaningful goal or something you are just chasing. And Sarah suggests making sure you go through goal setting and ways to stay on track in a non judgmental way. You can learn more about Sarah and the workshops that true focus coaching puts on by going to Sarah's website. www.TrueFocusCoaching.com

One of the many challenges adults with ADHD face is managing large and ongoing projects. Most times, these projects revolve around work or our career. And because there are so many aspects of managing and working on large projects for our job, many adults with ADHD find it a struggle. Does this sound familiar to you? Dave talks about what it takes for those of us with ADHD to stay on track with large and ongoing projects. As an entrepreneur, Dave has been involved in many ongoing initiatives with his clients over the years that require planning, meeting deadlines and milestones as well as the ability to work with others for a common goal. If your job requires you to work on projects, or you feel like doing a home remodeling project around the house, spend the next 20 minutes with Dave and grab a pen and notepad. Want to work with Dave? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

This is a quick checkup if you're feeling a little cooked lately. Grab a notebook and a pen! Some people feel refreshed at the new year, but it can also give us more pressure and stress about goals and other achievements. Dave talks about why this added pressure can actually contribute to feeling burned out. Many people with ADHD can experience burnout quicker than others due to our challenges that we already face. Those include our struggles with productivity, time management, and the emotional aspect of having ADHD. Dave talks about the common ways we feel burned out and other feelings you may not have considered. He also talks about how the combination of these things can be clear indicators of burnout or heading towards burnout. Dave gives you a checklist of ways to begin navigating your way out of burnout. You can find a link to Dave's recent book Overcoming Burnout at www.overcomingdistractions.com.

Conventional wisdom would have adults with ADHD believing that we need to follow a specific path to manage and thrive with adult ADHD. But as you may have uncovered by now, following conventional wisdom and accepted and unquestioned principles, is often not the best path to thriving with adult ADHD. Jeff Copper from DIG Coaching is back to discuss the concept of conventional wisdom and ADHD and how we can challenge certain thinking. Jeff talks about the book "Breaking the Rules" which can describe the theme of this discussion on the podcast. Oftentimes adults with ADHD need to break the rules and one great example is understanding that we cannot always fix our weaknesses. Accepting this concept can provide an opportunity for growth in our ADHD journey. Jeff and Dave discussed the importance of placing ourselves in roles that are a great fit. one example is choosing a career or a job that allows us to utilize our strengths. Jeff also indicates that the more clarity we have in our lives and and our daily habits, the more motivation we can experience. Managing our ADHD can be challenging at certain times in our lives but Jeff and Dave cautioned everyone not to fall into what Jeff calls a sea of strategies. We must stop drowning in the latest greatest strategy or technique to manage our adult ADHD. Do you want to learn more about challenging conventional wisdom and ADHD? This is a great discussion with Jeff and Dave. Find Jeff and Attention Talk Radio on his website. www.digcoaching.com If you want to work with Dave for coaching and mentorship, go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Adults with ADHD seem to have a love/hate relationship regarding scheduling and using calendars. Are you one of these people? Sure, it sounds like a simple concept but for many of us with adult ADHD, we tend to struggle to engage more effectively with schedules and calendars. Back on Overcoming Distractions is Eric Tivers of ADHD reWired. Eric and Dave discussed the following and a lot more. · Why a schedule and using a calendar can be challenging for adults with ADHD. · Understanding that without a workable schedule, getting through the week and getting "stuff" done can also be challenging. · Eric discusses how scheduling, distractions, prioritization and time management are all connected and the calendar can help us. · Eric also takes time to discuss time tracking which he feels is one of the most important ways to understand how long tasks and projects take us. · Dave and Eric discuss time blocking but making sure that we are using that concept effectively. And Eric gives tips for getting started and getting more comfortable using a calendar to manage our work and personal lives. Those include understanding this is going to be a process, you'll need to try different methods, making sure you relax and be patient, the importance of engaging with your calendar and understanding in many cases, there is a setup and a cleanup which you'll hear his thoughts on the podcast. Find ADHD reWired here and all Eric's offerings including group sessions and the popular podcast. https://www.adhdrewired.com/ Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

As individuals with ADHD, by the time we are adults, we have experienced and internalized hundreds of thousands of negative inputs about who we are and how we are. This can create defensiveness, people-pleasing, perfectionism, social anxiety, oppositional behavior, and other defense mechanisms. But one thing we need to recognize and talk about openly is shame. Our guest Diann Wingert, therapist turned coach, says it is the elephant in the room for adults with ADHD. Diann gives us a general definition of shame and explains the difference between guilt and shame. She also gives people a few basic examples of shame then you may be able to relate to. Diann also explains why she has called shame and ADHD, the elephant in the room. She discusses why for people with ADHD, making mistakes can equal shame and the habits we can build to get ourselves out of this pattern. And Diann gives us a road map for tackling shame in our lives, including understanding self-awareness, forgiveness, understanding that shame is a spectrum, and understanding how to take an honest look at situations in our lives that we can avoid. Diann Wingert is a Business Strategist, Coach & Mentor and Host of The Driven Woman Podcast. Connect with Diann on her website: www.diannwingertcoaching.com

If you are an adult with ADHD and find yourself in a leadership position, you'll want to pay attention to what our guest Brendan Mahan says this week. Brendan from ADHD essentials is back on overcoming distractions and we talk about the essential elements of being a leader, while being an adult with ADHD. Maybe you find yourself as a shift supervisor in the hospitality industry, leading a major project at your company or wanting to learn more about how to parent through leadership, Brendan has some awesome advice. Brendan and Dave discussed the following. The difference between being a leader and being a boss. What the general role of someone in leadership should be? What would we, as adults with ADHD expect from our leaders? The challenges of being an adult with ADHD and assuming a leadership position. Tips for navigating a leadership role while having adult ADHD. Those include delegating diplomatically, understanding that you are supporting character as a leader, and taking time to own your ADHD and manage it properly. Find Brandan Mahan and his offerings on his website; www.adhdessential.com Want to work with Dave? www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Every adult with ADHD experiences the feeling of being too busy sometimes. Dave tackles how we can minimize this feeling that many of us go through in our professional lives and at home. Oftentimes adults with ADHD feel like there are a million things to do, and everything needs to be done now, but we often can't decide what to get started on or what to prioritize. Dave discusses how we can sort things out, prepare appropriately so we're not always feeling too busy, prioritize tasks and projects, be in charge of others in the workplace that can affect your deadlines, understand capacity and boundaries, and when we need to say no to commitments. And much more. If you are feeling too busy all the time, hit the pause button and listen to this podcast episode. Want to work with Dave? www.OvercomingDistractions.com

How does a creative digital nomad manage her ADHD on the road? On Overcoming Distractions this time is Nikki May, owner of Nikki D May Art and Design. Nikki sold her house, purchased a bus and now runs her art and design business on the road. In her business she does everything from drawing, designing accessories and apparel as well as web design. As a newly diagnosed adult with ADHD, she has had to build the skills necessary to run a business on the road including carving time out for work, meeting deadlines and getting it all done. Nikki admits that her brain doesn't always switch into working mode so it's important for her to have implemented several ways to be productive. Those include: Time blocking Planning Hiring and delegating Having a business manager Using contractors. She hired somebody to set up systems for her And one big thing, not saying yes to everything. Find Nikki D. May Art and Design here: https://www.nikkimay.com/ Want to work with Dave for coaching and mentoring? www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Many adults with ADHD can also experience imposter syndrome. Some even say it is much more common in adults with ADHD than others. That is the focus of this podcast with Matthew Zakreski a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Matt as many address him, gives an overview of imposter syndrome and what it might feel like. He says one thing that sticks out is when somebody gives us praise, we either feel relief or we celebrate the success. He discusses why it may affect people with ADHD more. Dr. Matt gives several examples of imposter syndrome and discusses how we can become more self-aware, including reflecting on situations when we feel our best and our worst and how to find context in every situation that doubts us. He discusses how we can move forward with intention. And he gives listeners advice on how to begin limiting imposter syndrome in our lives and possibly overcoming imposter syndrome. He talks about how to build confidence, better habits around doubtful situations, and even some quick tips if you're considering a career change that may doubt you. You can find Matthew Zakreski PsyD here: https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/

Dave talks about one of the simplest strategies to thrive with ADHD in the workplace. How and why making a list the night before each workday is a powerful tool for adults with ADHD. Many people tell us just to make a list; for others, that sounds very simple. But for those of us with adult ADHD, sometimes that is a difficult task in itself. Dave talks briefly about how to set the tone and create the habit. He also talks about how simple but powerful setting yourself up the night before can be. Yes, it is super simple, but Dave breaks it down in this short podcast. Find out more about Overcoming Distractions Community here. Join for free! https://overcomingdistractions.com/community/

Dave is back for a new year and talks about the power of having the right community as an adult with ADHD. He's talking about how being involved in a community that can support you, encourages you, and celebrates your successes is one of the best ways to thrive with adult ADHD. Some of the ways being in the right supporting community can benefit adults with ADHD are motivation, inspiration, building new habits, hanging out with people who understand you and one of our basic needs, and putting ourselves in a great mood. Learn more at www.overcomingdistractions.com/community

In this first podcast episode of 2023 we are discussing complex ADHD. Dave's guest on this important episode is Jess Levy MD, Who is a board-certified psychiatrist. Dr. Levy also diagnosed with ADHD personally understands the challenges that come as an adult with ADHD. His practice is A+ Psychiatry, a one-of-a-kind Direct Specialty Care Practice and represents a fundamentally different approach to psychiatric care. Dr. Levy First gives us an overview of complex ADHD, which is when an individual has ADHD in one or more other mental health concerns. Often, we call this Co-occurring and it comes in the form of anxiety, depression, learning disorders and other forms. He also discusses why it matters and why it is important to seek adequate treatment for complex ADHD. In short, if not addressed the symptoms and challenges of an adult with ADHD can only get worse and make life more challenging. Dr. Levy Runs through many of the symptoms and signs of complex ADHD and gives examples. And he discusses treatment options for complex ADHD including how to proceed with medication, psychotherapy and other forms of support. He discusses your expectations of treatment including the trial and error of certain medications and other support systems. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: For the listeners of this podcast, when discussing diagnostic and treatment considerations it is CRITICAL to note that this is for information purposes only. It is not meant to replace medical advice from your medical professional. If you have any questions about this topic as it pertains to your physical or mental health, you should discuss these concerns directly with your providers. You can find Dr. Jess Levy at his Website: www.apluspsychiatry.com

In this new episode, we explore emotional and cognitive processing and how to communicate effectively at home and in the workplace. Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials comes back on the podcast to discuss processing and communicating during challenging situations. Situations that could involve conflict present themselves not only at home but in the workplace and it's important for us to build the skills to manage Interactions with others effectively. Brendan starts the podcast by giving three quick tips for thriving with adult ADHD in 2023. Brendan takes time to break down emotional and cognitive processing, runs through many examples, and discusses when these intersect. He gives great advice on processing emotions in difficult situations. Brendan also talks about how we need to validate our emotions. Other discussion points include being honest with ourselves. Asking for criticism to allow for personal growth. Noticing our emotions Allowing those emotions to take place. Find Brendan at: https://www.adhdessentials.com/

Dave talks about three lists you should make when preparing for a new year. Because most of us with adult ADHD are not big on New Year's resolutions and because they are rarely effective, Dave talks about how you can slowly make the changes necessary in the coming year. Dave talks about the power of setting personal goals that drive your professional life, spending some time understanding what is currently not working in your life, and celebrating the activities that are working in your favor. Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com to work with Dave, or grab one of his affordable video programs on adult ADHD.

Many adults with ADHD either want a passion project or need to do something that allows them to feel a sense of purpose. When we embark on these types of projects, we feel energized, excited and fulfilled in life. This episode features Morgan Hancock, founder of Bourbon with Heart, based in Kentucky. Bourbon with Heart is a nonprofit that helps fund the arts and other nonprofit organizations. Morgan is a commercial real estate professional with ADHD, a U.S. Army veteran, and a successful entrepreneur, and she shares her tips for navigating a busy life and creating a passion project. Morgan discusses how many with ADHD need to embrace some type of chaos in life. She talks about how a basic To Do List saved her life. She discusses time blocking, including how she handles her commercial real estate duties and nonprofit responsibilities. Morgan also discusses how in some cases, impulsivity is a good thing when it comes to passion projects. Allowing many to take on risks that others would not. She also discusses how she learned the value of teamwork in the military and how to work with others. Morgan discusses how we cannot be scared to fail if we're going to be successful in business and life. Find Bourbon with Heart here and explore all the great things they're doing. https://bourbonwithheart.org/ Find Dave's video programs on adult ADHD here: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Dave provides some quick advice and talks about how powerful it is to group tasks and projects. Assigning the right amount of time for regular tasks and larger projects is one of the best ways to not only get things done but reduce your stress. Many of us have heard about time blocking but Dave breaks down why this is important and gives specific advice in a number of areas where you can maximize your energy and time. Dave talks about creating theme days, dedicating time during the week for shorter regular tasks, actually putting certain tasks off to maximize productivity, and a few other tips. Check out Dave's new program, ADHD in the Workplace at: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Many adults with ADHD decide to open their own business or become entrepreneurs. There are many reasons for this. But before we take on such an important journey, those with ADHD must be aware of what's ahead to succeed. Whether you are looking at entrepreneurship or just looking to find your next career move, you'll find great value in this discussion with Aron Croft of Hidden ADHD. Aron discusses some of the pros and cons of people with ADHD entering self-employment or entrepreneurship. He talks about why many with ADHD want and need freedom, the desire for scalability in their business, and being in charge because many with ADHD do not like being told what to do. Aron also talks about why he decided to become an entrepreneur but is honest about his journey along the way, which was not always smooth. While Aron had a great job, he found himself looking for a higher calling and began the process of building his entrepreneurial journey on the side. Aron also talks about the different types of fit you need to be aware of if you are venturing out on your own, including the market, whether the product fits you and your values, pricing, and the process. Do these fit into the way you can operate? He also discusses several productivity tips, activation psychology, and building the right habits to take your next steps. Find Aron Croft here: Website: https://hiddenadhd.com/ Free resource: https://link.hiddenadhd.com/overcomingdistractions

One of the more challenging aspects of being in the workplace with ADHD is creating systems to get everything done. One key factor is having a to-do list system that works for your brain. Many adults with ADHD struggle with finding a to-do list that works. When we do not have an effective to-do list that can help us get our job done, we fall behind, miss important tasks, fail to meet deadlines, and, get stressed out. Dave runs through a few things to think about if you're trying to find a to-do list system that works for you and your job. Keep in mind there is no perfect To Do List, and everyone responds to different ways of getting it all done. Dave also briefly discusses his new video program, ADHD in the Workplace, now available. If you want to work with Dave one-on-one or find his new program, go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Adults with ADHD can make more career decisions than others. There are many reasons for this, including boredom, not being challenged, and other reasons, such as overwork and burnout. Reevaluating your career, which will affect your overall life, is a process that should not be done with impulsiveness. Thought and care need to be put into your next career move and life change. Alex Gilbert from Cape-Able Consulting joined Dave on Overcoming Distractions to talk about how to be methodical about new life choices and the signs that you may need to make changes in your life. Alex brings up several great discussion points about reevaluating your career and life choices. She says to ask yourself, "what do I want and what do I need in a career? She said it might be time to evaluate your career and your job if you experience the following. Having trouble getting up in the morning. Being constantly reprimanded at work may indicate the wrong job or career. Working in a toxic environment. You feel bored or not challenged. You continue to feel stressed out and experience anxiety. Alex takes us through many important tips to get you thinking about your next move. Find Alex at: https://www.capeableconsulting.com/

In this mini episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave talks about how important having clarity is when you are an adult with ADHD. Having clarity in all areas of your life is an important goal to pursue, but in the workplace, it is crucial to thriving and surviving in a job or a career. Dave talks about the hazards when we lack clarity in certain areas, including procrastination. He also talks about why lack of clarity leads to stress and anxiety. Dave gives you a checklist to achieve more clarity, especially in the workplace. So grab a pen and a fresh notebook, listen, and absorb this short podcast on ADHD and clarity. If you are an adult with ADHD and have just been diagnosed, check out Dave's new video program. You can find it at www.OvercomingDistractions.com.

Have you ever wondered if you should disclose your ADHD to your employer, boss, or coworkers? Maybe even your clients? First, this is your choice, but hopefully this discussion will help you make the right choice for your situation. This week we have back Grant Crowell, Author of Grantasms Creative twisted words for cool people! and a self-professed social wordsmith. Grant has been an employee and a contractor he's talked about his ADHD, and in some cases, he hasn't talked about his ADHD. In this discussion about disclosing your ADHD in the workplace, we cover the following: What are the negatives of disclosing your ADHD? The positive examples of disclosing ADHD. Resources available to understand your options for reasonable accommodations. What reasonable accommodations are in the workplace? Grant provides several tips to help you make the decision about disclosing your ADHD to your employer. Find an ally if possible. Obtain an official diagnosis of ADHD. Understand your strengths in the workplace. Don't wait too long if you need accommodations. Grant is hosting a webinar about how to get workplace accommodations for ADHD. The link is below as well as other links to connect with Grant. https://www.meetup.com/north-carolina-adults-with-adhd-education-group/events/289378244/ Find Grant's book here: https://www.amazon.com/GRANTASMS-Creative-twisted-words-people-ebook/dp/B07ZY9JDPP Connect with him on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GrantCrowell

Have you just been diagnosed with adult ADHD or suspect you have ADHD? Maybe you want to go right back to the basics of managing your ADHD. Dave spends a few minutes on this shorter version of overcoming distractions on a few core parts of managing and thriving with adult ADHD. Dave tackles this subject in the way if he had to do it all over again. These are some of the core tactics and strategies as well as areas of life that every adult with ADHD it needs to focus on and improve. Dave has just launched a very affordable video program for people who have just been diagnosed with adult ADHD or want to learn more. You can find that here on the homepage. www.OvercomingDistractions.com

If you're looking for a little bit of motivation to kick your brain into gear, this episode of Overcoming Distractions will help you give you a bit of a kick start. Dr. Lara Honos-Webb, author of Brain Hacks and several other books on ADHD is back on the podcast, and she is joined by Pen King. Both are co-founders of Bonding Health. Pen is also a partner in a venture capital firm which requires him to be on his game. Both Lara and Pen off of their advice for giving your brain a little hacking. Lara says some of the more important things to consider when we are not feeling 100% is to recognize our feelings, create some type of action steps and create a list of our needs. She also outlines several questions you can ask yourself to get you thinking clearly again. Those include: —If I were more confident in myself, what would I do? —If I were more driven, what would I do? —If I were still age 10, what would I do? And more to get you thinking. Pen King discusses several things that he feels are important as a busy entrepreneur, including understanding the courage to move forward, being resourceful when you need it, and understanding how to use your energy when you have it. Learn more about bonding health here, which provides research-backed tools to help ADHD parenting. https://www.bondinghealth.com/

Konrad Sanders is the CEO and founder of the Creative Copywriter based in London. The agency focuses on copywriting and brand building for many brands, large and small. Konrad comes on Overcoming Distractions to discuss how he built his copywriting agency to be a 7-figure company, and he also discusses some of the challenges getting there as an adult with ADHD. He talks about many of the challenges he needed to overcome as an entrepreneur with ADHD, including: Gaining more focus The shiny object syndrome Wanting to do everything at once The challenge with completing tasks and projects Time management Burnout Konrad talks with Dave about the "must haves" an entrepreneur with ADHD needs to have in place to grow and thrive. Those include: Self-awareness about you and your ADHD. Understanding your weaknesses. You must have optimism. Drive and passion as an adult with ADHD. Understand there need to be processes in place. Identify and find people that complement your skills. Find Konrad here: https://www.creative-copywriter.net/ More about Overcoming Distractions and mentorships here: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Those of us with ADHD need to find the activities that provide us energy and good dopamine and allow us to maintain a good mood in outlook on life. When we constantly engage in activities that deplete our energy and even sucked the life out of us, we begin to face many challenges. Laura MacNiven of the Springboard Clinic based in Canada is back on the podcast. Laura talks about why it is important for people with ADHD to find the activities in their life that provide them with energy. Those going to be professional such as a career or a job, or personal activities, such as hobbies that you enjoy. Laura, however says that it is a challenge for many with ADHD to understand their own wants and needs, and it is essential to check in with yourself regularly to gain more self-awareness around activities that either provide us energy or ZAP our energy. Dave and Laura also discuss the concept of being more productive in our lives by removing the activities that challenge our energy. Laura and Dave also talk about how many with ADHD can experience burnout faster than others because we may focus on activities and other areas of our life that are depleting our energy and causing us to feel exhausted. And Laura gives her tips to help us identify what energizes us, such as a career or a job or other areas of our life. And she discusses how we cut out the areas of our life that may be dragging us down and zapping our energy. Laura and the Springboard Clinic are offering several upcoming courses and they are listed below. They have also provided listeners of Overcoming Distractions with the coupon code, which is also below. Springboard ADHD ONLINE COURSE : https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/85617/about Springboard ADHD PARENTING ONLINE COURSE https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/86056/about COUPON CODE: DAVE15 (15% off either the adult or parenting course)

People from all walks of life and all careers can experience burnout at some level. And while this could be a silent epidemic, there needs to be more discussion about how burnout can affect our lives. Dave gives you an audio list of 14 things you must know about burnout in this short podcast. If you are going to recover from burnout and prevent it from entering your life in the future, these 14 important aspects of burnout are something you must get to know. Do you want to buy Dave's book Overcoming Burnout? Click here to get the book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WQ17T22

Managing adult ADHD can be challenging for the best of us. Managing burnout can be a tremendous effort for many as well. When we have both, that presents circumstances that should cause us to take action to improve our well-being. This week we talk about adult ADHD, burnout, and many other challenges those of us face in our lives. Catherine Avery of Catherine Avery ADHD Coaching is the guest this week. Catherine discusses how she managed adult ADHD, two experiences of burnout, and recovery from cancer. She also discusses why she experienced burnout more than once and why she needed to make changes in her life after this second burnout. One key takeaway in this podcast from her experience with burnout is telling people to ask for help. Because Catherine is also a productivity and ADHD coach, she offers tips for improving productivity during stressful times. It's OK to be unproductive sometimes. Find a hobby or sport that you like. Meditation can help with productivity. Pause, plan, and prioritize. Save time by taking 10 minutes to plan your day. Find Catherine at; https://productivitybydesign.com/ Work with Dave at: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

If you can't seem to get out of your own way this week, this short podcast is a great way to learn how to hit the pause button and regroup. Dave talks about three incredibly simple things to do this week if you feel things have gotten out of control and turned into chaos. Because life gets busy and some weeks can get out of control, those of us with adult ADHD need to make it a practice to occasionally hit the pause button and regroup. Sometimes we allow our week to turn into chaos, and other times people around us have contributed to things getting out of control. Whatever the reasons are, Dave talks about how important it is to regroup regularly and three simple things you can do this week. Listen to the podcast and do these three very simple things now! Find Dave and learn how he can help you at www.OvercomingDistractions.com

If you have wondered how accountability groups and partners can help you thrive with adult ADHD, you'll want to listen to this podcast episode. Accountability is a powerful tool for managing adult ADHD if implemented correctly. Eric Tivers of ADHD reWired is back on the podcast to discuss the concept of accountability and how it can dramatically improve our lives as adults with ADHD. In this podcast about adult ADHD and accountability, we discuss: Eric describes and gives His definition of what he feels accountability is. Because many of us think of this word as a negative, Eric dispels the myths of accountability. Eric also discusses how the ADHD brain responds to certain forms of accountability and how it can be a powerful tool in many areas of our lives. He also talks about what does not work when it comes to accountability. Eric gives tips for people who are ready to bring accountability into their lives, including how to start. He discusses options such as accountability groups, individual coaching, and accountability buddies. And, Eric gives tips to ensure the effectiveness of accountability. If you are open to cooperative accountability with no power differential, accountability can be a great tool for managing your ADHD. Learn more about ADHD reWired, including accountability groups and Eric's popular podcast here. https://www.adhdrewired.com/ Find David Greenwood at www.OvercomingDistractions.com

In this podcast, we are talking about one of Dave's favorite topics and that is ADHD and entrepreneurship. If you are an adult with ADHD and you've thought about starting your own business, or you have just become an entrepreneur, you'll take away several items to think about in your journey as somebody who is self-employed. Back on the podcast is Skye Rapson the founder of the Unconventional Organisation based in New Zealand, which offers various types of ADHD support. Skye herself as an entrepreneur, discusses how she entered the world of entrepreneurship and what it took to get her organization off the ground. Skye also talks about some of the challenges she faced as an entrepreneur with ADHD and what she did to mitigate some of those challenges to be able to grow her business. Skye and Dave discuss some of the areas that entrepreneurs with ADHD should focus on to become successful. Those include: Understanding your ADHD, including your strengths and weaknesses. Also, understanding that you are an entrepreneur with ADHD. Skye says it's important to understand how the day works for you as well as the best times of day to get certain types of work accomplished. Dave and sky also discuss how to find the best system for to-do lists and other productivity strategies. Skye says it is also important to get the right support, whether that is administrative support or a coach that understands ADHD and entrepreneurship. https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/post/is-adhd-good-for-entrepreneurship Find Dave at www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Communicating your needs in the workplace when you have ADHD can be a challenge. Especially if you are hesitant to disclose your ADHD. However, to thrive in a career and a specific workplace may require you to express your needs to help you do a better job and enjoy your work. Back on the podcast is therapist turn coach Diann Wingert. Diann will discuss with Dave the reasons we hesitate to communicate our needs as well as the reasons why we must. And she will give listeners specific ways to communicate more comfortably in the workplace with ADHD. If you don't feel like you're getting your needs met at work, feel like you are getting walked on, or feel burned out, you'll need to listen to this advice. Maybe you need a change of pace at work or would like specific accommodations to be more effective at work, Diann has some great tips for moving forward. You may also be an entrepreneur and need to have difficult conversations with clients. Diann and Dave go over the following topics in this podcast: Why confidence and clarity are mission critical. The difference between wants and needs. Why you must advocate for yourself. How to communicate what you do want instead of what you do not want. How to reframe conversations in the positive. How to test your needs with smaller asks. And much more… Find Diann here, including her awesome podcast! WEBSITE: https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/ PODCAST: https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/podcast

Today Dave talks about how to minimize the chaos in your life when you have ADHD. While getting rid of all chaos and turmoil in your life maybe unrealistic, there are ways where we can reduce the chaotic events that many of us with ADHD experience on a regular basis. You do not have to live in chaos every day of your life. Dave talks about how you can simply pause, breathe and understand the moment you are in. He talks about how to simply analyze your chaotic situation such as being late for a client project and how to understand what needs to be done to end that short chaotic event. Dave also talks about how planning certain aspects of your life can reduce the overall chaos that you may be experiencing all the time. Systems such as planning out your week, planning your mornings as well as understanding your weekly commitments can help you greatly reduce the turmoil in your life when you have ADHD. Learn more as well as understand how you may work with Dave on the website. www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Is it time for you to get back on track? This may be the best time of the year to do that. The fall season is a great opportunity to hit the reset button on both personal and professional goals. And by doing so, it's the perfect time of year to rebuild structure in your life and recommit to routines that help you meet certain goals. You do not need to be an adult with ADHD to get some tremendous value out of this discussion with Sarah Reiff-Hekking of True Focus Coaching. Sarah and Dave discuss the many reasons why this may be a great time to get back on track. Everything from the seasonal flow of business, kids back to school, and the end of vacation season for many makes this a good time to develop new routines and "get stuff done." The right stuff…! Key points in this podcast discussion include: The ability to create more structure More uninterrupted time because school has started. Putting personal goals above career goals What time horizons are and why they matter. Committing once again to regular self-care Sarah gives listeners a road map to get back on track. Those tips include: First, take a 10,000-foot view of everything you have committed to. If you must, use visuals such as a wall chart. Incorporate what Sarah calls a flexible template for work each week. Establish when you are working and when you are not working. Set up an environment that is conducive to productivity. And she shares so much more in this podcast. Do you want to book a strategy session with Sarah? Check out the link below to connect with her. https://www.truefocuscoaching.com/apply/

If you are an adult with ADHD and are struggling in a number of areas of your life, one of the ways that you can minimize crisis mode is to work with an ADHD coach. An ADHD coach can help you in so many areas, including clarity on tasks and projects, developing strategies to minimize the causes of burnout, and quite simply, just helping you get more done and get the right things accomplished. Sitting down with an ADHD coach regularly can also minimize your stress and be fun. You'll look forward to your ADHD coaching sessions. Do you want to work with Dave? Find out more at Overcoming Distractions; https://overcomingdistractions.com/

How do we prioritize when we have adult ADHD? How do we plan both our personal and professional lives and how do we create organization and build time management systems? All these are related when it comes to adult ADHD and that is the discussion for this podcast. ADHD, at its most basic level is a challenge with executive functions. And many with ADHD have difficulty with planning and executing important tasks. We will discuss the basics of how many aspects of our lives affect "getting stuff done!" Back on the podcast is ADHD coach Jeff Copper with DIG Coaching. Jeff uses a phrase called task Darwinism to explain how executive functions play a role in all parts of our lives and he begins the podcast by explaining what he means. Dave and Jeff discuss how many people with ADHD make planning and organization too complicated. They also discuss why clarity is one of the most important things a person with ADHD needs to have in all aspects of life. For example, being clear on directions from clients or your boss at work. Not having clarity is a recipe for procrastination and unnecessary stress. Jeff also discusses the difference between the word 'should' and 'will' and how these affect planning and organizing tasks. Jeff also gives tips towards the end of the podcast about staying away from panic mode when it's challenging to get stuff done. You can connect with Jeff Copper below. www.digcoaching.com www.attentiontalkradio.com

Have you had difficulty getting anything done over the past couple of months? While it's awesome to have the kids at home during the summer as well as take the time to enjoy the summer months, often it's difficult to keep any type of routine and make any headway on important projects and tasks. In this short episode, Dave talks about why for him, post-Labor Day is his new year. Dave talks about why this is a great time to tear apart your schedule and routines and find better methods for getting things done for the next few months. It's a great time to analyze all your commitments and get better at time and energy management, taking care of yourself, setting personal goals that will be supported by your career, and more. Want to work with Dave? Find out more here: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

We can incorporate mindfulness into our busy ADHD lives in several ways. Mindfulness doesn't always mean meditation. It means that you can give something your full attention without being distracted. And it should help reduce your stress. Can art help people with ADHD relax and increase their creativity? This week we have Faigie Kobre on the podcast, founder of Creativity Reunited. She spends much of her time helping people create art through alcohol inks which she explains in the podcast. She has some great tips in this podcast if you are an adult with ADHD and looking for something different to help reduce your stress. Faigie talks about being diagnosed with adult ADHD later on in life and how seeking a diagnosis came about. She talks about being a high end professional photographer and how after an ADHD diagnosis, she made the career change to educate people about art. She discusses how alcohol inks can help people relax and feel at ease, even those with ADHD and how this fits into the mixed media art community. Faigie discusses how everyone can get started with art, even if you feel you're not good at being creative through art. She says alcohol inks are a great way to express your creativity initially. Find out more at: https://creativityreignited.com/

While there are many ways to manage and thrive with adult ADHD, one of the areas to focus on is choosing the right foods. By eliminating certain types of foods, we can begin to feel better and even develop more focus On this episode of Dvercoming Distractions Dave sits down with Dana Kay, Founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute and the author of the book, THRIVING WITH ADHD –A Guide to Naturally Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Your Child. While dana's book is geared more towards children with ADHD, the same advice for which foods to choose also helps adults with ADHD. Dana feels that choosing the right foods and discussing nutrition for people with ADHD do not get enough attention. It is a powerful way to manage your ADHD, and she feels more and more people should be aware of the benefits of choosing the right foods. Dana also says that the worst foods for people with ADHD to consume are those that contain gluten, dairy, and soy. She says that if you had to choose one to start with, it would be removing gluten from your diet because it has many benefits. Dave and Dana also talk about how there is a connection between the brain and the gut. I think there is no better evidence of this than when you get butterflies in your stomach when you are nervous. Dana discusses how to get on the right track, including starting with whole foods, that consist of fruit vegetables grass-fed proteins, and healthy fats. She also advises you to drink spring water. There is a whole lot more nutritional advice when it comes to ADHD in this podcast, and Dana gives her tips for getting started. Find Dana Kay at her website as well as her book. https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Dave spends a few minutes talking about the power of routines regarding adult ADHD. Having routines, especially in the morning, as well as those that guide us in the workplace can reduce our stress, promote increased productivity and efficiency, and ultimately reduce the contribution to burnout. Dave talks about two areas that those with ADHD need to focus on when it comes to routines. We must have a morning routine that gets us out of the house and into the office without stress. And when we get to work, we need to build routines that allow us to work effectively and enjoy our career or job. Dave also talks about how it is important for us to be flexible because life changes, and we need to respond appropriately.

Burnout can happen to everyone, including those with ADHD. Adults with ADHD can burn out much faster when faced with an unhealthy work environment. Burnout also occurs when those of us with ADHD are not in the right job. ADHD career coach Shell Mendelson is on the podcast this week talking about what causes employees with ADHD to lose interest and even burnout. And Shell talks about the warning signs of being in the wrong job, how to correct that and how to lay the groundwork for finding a new career or job. Some important points to the discussion include: Why performance improvement programs at a job can backfire on people with ADHD. Why confidence is important when trying to navigate your career. What contributes to burnout in the workplace including poor communication, lack of flexibility, and not enough physical space or open spaces such as cubicles. And, of course the amount of house someone works. Shell discusses how to start the process of finding a new job or career. She walks everyone through an exercise for identifying what they like and what might cause them to experience any level of burnout in the workplace. She also has suggestions for a successful job interview to ensure you ask good questions before accepting any position. Find out more about Shell here: www.passiontocareer.com www.shellmendelson.com

One trait that many with adults with ADHD are good at is making assumptions. However in most cases, those assumptions are about negative outcomes of various situations. We assume that when our boss or client calls a meeting or calls us, it's to discuss a negative situation or to speak with us about a job that was not done properly. We also assume that some people do not like us or do not understand us. And many of us assume that the car next to us is going to cut us off on the highway. Dave talks about why making assumptions only adds stress to our lives and he discusses a couple very simple strategies to implement in your life to start the process of not assuming everything is bad. Sometimes it's as simple as rewriting the conversation in your head. If you have a habit of assuming the worst in all kinds of situations, join Dave for this short podcast about ADHD and assumptions. Learn more about working with Dave at: www.OvercomingDistractions.com