Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

We’ve been talking about focus this month and this week’s digital episode continues the theme. We’re talking about fighting focus failure with four prime strategies to keep you working free of distraction. From using wifi toggling to save yourself from the lure of the Internet to selective notifications, to full-screen apps, and our favorite tip on application complexity, there’s something in here for everyone whose fingers tickle the keyboard day-by-day! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You’re in a job interview. Things are going well! You’re telling stories of your heroism and courage in facing down your greatest foes, growing businesses, the works. Then they ask the question: “Please describe your greatest strengths and weaknesses…" You freeze! That’s because we, as humans, are terrible at realistically assessing our own strengths and weaknesses. It’s backed by research: we invariably rate our self-assessment either more optimistic or pessimistic compared to others’ observations of us. That’s why it’s so important to have a reliable feedback mechanism for determining and validating our strengths as we develop and mature our skills. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete talk about the challenges of self-assessment and offer a pair of terrific suggestions that you can use to discover your strengths right now. Links & Notes Flawed Self-Assessment: Implications for Health, Education, and the Workplace VIA Character Strengths Finder The Definition of Hell for Each Myers-Briggs Personality Type ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When you sit down to shop online, do you have the same intention and agenda that you have when you shop in brick and mortar stores? Sure, from time to time we might go shopping for fun, but most of the time, when we hit the bricks, it’s to run errands, pick up specific things, and get back to the business of the day. If you’re struggling with ADHD, my bet is that you have more trouble shopping online and keeping your focus on your goal than you make like to admit! This week on the show, we have five tips for managing your time and attention while shopping online — save money while relieving stress and getting things done! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We all know repetition can get boring. It stinks to feel like we’re stuck in a rut of humdrum rinse and repeat! Still, if you have any commitments that you have to repeat each day, week, month… you’d better have a system in place to manage them and make sure you don’t miss a beat. This week on the show, we’re talking all about routines — those strings of tasks that you have to complete in order to accomplish a goal. And because it’s a digital episode, Pete Wright walks through three systems for managing your sets of routines, plus a bonus app for managing your kids’ chores, too! Links & Notes Omnifocus Evernote HomeRoutines DailyRoutine — Update: No longer in active development. Bonus: iAllowance ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We got some great questions after last week’s episode on prioritizing and it turns out we may feel alone, but we’re in good company! As it turns out, many of you are also struggling with this of overload, which leads to our collective inability to follow through on our projects, tasks, and goals. This week, we help identify the potential cause of your follow through problem, and give you four solutions to move you through the mire and find the light of accomplishment! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s a big show! First, some follow-up from last week on tolerations. We answer a great question from a listener around how to address another sort of tolerations, and how to fight the overwhelm that comes from over-commitment. How do you get from a place of overwhelm toward a place of feeling more in control and progressing forward? This week on the show, we offer strategies for dealing with the stress of over-commitment that brings liberation and hope, too! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s been nearly 100 episodes since we last talked tolerations, and we have (ahem) a lot to report. This week, we’re taking a step back to look at the impact of ADHD noise on our tolerations. We look at the positive emotional and creative impacts of building a lifestyle in which we acknowledge, cultivate, and complete our tolerations. Links & Notes Our first tolerations episode The Original Tolerations Worksheet Nikki’s Tolerations Pete’s Tolerations ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Understanding ADHD means you’re coming to an understanding of the unique characteristics of ADHD and you. That can mean waking up to a whole world that all of the sudden doesn’t work the way you always thought it did! Today on the show, Pete Wright shares a few key systems and technologies that can help you get back on track by evaluating how you write, and how you read. Thanks to a few old techniques and new tools, you can begin to build living systems that fit your unique ADHD challenges! Links & Notes Audible Whispersync for Audio Fieldnotes Brand Livescribe Pen Solutions ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We’re turning the corner on vulnerability this week, talking about transition stories. What is it like to make the leap from chaos, no idea that there is a definition for your experience, to understanding, learning about your ADHD and building systems that allow you to reach for peace? This week on the show, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer talk about the vulnerability required to make that leap forward in your life, and how important it is to reframe confusion as a positive, a doorway to learning. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

As a parent, we walk a careful balance between nurturing, protecting, and disciplining our children. But the complications that come with parenting a child with ADHD make this balance fuzzy. As our kids are experimenting, pushing boundaries, learning to live in their skin, we have to work extra hard to keep our composure, as acting out can mean so many more things. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete share tools and techniques for parenting children learning to live with their ADHD, with a focus on validation, support, and love. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

For so many struggling with ADHD, traits of focus and attention, and the stigma of the set of behaviors that comes with it can cause us to visit the shame spiral. This week on the show, we talk about Brené Brown’s pioneering research and inspirational presentations on shame and vulnerability, and how reframing our approach to shame can lead to a powerful awakening of strength and confidence. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you’re a regular listener of this show, you know how highly we hold human connectedness toward our emotional health. We are tribal creatures, and more often than not, we are closer to reaching the best “us” we can be, when we’re involved and invested in a community. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the importance of community and our human connections. From the perspective of being a mom with ADHD, the power of admission and awareness can go far toward releasing some of the frustration that comes with mental noise. Join us for some great resources! Links & Notes Dr. Ellen Littman ADDitude Magazine Webinars ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On this week's digital show, we're talking all about using your technology to play. It's all about figuring out how to use the tech tools at your disposal to re-engage your kids, get up and move your body, and have fun without the guilt that comes with keeping your head in your phone. This week on the show, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer introduce three games and tools, and walk through how getting outside with tech can become a fun — and intentional — gift of time friends and family! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On the heels of Nikki’s imploding computer comes a conversation about facing up to — and then facing down — those negative situations that crop up in our lives. From finding the awareness to accept the reality of the situation to mustering the confidence to let it go when it’s time to move on, we share tips and strategies for finding meaningful support in our lives when we need it. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You know the feeling. You may not be a writer, but you certainly know writer’s block. You may not be a psychic, but you know when stars are misaligned. You know the feeling. It’s that feeling you get when life feels hard. When the things you know are supposed to be falling into place in your life are falling out all over the road. You’re walking uphill through quicksand. Every move feels like a disaster waiting to happen … on your head. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can train yourself to fight the friction, dissolve the stickiness, and get yourself moving forward again. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share techniques for doing just that, and feeling even stronger as a result. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

So much of how we feel in life is determined by how we feel in our skin. That means we have to take the time to evaluate how well we’re treating ourselves — are we eating right? Are we eating the right amounts? Are we exercising? Are we sleeping enough? It’s all too easy to let the world — work, kids, family — eat into our lives to the point that we’re just not healthy anymore. This week, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer share digital tools for monitoring and managing our fitness and diet. From wearables that track your movement to the apps and services that help you define and achieve your health and fitness goals, listen in this week for the tools you’ll need to get started! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Problems! We all have them. They crop up when we least expect them, and they have the potential to truly derail us. But what if we train ourselves to disconnect from the negativity of our problems? To shift our perspective slightly, and turn our problems into challenges empty of emotional baggage, less intimidating? Less frightening? This week on The ADHD Podcast, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about problems, and the work it takes to reframe them into possibilities full of hope, energy, and power! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

After a series of on-air panic attacks suffered while reading the news in front of millions of TV viewers, Dan Harris was forced to rethink his approach to the world. In his book, 10% Happier, Harris chronicles his journey toward mindfulness and meditation and makes a compelling case that his practice offers emotional and physical benefits he had never before imagined. This week on Navigating Change, we discuss 10% Happier as a source for inspiration in our own evolving meditation practices. Even more, we offer strategies for approaching a mindfulness practice in a forgiving and patient manner, no matter your level of meditation experience. Links & Notes The 4-7-8 Breathing Technique ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Happy New Year! Now that we’re well into January, it’s time to leverage the collective energy around new beginnings and make some positive change. Careful, though, not to fall into the perennial trap: January resolutions that lead to February slips. This year, we’re making our January one of reflection. This week on the show, we share our strategy for building reflective and concrete structures around our new year, and how we’re turning our resolutions into plans that will support us all year long. Join us! Links & Notes The Writer's Room — "Breaking Bad" Field Notes Notebooks ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

When we think about managing our money with technology, it’s pretty easy to fall into the “tools trap,” that if you could just find that one great tool to manage your finances, you’ll suddenly be smarter, more in control, and better looking. The reality is, no one tool can do it all if you don’t establish the money management mindset. We’re taking on both sides of this particular coin this week, creating the right money management processes to help you stay on top of your spending, and finding the right technical tools that support you along the way. Links & Notes Quicken Quickbooks iBank Chronicle Mint.com (Owned by Intuit) Personal Capital ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This is not a naturally easy time of year if you’re struggling with ADHD. From hyper focus to anxiety and stress, we’re dealing with a new influx of stimuli that can hit is right where it hurts if we’re not careful: the bank account! Don’t let your natural untempered generosity get the better of your finances! This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share tips and strategies for managing finances without hitting the bottom line so hard! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Groups are transformative. With the guidance and support of a great coach, and like-minded peers, a group coaching environment can clear new pathways to learning and development in a space free of judgment and pressure. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright dive into the power of group coaching and introduce the new service as a core offering. If you’ve ever considered getting support along your ADHD journey, now is the perfect time to join a group and take control of your ADHD! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We’re gearing up for the holiday season — just a little over a week from Thanksgiving here in the US — and as if we needed any more of a reminder, our favorite stores seem to be accelerating things by kicking off their holiday extravaganza even earlier than years past! It is the season of the holiday show, the show that takes place outside, and the show that kicks off in our own homes. This week The ADHD Podcast, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share strategies for reducing stress as you navigate your own holiday adventure this year. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today, we offer three sentences. They are three simple sentences that may just change the way you talk to your children. And once you see how your relationship with your children changes, you may find yourself wondering how these three sentences will change the way you talk to your partner, your spouse, your team at work. You may find that these relationships grow stronger, and that you grow a bit, too. Or, you may find you’ve discovered a great new TV show, but you’re going to try different sentences all the same. Either way, you should listen to the show this week. Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share three sentences that have inspired them in the way they talk to their own families. And sometimes, listening to others get inspired is an inspiring enough journey all by itself. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week, we’re talking about transitions. It’s a story about a transition in the family, in fact, and the challenges that come as a result of watching those closest to us struggle in spite of our own experience. Nikki Kinzer shares the story of her son’s transition to middle school, and the work they have done as a family to understand both the social and emotional struggles that come with executive function issues at home and school. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

How are you with daily habits? Are you prone to forgetting your keys? How about leaving the house with the garage door wide open? If you’re prone to tiny bouts of forgetfulness, maybe it’s time to consider a technological solution! This week on Taking Control, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer walk through a variety of home automation solutions. From keyless home entry to complete home automation through your phone, any combination of these systems will give you just a hint at life in the future! Links of note On CVS and Rite Aid Rejecting Apple Pay — Steven Aquino August Door Lock Goji Kevo Lock Withings.com Smart Garage Doors Nest Belkin WeMo ATT Digital Life SmartThings ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Goals are great. Last week we talked at some length about goals, in fact, and the importance of building the right intention into our goals with “would,” “should,” and “have to.” But anyone can set goals. What sets those who set goals apart from those who achieve them is all about awareness. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright discuss the three critical questions to define your level of awareness of your own goals, and help build a framework for understanding the things that are truly important in your life! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Words have power. Nowhere is that more clear than in the language we use to describe ourselves. From empowerment to confidence to productivity and our very own care and appearance, the words we use to define ourselves have a direct and inextricable connection to the way we move through the world. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the power of three very important words, and how we can use those words to build confidence and motivation toward meeting our goals. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s ADHD Awareness Month and we’re ringing in the season with a terrific list of books, sites, groups and other resources to help you wrap your head around this pesky condition. Whether you’re new to ADHD and wrestling with your own diagnosis or that of a loved one, or been dealing with ADHD for many years, we have some great tools and texts to support your journey. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share their favorite ADHD resources to help support and spread awareness! Notes & Links You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy? More Attention, Less Deficit — Ari Tuckerman Understand Your Brain, Get More Done — Ari Tuckerman CHADD ADDA ADDitudemag Take Control ADHD ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast We’ve spent the last month talking about the impacts of ADHD on the job hunt, career search, interviews, and lives at work. In this month’s episode of Digital, we’re talking about some of the electronic tools and related systems that can help you get the most out of your work day. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright discuss the electronics that can help to free you from stress and overwhelm, and keep your workday on course! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast We’re continuing our series on ADHD in the workplace and this week, you’ve picked the right career, nailed your interview, and you’re finally ready to get to work. How do you make sure you’re making the most of your time and leveraging your strengths effectively? This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright take on time management in the face of overwhelm and distraction, and the boundaries you can set to make each day shine! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Whether you’re starting a new job or breathing new life into the job you have, creating and maintaining an organized workspace is critical to success and the ADHD brain. Time management, productivity, efficiency all improve when you’re free of disorganization and helps you feel stronger and more confident in the work you do every day. This week on Taking Control, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright help you create an organized workspace and get your workday in control! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast It’s time to dig into the nuts and bolts of getting your next — or first! — great job: the interview. Whether you feel you’re a seasoned vet or a complete novice, the act of pitching yourself to a potential manager can be stressful. The environment is even less hospitable if you’re struggling with attention or focus issues related to ADHD. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright offer key strategies for making your very best impression so that you can focus on the work, and contribution you want to make! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast It’s back to school season here in the US and what better time to kick off a series dedicated to getting back to work! This week on the show, we introduce our next series with the challenges and opportunities that come with guiding your own career and picking your next job. Nikki’s background in human resources and recruiting put her in the hotseat working to help people find the right job where they can contribute their best strengths. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete Wright share tools and strategies to help refine your search and end up in the best role for you! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast We’re taking on tech tools for school in this week’s digital episode of The ADHD Podcast, from considerations around speed of data collection and retrieval to discovering the tools and processes that will help you best focus your attention and achieve classroom success. In this episode we ask three fundamental questions: What is the fastest tool for you to collect information? What is the fastest tool for you to retrieve information you need later? And how comfortable are you with specific technology hardware solutions? This week on the show, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer will help you wrap your head around great options for managing the technology you’re going to need before you hit the books! Links & Resources Apps for Students iStudiez pro for iOS, Mac, Windows If your school is online, make sure you get the app for the platform in your program. Likely either Blackboard or Moodle. Both of these apps stink, frankly, but they’re good to keep around to be able to check in with your courses on the go. Tools and Training Notetaking is a skill. Get better at it! — Assorted YouTube tutorials Lynda.com for all your Technology Training Mind Mapping with Von Glitschka on Lynda.com Tony Buzan on Mind Mapping — This is a goofy commercial video, but I include it here because Tony Buzan owns the trademark as the “inventor” of mind mapping. This will help you get to know Tony a bit better and once you get over the terrible announcer, there’s some good information in here. Evernote Moleskine Notebooks Final Cut Pro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast So, you’ve made the transition to school on the right foot. How do you make sure each day is as successful as you can make it? Establish a morning routine that supports your natural behavior and your current demands! This week on The ADHD Podcast, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share strategies for establishing your morning routine supporting your schedule and your health! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Integrating into the college environment is exciting and frightening. Young or old, you’re diving into a new universe of demands, expectations, and deadlines, all of which challenge the ADHD in complex ways. Continuing our series on ADHD and the college student, this week Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about how to start the new year with confidence from living in a new space, to finding the right planning systems, to integrating into classes with the right foot forward! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast The demands of higher education on adults with ADHD can be significant. High pressure, frequent deadlines, myriad distractions, and multiple simultaneous areas of study all contribute to an environment ripe for stress and frustration. These challenges make coaching and accountability even more critical when working toward achieving your degree. Nikki Kinzer is formalizing a specialized coaching service for degree seekers of all sorts with ADHD Coaching for the College Student. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete Wright talk about this service and why higher education is such a unique experience for those with ADHD. From organizing to time management, to personal care, this episode sets the stage for our series on students and ADHD this month! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast If you’re struggling with ADHD, you know about hyperfocus. But this trait is commonly misunderstood — both its function in the disorder and its impact on day-to-day life. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the biological underpinnings of hyperfocus and share tips for breaking free when you need to. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thanks to a listener, we have a digital option for dealing with piles and piles of kid’s productivity! "I have a hard time figuring out what to do with all my children's art projects and how to organize, store and save them. Throwing them away is so hard that I find myself keeping piles and piles of projects and I don't know what to do with them. However, I know I can't continue to keep all of them unless I want to devote an entire room in my house!” This week on the show, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer share one strategy for helping to cope with copious kid work — this one uses our favorite tool, Evernote, but you can adapt and expand the workflow to suit your needs. Listen in and start to cull the clutter! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Summer is supposed to be our chance to recharge, regroup, plan for the future. Sure, there’s work to be done, but when that work overwhelms your schedule to the point that you’re more stressed than ever, it’s time to take a step back, breathe deep, and figure out how to take back control. If you’re struggling with ADHD, this can be a huge challenge as you’re at once overwhelmed by demands, and you struggle to clearly forecast the time it takes you to meet your objectives. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright take on summer overwhelm and offer tips and strategies for meeting demands while soaking in some summer rays! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Do you get stuck in the vortex of negativity? You know the drill — someone cuts you off on the highway or you’re charged a fee for not paying a bill on time — and suddenly, that one, tiny, innocuous bump in your road becomes a sheer cliff of frustration. That frustration can head straight to rageville, and suddenly you risk contaminating everyone you come into contact with. When you get stuck in the vortex, it’s tough to see clearly how to climb out. Today on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright share tips and techniques for fighting negativity, even when all you want to do is hold onto it. From understanding your own anxiety to grabbing on to positive language, you can create a spirit of mindfulness and duck the vortex — it just takes a little practice! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Boredom. For you, maybe it manifests in restlessness, foot-tapping in a long line, checking your texts or email … again. If you’re struggling with ADHD, boredom can take on a whole new — and sometimes painful — reality. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright offer ADHD-friendly tools and tips to beat boredom and stay engaged! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast It’s summer! The season for vacation. But if you struggle distilling signal from noise, you may also have trouble putting details together to create the perfect trip. Planning is key, but what if you missed the opportunity to plan and now the trip is upon you? This week, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about fake planning, and give you the tools you need to create a great trip and feel confident you have all the details covered with just a little support. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Sometimes, the slow march of evolution leads to a pivot in the timeline. Such is the case this week with Taking Control, as we look at who we've become over the last four years, and think more clearly about the years to come. This week on the show, Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright talk about the show, embracing the transition to a more cogent ADHD focus moving forward. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★