Kick Some ADHD

If you're a sci-fi fan, you know that getting caught in a tractor beam is NOT a good thing. If your phone is one, learn ways that you can break the magnetic pull!

Do you struggle to put down your phone? If you feel like you have little to no control over how much time you spend on technology, then this episode is designed for you.

Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing expert and she has changed countless lives with her recommendations to declutter by keeping only items that 'spark joy.'

But I'm not convinced these organizing techniques will work for people with ADHD. Here's why.

In this week's episode, we’re talking about what I think of as an ADHD Swiss Army Knife or ADHD multi-tool to help you kick a slew of ADHD challenges. You’ll learn how just a couple of questions can help you live easier with ADHD!

People with ADHD tend to impulsively jump in and do something that would terrify just about anybody else. We appear brave, able to take on challenges and accomplish great things.

But that's not always the case. Sometimes we pause just long enough to listen to the sneaky little voices in our head. Ones that lead us to play small and cave into our fears.

Sometimes life gets a bit complicated and busy no matter what we do and we have to make tough choices. Such has happened recently to David and the day we never wanted to see has arrived. Join us for this special episode...when David says goodbye.

When did you last update the vitamins & supplements you're taking? Many of the critical nutrients for ADHD brains are in short supply in the foods we eat, so here's a super condensed version of episode #88 for a simple way you can help your brain!

With the holiday season here, it's the perfect time to revisit our old friend, Episode 75. It has an ADHD-friendly approach to keeping impulsive spending under control!

For those times when you need to focus in a specific direction, but find yourself struggling, we're bringing you this encore presentation of Episode 83. It's worth a refresher even if you've heard it before!

Here's another in our new series of highly-condensed, power-packed edits of popular favorite episodes from the past!What's it really like to have ADHD? Here's something you can share with your neurotypical friends who don't understand what it's like to be in your brain.



DISCLAIMER: As Dana says, "If you've met one person with ADHD, you've met one person with ADHD."All of us neurospicy folks are different. But this conversation covers some of the things that other people find unusual about us!Want more? Check out the full episode, #33 A Day in the Life of an ADHD Brain here: https://kicksomeadhd.com/033-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-adhd-brain/

Do you know the difference between "procastibating" and "procrastinating?" We discussed it in episode 82, but it's a classic worth hearing again (if you heard it back in January of 2022)!

Just 10 days left to respond to our listener survey! https://KickSomeADHD.com/survey



We're digging back into the archives again to provide the follow-up episode to the one we shared last week. Here's an encore presentation of Episode 62!



If you have ADHD, you're procrastinating.



You know it. We know it. Everyone around you knows it.



ADHD procrastination causes clutter and stress and conflict. It ruins your reputation. It trashes your self-respect.



Life is hard when you do anything and everything but what you’re supposed to do.



And you've probably tried to stop procrastinating. Sometimes it works for a while, but ultimately it doesn't. Sure, there are some areas in your life where procrastinating can be reduced. But you're still going to procrastinate at least some of the time.



The key is to procrastinate strategically. In other words: use procrastination to your advantage!



Strategic procrastination is built on two things:




Harnessing the power of deadlines, and



Taking tiny next steps.




In this episode, we use the classic example of packing for a trip to discuss how to leverage deadlines and take tiny steps in advance to get the most out of your ADHD procrastination.



Share Your Thoughts



Record a 90-second response here: https://KickSomeADHD.com/hello



And if you want to go back and listen to last week's episode, you can click here for Episode #174: Become Intimate with Your Procrastination!

Here's a surprise for you! It's a highly condensed, power-packed edit of one of our most valuable episodes from the past: The ADHD Manipulation Matrix. Let us know if you want more like this!

We're bringing back a good one from the archive! Back in 2021, we looked at 5 conversations people with ADHD commonly have about procrastination. Lots of practical stuff here that's connected to SO MANY of our ADHD struggles!

Starting in 2009, squirrels forever came to be associated with ADHD. You know when you have a squirrel affecting you... or DO you? Dana's got a fantastic new technique for you, and YES we have a squirrel of the week! (But it's one worth chasing!)

Do you ever go into waiting mode? Maybe you're expecting someone to respond to a message, or maybe you have something happening at a scheduled time. And you find yourself unable to do anything even though there are other things you could be doing?

The ADHD Codes were born on this podcast, but some of them have taken on lives of their own! Many of us are living by them... but which ones are the most used and loved? We revisit them AND we have a fun Squirrel of the Week!

Do you treat yourself as if ADHD is a character flaw? Do you think of it as a personal failing? Here's a shift that's going to sound subtle, but can have profound effects on your life!

Are you struggling with your to-dos? Do you face a hazy cloud of tasks that haven't been quantified? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by it? What if you could have a realistic, helpful list each day that you can finish more often than not? PLUS we have a surprising Squirrel of the Week!

Last time, we talked about whether it was a good idea to use AI tools like ChatGPT with your ADHD or not. Now it's time to talk specifics: how can you use ChatGPT to improve your productivity? What should you avoid? PLUS a related Squirrel of the Week!

So-called "AI" systems like ChatGPT have been endlessly hyped, and it's been suggested that they're particularly helpful for people with ADHD. But are they? And should you use them? What do you need to know that might help keep you out of trouble with them? PLUS Dana has an adorable Squirrel of the Week!

We move through the world thinking that we are having a unique experience. This sensation that you are the only person dealing with the circumstances in your life can tend to cause you to withdraw from others—especially when things are hard. The reality is that this perception is false! What is pluralistic ignorance? And how is it affecting your life?

This time of year can be especially tricky for those of us with ADHD. Find out why you might find yourself rebuilding some of the valuable things that help you manage your ADHD right now... and don't miss the thought-provoking Squirrel of the Week!

You know the feeling: you put the thing in that one spot, but then it's just not there! With ADHD, we're a little prone to misplacing things... so we're adding 2 new ADHD codes. One of them will have you examining your zipper! Plus we have a puzzling Squirrel of the Week!

Have you ever wondered if you're just broken? How can you tell if you're feeling broken? And what can you do to stop feeling that way? Plus, a "don't miss" Squirrel of the Week that's especially relevant!

ADHD can make a tangled mess out of our lives. Where to start trying to untangle things? Today Dana lays out a roadmap with 4 paths to follow that will help do exactly that. PLUS a sci-fi Squirrel of the Week!

Some of our most cringeworthy moments with ADHD come from saying something we regret. Maybe we said the wrong thing, picked the wrong time, dominated a conversation, or otherwise created difficulties for ourselves and others. Today: all about our weak verbal filters and how to strengthen them!

How do injuries and illnesses affect your ADHD? Can physical pain make ADHD symptoms more severe? Today we're talking about your physical well-being and your ADHD... plus an interesting new Squirrel of the Week!

We've talked recently about why boundaries are important and why those of us with ADHD might be inclined to struggle them. But it's time to get super practical and practice the art of saying yes and saying no. Plus we see the return of one of our ADHD Codes and a brand new Squirrel of the Week!

What does a healthy boundary even look like? It's time to get practical and work on when, why, and how to set and protect boundaries!

Do you set and protect healthy boundaries in your professional and personal relationships? Why is it that ADHD symptoms overlap so much with the struggles people face when they don't have healthy boundaries? We're talking all about boundaries & ADHD... plus Dana's got a fascinating Squirrel of the Week!

With record high temperatures for those of us in the US, it can be tricky to stay hydrated. How does that affect our ADHD-related emotional dysregulation? Dana shares some science with us PLUS a very timely Squirrel of the Week!

Dana shares a new ADHD code she's been testing out to help us take a pause and make a conscious choice in key moments. It's a tool we can all use with a little practice! PLUS a fun Squirrel of the Week!

What do you do with the data you've collected to turn your 72 hours into the life you really want? Dana shares about what she learned and walks us through how to proceed. PLUS our Squirrel of the Week will help you with your summer travels!

We talked last time about our 72-hour time period, but how do we realistically collect data (in a healthy way!) about how we're using that time? PLUS an all-new Squirrel of the Week and some listener mail!

There's a specific 72-hour chunk of time every week that each of us needs to give some real thought to. Although the exact number varies from person to person, what remains true for all of us is that how we use those hours dramatically affects who we are and who we become! Here's how to think about those PLUS an all-new Squirrel of the Week!

We're probably familiar with most of the reasons an employer might want to hire someone else instead. But despite all the attention that gets paid to negative ADHD traits, the fact of the matter is that hiring people with ADHD can be precisely what you need! The key is to know what situations work best and how to ask the right questions. You may want to share this episode with hiring managers, business owners, and others! PLUS we're debuting our all-new feature: the Squirrel of the Week!

We've heard terms like "neurodiverse" and "neurodivergent" used to describe people with ADHD and other traits, but are they useful? In our neverending quest to help people understand how our brains are different from those of others, we introduce the latest term to come along: "neurospicy." What does it mean? And are YOU neurospicy?

Ever get overstimulated? For some of us with ADHD, it can happen because of noise. For others, it's people and social interactions. Maybe for you it's something different like decision fatigue. Here's what causes us to get overstimulated and what works to help relieve it!

Sometimes we find ourselves cranking along through life and feeling like we're making progress, but are we? Specifically, are we moving in the direction we want to move where it comes to managing our ADHD? Dana offers us some valuable perspective!

When something overwhelms you, it's time for our newest ADHD code... one that will remind of you of Jurassic Park! We've got horror stories, real-life examples, and a tool you don't want to be without

Digital bloat collects EVERYWHERE. It's in your browser (tabs!), your computer desktop (files!), your phone (apps!), and it can really slow you down and even steal your focus! Why is it important to address and what can you do?

We all know social media can be a huge time suck for anyone... but especially those of us with ADHD. But is it all bad? And is there a way to use it intentionally? Here's an honest conversation about social media & ADHD and a complete strategy you can use right away!

We often talk about the many ways a smartphone can wreak havoc on the ADHD brain. But is it possible to avoid those AND use your device help you focus?

Not getting enough good sleep can lead to foggy brains, fragile emotions, inability to focus, and all sorts of other problems. It can seriously derail any efforts you're making to kick your ADHD symptoms. But what's actually hurting your sleep? And what can you do?

What are 2 huge things you can do in the morning to seriously wreck your day? The latest installment in our ADHD codes reveals what you can do instead to set yourself up to be productive!

We talk frequently about accepting reality and accepting ourselves. But how do we do those things while also doing what it takes to make the contribution we're here to make? Do we risk becoming complacent to the point of failure?

Have you ever had shame just wash over you and completely overwhelm you? With ADHD, we have plenty of reasons to feel shame, but you don't have to stay stuck. Here's how to step out of the shame shower.

In Episode 137: Whole Brain Living - ADHD Game Changer?, we announced some exciting new things. Here's what's happening with those.



If you haven't yet done it, we highly recommend getting your hands on (or ears on, if you enjoy audiobooks!) Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.



Click here to buy the book on Amazon:https://amzn.to/3IGDoA9.



Also be sure to subbscribe to the new Kick Some ADHD YouTube channel here!https://www.youtube.com/@KickSomeADHD?sub_confirmation=1



We look forward to bringing you more news about this as soon as possible. Thanks for listening!

Tax time is here! If you're in the US, then the deadline to file your annual tax return is upon you. Why is this subject so triggering for many people with ADHD? How can work through it and prevent more traumatic experiences around taxes?

When David let slip last week that he'd delayed filing a claim to get his car repaired for more than a year, Dana determined to help him get it done. But what happens when Dana's not quite in coach mode? Will she still be able to be helpful? Or will it go completely sideways?

Here's an insidious pattern of thinking & behavior that will consistently draw you right into a trap. You may not even realize you have this tendency, but it leads to unfinished projects, drives procrastination, and is a huge source of stress and frustration. Learn all about it and how to untangle yourself from it!

What if science had given us a discovery that could change the way you deal with your ADHD brain? And what if that discovery could help you balance out your emotions and behavior, and even improve your performance and productivity? Don't worry... there aren't any miracle pills here, but we've learned something we're really excited to share with you!

Do you need your brain hat right now? What about later today? What is a brain hat, you ask? Dana calls David to explain exactly that... and how it can be a really useful idea!

We need planning in our lives, we really do—especially at work. But with ADHD we tend to fall into some predictable planning traps... if we do it at all! Here's how to navigate 3 of the biggest problems we have when planning with ADHD.

Do you skip planning or struggle to plan... because it's just no fun? Even spending a few quick moments making a plan can make your day go smoothly or even avert disasters! So here are 4 words to make planning easy for your ADHD brain!

You know that bruise you can't remember getting? What about the wall they JUST put there?! Ever have trouble walking in a straight line? Your clumsiness might be related to ADHD—and not just because you don't pay attention! The science might just surprise you!

Do you ever find yourself nursing old wounds and regrets? Do you wish that people had given you better support? Do you still have hurts over the way people treated you because of your ADHD? What about pain you've caused?

We knew there was a shortage of Adderall, but just how far have the ripple effects gone? And is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

Are you like many people with ADHD and have a strong urge to do something that actually makes your life harder? Yep... we can be like moths drawn to a flame. It's a trap! Here's what it is and how to get out of it!

You know that feeling when you're brain just won't let you get started on something? It turns out that it's not just you... there are actual reasons why! Learn about those plus the 5 steps you can use to get started!

What if there were one thing that could be a huge drain on your mental and emotional energy? And what if making a simple change could have a dramatic positive impact on not just both of those, but also significantly improve your chances of making this new year the one you're hoping for?

Do New Year's Resolutions work for anyone?! Certainly not for those of us with ADHD! There is something you CAN do to set your new year up for success though. Find out what 3 questions to ask yourself and hear how we each answer them!

It's almost universal that this time of year a whole bunch of people want to get started exercising. But before you go crazy with it, we are bringing you an encore presentation of Ep. 93: Motivating Yourself to Exercise from earlier this season.



Why? Because to actually have a sustainable lifestyle change, you need more than the temporary motivation that magically arises after all the holiday overeating and just as the New Year looms. You need ways to actually find motivation and keep it. But you also need to remove the barriers to exercise from your life, and most importantly you want to figure out how to get the least exercise possible and still get the brain and body benefits from it so that you'll actually keep doing it!



And that's why this replay of Episode 93 is so relevant right now. Enjoy!



And we'll be back next week to kick off Season 4 of Kick Some ADHD with an episode all about New Year's Resolutions!

Getting your brain activated and engaged at the right level is hugely important to having sustainable productive focus in our lives. But that's also a huge challenge! Overstimulating your ADHD brain can put you straight into overwhelm. Hyperfocus is tempting (and can be fun!) because it's so powerful, but it depletes our energies. Being understimulated is a recipe for distraction (and possibly disaster!)



That struggle is the reason we wanted to present an encore presentation of episode 35.



NOTE: David's audio is rough in this episode, but Dana, as usual, sounds fantastic.



Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Did you know that motivation is essentially a matter of dopamine in the brain? In this encore presentation, we nerd out over the most important neurotransmitter in the ADHD brain and how it affects us!

With ADHD, we tend to really enjoy starting things but then struggle to finish them—especially things that don't have deadlines attached. This is extra painful when it's something important to us personally. Here's an approach you can use to finish those things (and many other types of things!) when you have ADHD.

With ADHD, is there a way for you to engage with something—even if it's boring—and then see it through to the end? Not because there's an impending deadline or you've tricked yourself into hyperfocusing on it, but just because it's worthwhile to do?

Thanks in part to our ADHD time distortion, it's often very difficult for us to estimate how long something will take. This can become a significant problem at work when we're called upon to predict project schedules or craft proposals based upon labor hours, but it can also create difficulties at home and in our personal relationships.



In this shorter holiday-week episode (Happy Thanksgiving if you're listening in the US!), David walks us through a simple technique you can easily adapt to help you estimate time.



Using T-Shirt Sizes to Estimate the Inestimable



Step 1: Break the item into chunks, write them down (Pro tip: use sticky notes!)



Step 2: Sort the items into categories, then label them with this useful acronym: MoSCoW



Must have this (also Minimal Usable SubseT)Should haveCould be nice to haveWon’t have this – maybe later



Step 3: Assign a t-shirt size to each chunk



Listen in (we estimate it will take about 15 minutes of your time) and then let us know: How can you adapt this to your work? What tricks do you have to help you estimate time? Email us at: hello [at] kicksomeadhd [dot] com!



Want to spend some time learning more? Check out:



Episode 120: ADHD’s Warped Vision of TimeEpisode 121: Cultivating a Clearer Vision of TimeDana’s blog: Your ADHD Relationship with TimeDana’s blog: Watch Out For the ADHD Time Warp!

In part 3 of our ADHD time series, Dana shows us a simple and incredibly useful way to game the system so that we take action earlier and reduce the stress and propensity for failure that comes with waiting until the last minute!

Following last episode's discussion of how ADHD warps our view of time, we're now looking practical ways to "unwarp" our perceptions of time to get more done, be more reliable, accomplish our goals, and live our values!

In our first-ever "BONUS Kick" episode, David calls Dana to talk about the Adderall shortage in the US. Even if you're aren't one of the many people with ADHD who is having a hard time getting your prescription filled right now, knowing what to do when you can't get your ADHD medication could be a big help!

Many of the struggles we face with ADHD are related in some way to how we experience time. But what's behind our warped view of time? And why does it affect everything from friendships and marriages to job performance and finances?

ADHD brain fog: what it is it? What causes it? Is there anything we can do to fix it? All that and more in this episode!

Some things absolutely destroy our productivity. For you, it could be an activity, an object, or a task—your list is probably unique. But chances are there's something that you have to protect yourself from. And that's why Dana is introducing ADHD Kryptonite defense systems!

Overwhelm. It's a state we find ourselves in that can be paralyzing. And for those of us with one particular type of ADHD, Dana theorizes that it's actually our standard MO. How can we break the paralysis? And maybe even prevent it?

True confession time: both of us have some stories to tell. In fact, we considered just never releasing this because we're admitting to things we probably shouldn't. How does ADHD affect your driving?

Live any length of time with unmanaged ADHD and you might just develop a track record of missing expectations—either your own or others'. The weight of all that can, in turn, translate into a paralyzing fear of failure. How can you be sure you won't disappoint again?

There are many popular misconceptions about ADHD, but some of them are so widely held that they rise to the level of mythology. And frankly, some of them just piss us right off! What are they and why are they false?

With ADHD we struggle with the financial and administrative stuff of running our businesses and working lives. Dana calls this "the yuck." When you find yourself dealing with a pile of it, you've gotta dig out. Here are strategies and tools you can use right now!

Having ADHD means you have stories to tell. They might not have seemed that unusual to us at the time, but in retrospect, some of these things just wouldn't be likely to happen in the lives of more neurotypical people. Today, we're telling on ourselves. Get ready for some laughs!

So many facets of improving your life with ADHD come down to how you answer this question: "Who do you want to be?" It's not about what you want to be when you grow up, it's about what sort of person do you reall want to be? Here's a strategic framework and a vulnerable discussion to help you think through this important question.

If you've ever attempted a series of quick fixes and temporary solutions to ADHD-related problems, you know that eventually you realize they don't work. Working toward lasting change that addresses the root issues requires going inward. Today Dana takes us on that journey, and shows us how the internal work translates into outward actions that produce authentic results in our lives.

Not all "accountability" techniques work for those of us with ADHD. But when you set it up optimally, it's an amazing power tool that you can't afford to be without! Here's how to do it.

How do stimulants actually work to sharpen attention in our brains? Has science discovered the connection between exercise & dopamine? Why do ADHD brains sometimes run out of energy sooner than others? We're looking at these questions and more with a roundup of some recent developments in neuroscience to help us better understand our ADHD and how to work with it.

Building and nurturing relationships are essential professional skills—whether or not you participate in networking activities. But are there ADHD-friendly ways to be great at them? Absolutely! We talk about those and a lot more!

Many of us with ADHD have amazing memories. It's just that we don't always remember the things we NEED to remember... WHEN and WHERE we need to remember them. And that means we need a system! (But an easy one that's ADHD friendly and that we'll actually remember to use!)

When stress becomes constant in our lives, it can seriously wreak havoc with our ADHD symptoms. Today we look at how to recognize when you're dealing with chronic stress and practical, ADHD-friendly ways to reduce your stress for good!

Waiting around for motivation to strike is BS. Today, we're giving you permission to use distraction—on purpose! So often, we think about distraction as a negative thing with ADHD., but distracting yourself can be just the thing to help kick yourself into action. You won't want to miss this episode!

This is one of those episodes you'll want to absorb fully. In fact, even though the concept sounds simple—and indeed it really is—it's the kind of thing you'll probably want to come back to again. Maybe more than once. It's about cultivating a mindset that will subtly improve a number of aspects of your life with ADHD. And over time, adopting this mindset WILL make your life easier!

You know that feeling when your day spins out of control? How do you recover? Today we're tackling some questions from a listener who wanted to know how to respond to one of those days when you've worked so hard to prevent them. If you've ever had a day go off the rails, then this episode is for you!

This week we're talking about a simple idea that can have an outsized effect on many of the ways we tend to struggle with ADHD. It's so simple and so profound, in fact, that we can forget it easily. And that's why we work though it in detail in this episode!

Having ADHD presents us with lots of opportunities to refine things and improve ourselves. But we can't work on everything at once! And that's why we have a "front burner" focus. This week: how to improve consistency in your life by managing your front burner focus effectively, including when to move something to a back burner and much, much more!

ADHD meltdowns are awful. Losing control of our emotions can leave us AND those around us wondering what in the world just happened. And the worst part is: they don't stop happening just because we aren't kids anymore. In this episode: how to spot, prevent, cope through, and recover from an ADHD meltdown.

We've all heard about the importance of drinking water, but are you aware of how dehydration affects ADHD symptoms? This week, we talk about how to spot the signs of dehydration discuss ADHD-friendly ways to fix it and avoid it entirely!

All of us with ADHD are prone to distraction, but have you ever noticed that there are patterns to this? There may be certain times of day, for example, when you're more likely to fall down a rabbit hole. This week, we talk about how to discover your patterns and prevent them from perturbing your progress!

We talk frequently about the kind of person we want to be—both now and in the future. But what if there were relatively low-effort things we could do now that would make it much easier to be who we want to be in the future? That's our main focus for this week's episode: giving gifts to your future self!

Last week we talked about getting ready to travel with ADHD. This week is all about what to do when you're coming back from traveling. How can you make sure your re-entry to life and work is as smooth and trouble-free as possible? All that and more in this episode!

Travel can be very exciting & interesting to the ADHD brain... but it can also be a NIGHTMARE—especially when it comes to preparing, packing, and handling all the details. But it doesn't have to be awful. We talk about ways to lessen the trouble with traveling!