Episode 105: Joey and Jeremy

🎧 Welcome to Episode #105 of the Focus and Chill Podcast!

Jeremy and Joey are back—breaking down what it really takes to stay productive, sane, and playful as neurodivergent adults navigating life, work, and boring responsibilities like taxes and job hunting.

They dive into DUMB goals (a cheeky reframe of SMART goals), how automation can help with hard tasks, and why optimizing systems too much can actually hold you back.

👤 Your Hosts:
Jeremy – AuDHD founder of Focus Bear, software developer, and master of routines
Joey – Creative productivity coach, psychology nerd, and LLM tinkerer with big heart energy

🧠 In This Episode, We Cover:
What are DUMB Goals and why they might suit neurodivergent brains better
The “optimization trap” and how to escape it
Joey’s automated job application system using LLMs + doc generators
Jeremy’s spreadsheet-based second brain for managing email burnout
Tactics for doing hard, boring tasks like tax returns
Replacing Evernote: digital tools that actually work
Rethinking email, task systems, and communication overload
Why delight, play, and imperfection matter in long-term motivation

🕒 Episode Timeline 
00:00:00 – Intro + What We’re Covering
00:02:00 – DUMB Goals vs SMART Goals
00:05:00 – The Optimization Trap (Pros & Cons)
00:08:00 – Automating Job Applications with LLMs
00:14:00 – Grant Scoring & Task Prioritization
00:16:00 – Jeremy’s Low-Dopamine Email Management System
00:21:00 – Rethinking Email, Labels, and Replies
00:24:00 – Layers of Communication (Email, Slack, Calls)
00:25:00 – How DUMB Goals Fit Creative Projects
00:27:00 – Resistance Training, Momentum & Reigniting Joy
00:28:00 – Coloring Books, Cold Outreach, and Tax Returns
00:31:00 – Second Brains, Note Apps & Evernote Replacements
00:34:00 – OneNote vs Evernote + Final Reflections

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/
Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/

More from Focus Bear:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

#ADHD #Neurodivergent #Productivity #DUMBGoals #Automation #FocusBear #MentalHealth #LLMHacks #CreativeDiscipline #SecondBrain #NoteTakingTools