EP. 303: Turning Work into Play: Kristen West’s Story
Oct 23, 2024
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Kristen West, founder of The Centered Life Co., shares her inspiring journey of managing ADHD with humor and creativity. She highlights the transformative impact of her diagnosis on her work and life, turning challenges into strengths. Kristen discusses her ADHD-friendly productivity tools that incorporate joy and play, proving that being organized can be fun. With over half a million followers, she inspires others to embrace their unique quirks. Her story emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and celebrating personal differences in the quest for balance.
Kristen West emphasizes the importance of humor and creativity in managing ADHD, transforming challenges into enjoyable routines that promote mental well-being.
The podcast highlights the power of community support and tailored systems in navigating ADHD, showcasing how collaboration can lead to personal and professional success.
Deep dives
Creating Daily Blends for ADHD Management
Daily blends are designed to help individuals with ADHD manage overwhelming feelings and find positive emotions through a quick 10-minute routine. This approach includes a mix of coaching, mindfulness techniques, affirmations, and breathwork to ground and inspire users at the start of their day. The idea is to provide a manageable and fun way for ADHD brains to process their thoughts and emotions, promoting a sense of calm and purpose. By offering this resource for an entire year at a one-time price, it encourages consistent practice and supports long-term mental health.
Highlighting Successful Figures with ADHD
The episode emphasizes the often-overlooked successes of individuals with ADHD, including well-known figures like Greta Gerwig and Simone Biles. It challenges the stigma surrounding ADHD by discussing that a significant percentage of people with ADHD are in excellent mental health and thriving in their fields. This focus on positive outcomes seeks to inspire listeners to recognize and celebrate their strengths rather than view ADHD as solely a limitation. By sharing such examples, it encourages a mindset shift towards embracing ADHD as a part of one's identity that can foster unique talents.
Kristen West's Journey and Coping Mechanisms
Kristen West shares her personal experience with ADHD and how her diagnosis at an adult age illuminated her struggles in school and work. With a background in theater, she describes her childhood as filled with creativity but also challenges in traditional academic settings. Utilizing humor as a coping tool has allowed her to manage her ADHD more effectively, transforming difficult experiences into light-hearted revelations. Her story reflects the importance of understanding and adapting to one's unique brain wiring rather than conforming to typical standards.
The Value of Community and Structure in ADHD Management
The podcast discusses the significance of having a supportive community when managing ADHD, particularly through human accountability. Kristen explains how both she and her husband have established regular partner meetings to create structured environments that foster project success and emotional connection. By prioritizing systems and routines, they navigate their ADHD traits collaboratively, making both their work and personal lives more fulfilling. This approach illustrates the effectiveness of teamwork in overcoming the barriers that ADHD can present.
When life feels chaotic, humor can be your greatest tool for finding balance.
Kristen West, founder of The Centered Life Co., has built a thriving online community around her fun, ADHD-friendly tools that bring joy and structure to daily life. With over half a million followers, her playful, shame-free videos on mental health and productivity inspire others to embrace their quirks and find motivation in unexpected ways.
Diagnosed with ADHD at 26, Kristen struggled in traditional work environments, constantly facing burnout and frustration. Her diagnosis became a turning point, allowing her to build a life suited to her brain’s unique strengths. Now, through her planners and videos, she helps others create routines incorporating joy and play, proving that productivity can be fun and tailored to individual needs.
Kristen’s work goes beyond to-do lists, blending humor and creativity with effective planning tools. In this episode, she shares her journey of managing ADHD, offering insights into overcoming challenges with self-compassion and humor. Her experiences show how turning perceived limitations into strengths can bring more balance and happiness into everyday life.
When Kristen isn’t creating viral content, she’s likely climbing, baking bread, or trying to keep her vegetable garden alive. Her story is a reminder that success comes from embracing who you are and building systems that align with your unique needs, leaving room for fun along the way.