EP339: It took me years to realize I'm not lazy. I'm neurodivergent.

Jan 4, 2026

Angela shares her transformative journey from being labeled 'lazy' to understanding her neurodivergent brain. She discusses her challenges with mental health and inconsistent motivation, revealing how traditional productivity systems fell short. The highlight is her creation of Motivation Lab—a personalized coaching app that adapts neuroscience insights into engaging practices. It aims to support teens and busy professionals in navigating motivation with flexibility and creativity. Angela emphasizes that it's not about fixing motivation, but finding the right strategies for each individual.

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ANECDOTE

Labeled Lazy Until A Neurodivergent Realization

Angela Watson describes years of being labeled "lazy" despite achievements and struggling with everyday tasks.
She realized over time that she is neurodivergent, which reframed her self-understanding and approach to productivity.

ANECDOTE

Diagnosis, Break, And Long-Term Management

Angela shares her bipolar diagnosis in her 20s and a severe depressive episode during her third year of teaching that forced time off work.
She details medication choices and the role of CBT in stabilizing her but notes persistent motivation unpredictability.

INSIGHT

No One System Fits Every Brain

Angela concludes no single productivity system works for everyone or every day because motivation fluctuates.
She has spent decades studying motivation and building flexible approaches to match natural rhythms.

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Growing up, every report card comment and parent conference involved my teachers expressing some version of the following:

"Angela is smart, but not working to her potential."
"Angela needs to focus and apply herself."
"Angela is a capable student but does not put forth effort."
"Angela could do the work if she wanted to but she appears lazy and unmotivated."

I shared a little of this story a few years back, and how I was labeled as gifted at first, and then diagnosed with a learning disability in math: EP163: I was a disengaged student who nearly failed high school For years, I believed something was fundamentally wrong with the wiring in my brain. Despite everything I'd accomplished, I felt inconsistent, unfocused, and unable to just ... do the thing like everyone else seemed to. Normal adulting tasks felt like they required herculean effort.

It took decades to understand: I'm not lazy. I'm neurodivergent. And that changes everything.

In this episode, I'm sharing my journey of understanding my brain, from my bipolar diagnosis in my early 20s to discovering CBT and mindset work, to finally creating the resource I wish I'd had all along.

I'll tell you about Motivation Lab, a new coaching app I've built that translates the neuroscience principles from my Finding Flow curriculum into a format for teens, young adults, and anyone who's ever felt like traditional productivity systems just don't work for their brain.

This is the story of why I created Motivation Lab, who it's really for (hint: maybe not you, but possibly someone you care about), and why I'm asking for your help in getting it to the people who need it most.

If you've ever wondered why consistency is so hard, why motivation feels unpredictable, or why no single productivity system works for everyone, I think you'll relate to what I'm sharing.

Check out Motivation Lab here: studio.com/motivationlab/

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The first official podcast ep of 2026 will be out on January 11th. Thank you for listening to this interlude / announcement!