Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Episode 55: Nathan Sherratt

May 3, 2024

30:40

Welcome to episode #55 We’re thrilled to be joined by Nathan Sherratt today.

Nathan Sherratt is the Managing Director of The Third Team, a company that provides resilience training for referees. He is an active football referee and an educator passionate about supporting officials and improving their mental well-being. Nathan also works as a mental health ambassador and a speaker, using his off-the-field story to inspire and improve the lives of others. His work focuses on helping referees deal with challenges and pressures better, to enable them to stay in their roles longer, enjoy refereeing more, and enhance their performance. Additionally, he is involved in communicating similar messages through the vehicle of refereeing in schools, colleges, universities, and in the industry.

Welcome to the show Nathan!

Questions

Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
1. Was diagnosed with autism at age 14/15
  1. Struggled with situations where things didn’t go to plan (traffic jams, the bus didn’t come on time)
  2. Illegible handwriting
  3. Some accommodations, e.g. extra time in exams
2. Learned a lot more about ASD in my 20s
  1. Gave him a lot of self-compassion for the struggles he experienced as a teenager
What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
1. Helping sports officials all over the world manage the mental game
2. Trustee of ND charity
3. Coaches ND individuals - helps them deal with work challenges
What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
1. 1. Outsource things that aren’t in your sweet spot
2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
How do you manage communication with neurotypical folk?
1. Masking:
  1. eye contact, etc. learned skill
  2. Exhausting
2. People appreciate directness
COMMERCIAL BREAK
How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
1. Midnight to 7 am
2. Tech sometimes gets in the way
How do you fit exercise into your life?
1. As a sports official himself, he does a lot of running for work and for recreation
2. Aims to get out into the sun in the morning
How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
1. Golf
2. Long charity walks
What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
1. Alarm 15 mins before need to get up
2. Shower
3. Hair
4. Shave
5. Brush teeth
Where can people connect with you or find your work?
1. The Third Team website
2. LinkedIn
Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
1. Don’t feel limited by your neurotype - be prepared to push yourself out of your comfort zone at times