Skye Waterson Talks About ADHD, Attention, and Building Systems That Actually Work

7 snips

Oct 15, 2025

Skye Waterson, an ADHD coach and founder of Unconventional Organisation, shares her journey from academic burnout to discovering her ADHD diagnosis. She explains why traditional productivity tools like the Pomodoro Technique often fail ADHD brains, advocating for tailored systems instead. Skye introduces her 'Focus Formula' to prioritize tasks and discusses the neuroscience of motivation linked to dopamine. With strategies for managing transitions and using 'dopamine boosters,' she emphasizes creating enjoyable, effective work systems that cater to individual needs.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Diagnosis During The PhD

Skye discovered her ADHD during her PhD after university testing recommended assessment.
That diagnosis shifted her career from academia to coaching and researching ADHD.

INSIGHT

Dopamine Explains Starting Pain

ADHD brains get less dopamine for task initiation compared with neurotypical brains.
This lack of starting dopamine explains persistent avoidance and early drop-off in tasks.

ADVICE

Build Systems Around ADHD

Avoid retrofitted tips like the Pomodoro as primary systems for ADHD.
Use ADHD-first systems built from research, not patched-on productivity hacks.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This episode is sponsored by Bento Focus — the ADHD-friendly focus timer that helps you do less, better. Limit your day to three meaningful tasks, build calm routines, and stay focused with beautiful Japanese-inspired themes. Try it today at dub.sh/mike-bento-podcast.

When you’re managing ADHD—or simply navigating the distractions of modern life—traditional productivity tools often fall short. My guest, Skye Waterson, knows this better than most. A former academic turned ADHD coach and founder of Unconventional Organisation, Skye has helped hundreds of professionals—from entrepreneurs to executives—craft systems that support their unique brains instead of fighting against them.

In this conversation, Skye and I explore the science behind ADHD, the myths that persist around productivity, and how to design frameworks that meet you where you are. Whether you’ve been diagnosed, suspect you might have ADHD, or simply want to focus better in a world full of noise, this episode offers practical wisdom grounded in research and real experience.

Six Discussion Points

The turning point during Skye’s PhD that led to her ADHD diagnosis—and her shift from academia to coaching.
Why common productivity systems like the Pomodoro Technique aren’t built for ADHD brains.
How dopamine differences influence motivation, focus, and task initiation.
The “Focus Formula” method Skye teaches high-achieving clients to identify what’s truly urgent and important.
The role of transitions, zones, and small “dopamine boosters” in sustaining attention.
How leadership and neurodiversity intersect—and why we need more research on ADHD in executive roles.

Three Connection Points

Talking with Skye reminded me that productivity is never one-size-fits-all—it’s about alignment, not conformity. Her evidence-based yet deeply human approach to ADHD management offers lessons anyone can apply: simplify, start small, and give yourself permission to work with your brain, not against it.

Build a sustainable system for attention, rhythm, and trust with TimeCrafting & ADHD — a new course inside TimeCrafting Trust Premium.
Start today for as little as $14 USD/month: timecraftingtrust.circle.so/timecrafting-adhd.