This episode is the recording of October’s live Q&A.  The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live.  Brendan Mahan once again joins me on this Q&A. On this episode, you will hear Brendan, and I talk with a few listeners and read some questions that had been submitted.  We talk about ADHD and substance abuse, a child with ADHD who becomes emotionally sensitive with redirection, and something we label, “procrastappointment.” You can listen to our live Q&A sessions on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 pm Eastern.  Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live. You can register at . Connect with Brendan Mahan You’ll Learn: [11:26] - Erica brings up the topic of ADHD and substance abuse.  Brenden and I share our experiences as smokers. [24:04] - Sarah asks if there is a term for her type of procrastination.  We invent one called “procrastappointment.” We share some tips on getting out of this pattern, including not taking appointment cards! [33:38] - Marisol recently had parent-teacher conferences.  The teacher asked about her daughter’s emotional sensitivity.  Brendan shares some of his expertise with this situation. [40:49] - Marisol wonders how to teach her daughter that redirections are not a failure. [47:20] - Rachel asks about self-guided learning and online classes with an ADHD brain.  I share that I consider this to be “registering for good intentions.” Brendan talks about how to create the structure to be successful in this type of endeavor. [51:07] - Sarah asks if we have figured out how to slow down our lives.  I believe she has taken the first step by asking that question. I encourage anyone in this situation to decrease overwhelm by saying “no” like we are passing out candy on Halloween. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Our next registration event for the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is this Thursday, November 15th at 11am Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .   Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

This episode is part of a four-episode series of mastermind session.  A mastermind group is a concept that comes from the book, .  We have implemented this concept into our ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability groups. Alumni of our coaching groups have the opportunity to work with me as “addmins,” and those members get an entire hour to sit in the hot seat in our mastermind sessions. This week, Dan sits in the hot seat.  In this conversation, you will hear Dan talk about over-committing.  He explains why he has a hard time saying “no,” but this results in sometimes not meeting the deadlines.  Dan has a major traveling project coming up, and this situation is the foundation of this discussion.   You’ll Learn: [8:48] - Dan sets up this conversation and shares that he struggles with overcommitment. [11:44] - Diana asks if Dan has traveled in the trailer before. Dan also talks about setting expectations at work vs. expectations outside of work. [15:14] - I ask Dan how often he ignores the little voice in his head. Dan believes he can be intentional about giving the little voice time to pop up. [17:10] - I share that having a Plan B doesn’t take much time, and the reward is great. Dan talks about his Plan B. [19:08] - Dan explains that he needs to learn how not to say “yes.” [20:18] - Sandra wants to know what Dan has done with this RV project, and how he prioritizes the tasks. [24:31] - Sandra asks more about contingency plans when working with the list. [25:32] - Dan says that there are not hard-stops in their schedule unless it’s for a meeting. [26:39] - Dan says that his list is written in a shared note-taking app that he and his wife can use. [29:54] - Natalie asks Dan if he has considered getting an antenna to boost his cell phone signal. She also asks for examples of little things that need to be done in the house that overwhelm him. [34:15] - I ask Dan for some time-frame dates. I challenge Dan to consider what he would do if he had no time or less time to prepare. [38:58] - Natalie reminds Dan that friends will be coming into his house so that they will be more understanding than a customer. [40:38] - After Dan talks about envisioning looking what “done” looks like. I talk about the difference between a due date and a done date. [49:45] - I ask Dan what the situation would be if he had to tell someone he can’t do something or hit a deadline he committed to. [51:50] - I ask Dan to consider what carries more weight, the current satisfaction of saying “yes,” or the future disappointment of not being able to meet the deadline. [52:46] - Dan explains how it’s possible to build a reputation as the go-to guy, but then expectations can hurt your career. [54:53] - Dan shares that he would be receptive to a suggestion that he seek assistance with a task. I draw a link between Dan’s perfectionism and self-worth. [58:54] - Diana talks about her own personal experience in the area of self-worth. Dan shares what he wants to gain from this journey.  [1:02:46] - I used to say “yes” to everything, and this brought me stress from being overwhelmed. I changed my default answer to “no.” [1:07:22] - Natalie suggests bringing yourself back to the big picture and asking why you want to do something. [1:10:37] - Natalie brings up Dan’s wife and kids. Dan shares an experience from his ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group. [1:14:33] - Dan admits that he is scared. [1:17:12] - I share how I threatened myself with Workaholics Anonymous. [1:18:55] - Dan shares his takeaways from this conversation.  Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:   ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Our next registration event for the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is November 15th at 11am Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .  Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

This episode is part of a four-episode series of mastermind session.  A mastermind group is a concept that comes from the book, .  We have implemented this concept into our ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability groups. Alumni of our coaching groups have the opportunity to work with me as “addmins,” and those members get an entire hour to sit in the hot seat in our mastermind sessions. This week, Sandra sits in the hot seat.  She explores a topic that a lot of us struggle with and we haven’t really discussed on the podcast.  Sandra feels that she struggles with communication and what she calls “verbal regulation.” In this conversation, you will hear us discuss the issues surrounding communication, and the participants share their experiences and the techniques they employ. You’ll Learn: [10:21] - Diana was in the hot seat on our last episode, and she committed to scheduling a sleep study.  She shares her progress. [12:44] - Sandra lays the foundation for this discussion.  She would like to talk about what she is calling “verbal regulation.”   [17:06] - Sandra says that neuro-typical people tend to make comments to her on this topic.   [19:04] - Dan asks Sandra about her structure creation skills.  She shares a story about someone comparing her work as something similar to the movie “A Beautiful Mind.” [23:52] - Dan asks a clarifying question about her reactions to compliments. [24:46] - Natalie shares that she had similar situations.  She asks about Sandra’s processing characteristics. [29:02] - Sandra talks about trying to communicate to her co-workers how her brain works without it sounding like an excuse. [30:18] - Diana asks in what types of situations this becomes an issue, and she shares her experience in this area. [34:18] - Diana suggests beta-blockers or alpha-blockers.   [36:20] - Natalie suggests that Sandra talks to her friends about their perceptions of her. [38:28] - We talk about fidgets and the advantage of having a more obvious fidget. [40:23] - We put Sandra’s negative self-talk on trial through role-playing.   [47:19] - I talk with Susan about processing speed and the role it plays in things like communication. [55:05] - Natalie shares that she’s also a slow processor and intelligent person, and she talks about things she does in conversations to help this communication.   [59:22] - Dan explains how he builds trust with people by preparing them for his communication style. He also suggests practicing conversation. [1:01:11] - Sandra finds practicing conversation to be difficult because of other ADHD tendencies. Dan shares how he accomplishes this. [1:03:57] - Sandra talks about a recent course she took on self-observation and self-coaching.  She says that a lot of feedback she got in this discussion reinforces what she learned from that. [1:06:10] - I talk about acceptance being a gift to ourselves and other people.  I also share how slowing my speech has helped me. [1:10:41] - Natalie reminds us that we need to start small.   [1:13:36] - Sandra shares what she would like to learn and improve in the near-future. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Our next registration event for the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group is November 15th at 11am Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .   Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

This episode is part of a four-episode series of mastermind session.  A mastermind group is a concept that comes from the book, .  We have implemented this concept into our ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability groups. Alumni of our coaching groups have the opportunity to work with me as “addmins,” and those members get an entire hour to sit in the hot seat in our mastermind sessions. This week, Diana will sit in the hot seat, and we are joined by Natalie, Dan, and Sandra.  The morning routine on non-urgent days is what has Diana hung up right now. Throughout this conversation, you will hear us offer suggestions, tips, techniques, and strategies to help her make these mornings productive.  If you find it difficult to get started in the mornings, you should have plenty of things to try after listening to this episode. You’ll Learn: [11:02] - The members of this mastermind introduce themselves, including Diana who is sitting in the hot seat this week. [13:57] - Diana shares that she’s been struggling with her morning routine on non-urgent days. [15:30] - Diana talks about the things she’s implemented to try to create some consistency.   [21:05] - Dan asks if Diana has experienced insomnia and what may have caused that lack of sleep.  This leads to a discussion on sleep. [27:02] - Sandra asks about Diana’s medication.   [29:55] - Sandra suggests Diana recall the last time she had a non-urgent morning and it didn’t work out the way she wanted.   [33:16] - I ask Sandra if she’s ok with choosing comfort over courage. [34:47] - Dan shares that when he thinks about data and analyzing what’s working and not working, his mind gets stirred up.  Diana talks about what the pebbles are. These are the small things that seem to trip her up. [37:19] - Natalie shares that this conversation is speaking to her because she shares some of these issues.  She finds herself wasting entire mornings by hitting the snooze button. is something that has helped her. [40:00] - We discuss the individual steps that could help with her morning routine. [43:38] - Natalie says that the inside of her refrigerator makes for a good dry erase board. [47:26] - I suggest the app, and the clocks and . I also talk about the , which I don’t wholly endorse. [54:30] - Dan asks, “What’s important to you?” when trying to find the motivation to get up and get the day going.  He also suggests finding the areas where other people are depending on her. [57:09] - Natalie explains how she has benefitted from this conversation and the strategies she is going to implement to help her with these areas where she is having trouble. [58:30] - I explain why sleep hygiene is more important than the number of hours of sleep. [1:02:54] - Sandra shares that this discussion reminds her a lot of her own mastermind.  She shares some advice I gave her in that mastermind. [1:08:09] - We talk about using music to motivate in the morning. [1:09:12] - Dan suggests that Diana’s husband helps get her going in the morning.   [1:13:13] - We talk about vitamins, specifically Vitamin B. [1:14:52] - Diana has resisted undergoing a sleep study.  We convince her to make an appointment for a sleep study. [1:16:57] - I suggest morning errands and exercise classes to help Dianna get moving in the mornings. [1:20:28] - Diana shares what she would like to commit to. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group, RSVP for our registration event on October 25th at 3 pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .   Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

Do you say that you “are ADHD” or say that you “have ADHD?”  Through people-first language, we show that people are more than their diagnosis.  However, over time, I’ve come to appreciate how nuanced language is, and how important it is to let people express their identity.  Living with ADHD is a story.  As we change, so does our relationship with ADHD.    One way I’ve helped people capture their relationship with ADHD is an exercise I’ve been doing with my coaching groups.  I call this exercise, “Dear ADHD.”  I encourage members to write letters to their ADHD.  Since this is ADHD Awareness Month, I invited members of our alumni membership community to write another letter to their ADHD.  What you will hear on this episode is some of those members reading their “Dear ADHD” letters.  Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:    ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group, RSVP for our registration event on October 25th at 3 pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .    Support the podcast on Patreon  Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at   ADHD reWired Facebook Group:  If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to  and fill out an application.  Productivity Q&A  Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to.  Want to be a guest?  Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

This episode is the recording of September’s live Q&A.  The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live.  Brendan Mahan once again joins me on this Q&A. This month, our conversation keeps looping back around to play and planning.   You can listen to our live Q&A sessions on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 pm Eastern.  Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live. You can register at .   Connect with Brendan Mahan You’ll Learn: [08:48] - Erica asks about planning fun.  We talk about the struggles of prioritizing, initiating, and planning. [18:10] - Marisol asks how to stay in motion when there’s nothing to react to.  This continues our conversation on planning. Brendan shares how he uses motion to get back on track. [24:47] - Marisol sat in the hot seat in May and talked about diet and exercise.  She gives us an update on her progress. [26:45] - Gerald asks if we have any rules to help us be productive.  We share some of our “guiding principles” to stay on track throughout the day. [32:45] - We talk about trying to diligent about phone usage, specifically between the hours of 9 pm and 9 am.    [36:50] - I share how staying up too late will impact my ability to function with my family.  “It’s about what I want most vs. what I want now.” This leads to a discussion on parenting. [45:35] - Dianna asks Brendan and me what podcasts we enjoy. [52:16] - AJ asks for strategies for making phone calls.   [57:09] - Alyssa wonders how to make yourself do something that seems unbearably boring.   We share our own experiences and share what does and doesn’t work for us. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group, RSVP for our registration event on October 25th at 3 pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .   Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

I have two guests joining me in the studio for this episode.  Alex is a proud husband of eight years and is a father to two children.  He teaches special education at the middle school level. His daily practice of mindfulness and meditation has had a profound effect on his life. His ADHD witness story comes into focus in 2008.  The most recent stage of his ADHD journey began with the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group. Alison joins Alex (her husband) on this episode. They have known each other since 2008, and she is a mental health nurse. In this conversation, you will hear Alex and Alison share how they have navigated the obstacle course that is a marriage or relationship with one person who has ADHD and one person who does not.  Alex and Alison discuss their challenges and explain how they resolve conflict. Connect with Alex: Email: You’ll Learn: [09:45] - Alex shares how the two met.  He explains why he saw her as mysterious. [12:30] - Alison talks about the impact diagnosis, and medication had on their conversations. [13:46] - Alison was once brought to tears by Alex having a spotlessly clean living area. [16:06] - We talk about our memories from before we started medication. [22:30] - Alison talks about one of their challenges with parenting. Alex describes his feelings when he’s frustrated with his son, who displays some ADHD characteristics. [26:12] - Alison shares how she allows Alex space in some of these difficult situations. [27:47] - Alex struggles with sharing what is happening in his brain. [30:06] - When Alex’s ADHD is winning, Alison takes his reactions personally. [31:55] - I share that non-ADHD spouses can understand ADHD by listening to these conversations. [33:11] - Alex explains how they engage in constructive problem-solving. [37:38] - Alex considers himself lucky to have someone like Allison, who understands his situation. [39:17] - Alison says that she’s needed to explain Alex’s characteristics with her family. [41:10] - We talk about the dance between accommodating and enabling. [50:54] - Alex talks about why he made the decision to join the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group.  Alison chimes in with developments she’s seen. [55:22] - The two talk about changes they’ve seen since Alex joined the group. [59:20] - Alison shares what she has learned about ADHD since meeting Alex. [1:02:30] - We talk about the long-term aspect of marriage, which involves things like apologizing, and the process of resolving conflict. [1:11:24] - Alex shares his experience with mindfulness. Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles: ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin on September 24th, and the group is now full.  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group, RSVP for our registration event on October 4th at 2pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .   Support the podcast on Patreon Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at ADHD reWired Facebook Group: If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to and fill out an application. Productivity Q&A Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to . Want to be a guest? Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

Shawn Smith joins me on the podcast this week.  Shawn has his Master’s in Education and Counseling.  He is the proud founder and CEO of Don’t dis-my-ability Consultation Services, an innovative, multi-faceted coming specializing in the emerging field of neurodiversity.  He is a counselor, psychotherapist, and national award-winning entrepreneur.    Diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type at age 30, Shawn struggle through every level of the public education system prior to his diagnosis.  It took Shawn 32 attempts to earn the 18 credits required to graduate high school.  Medication gave Shawn’s brain a jump start it needed to wake from 30 years of slumber, taking his thought process from dial-up to fiber-op.   In this conversation, you will hear Shawn talk about his company and the services he provides.  He explains why his company being located in a cooperative creates a constructive environment for his work.  Shawn discusses his background, his struggles in school, his diagnosis, and why the entrepreneurial life fits him well.    Connect with Shawn Smith:  Website -   You’ll Learn:  [07:45] - Shawn describes the Villa cooperative, where his business is located.    [09:41] - Shawn provides some details on the services Don’t dis-my-ability provides, and shares how this environment fits him.    [10:47] - Keynotes and workshops are things that Shawn frequently does, and he describes the content of these offerings.  [11:54] - Shawn describes his life before diagnosis as “hell.”  [12:28] - We discuss the idea of being “lazy.”  [14:07] - Shawn describes some of the strategies he uses to stay organized and productive.  [15:47] - Shawn talks about growing up and seeing people around him making changes he wasn’t making.  [18:23] - A labor dispute is what led to Shawn’s diagnosis.  [22:07] - Shawn describes the changes in his life after diagnosis, and he started medication.  [24:06] - Shawn talks about being “snuck in” to college.  [25:26] - We talk about trying to filter out background noise, and I share my technique for accomplishing this.    [28:45] - Shawn shares more specific information on the services Don’t dis-my-ability provides.  [30:35] - Shawn talks about being a social entrepreneur and describes some of the challenges he faces in this role.  We also talk about being drawn to entrepreneurship out of boredom and resentment.  [34:42] - Shawn says the name of his business came from a rap beat he had in his head.  [40:06] - Shawn lists some of the things he does with his company.    [42:50] - Shawn shares how he plans projects. I talk about using  to help with time zones.  We also talk about the challenge of writing checks and addressing envelopes as “macro thinkers.”  [45:49] - Shawn describes how to make context matter.  [48:37] - Shawn talks about his podcasting experience, including his upcoming video podcast, Don’t dis-my-ability Podcast.   [52:50] - Shawn speaks about the term neurodiversity and why it’s being used.  [1:00:05] - I talk about the book , and understanding the unique skills we as people with ADHD have.  Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:    ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group  Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th, and the group is now full.  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session by RSVPing for our registration event on October 4th at 2pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .    Support the podcast on Patreon  Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at    ADHD reWired Facebook Group:  If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to  and fill out an application.  Productivity Q&A  Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to.  Want to be a guest?  Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

Maria Luisa Ruiz Luna joins me on this episode. She is the founder of Wellways, a venture whose goal is to promote a way of living that prioritizes our nature, wellbeing, and peace.  She creates experiences that provide the tools and space for modern humans to thrive by honoring and networking against their individual and biological nature.    Maria Luisa moved from Peru to Arizona fifteen years ago to attend grad school.  She obtained her degree in neuroscience at the University of Arizona.  Currently, she offers coaching to individuals and workshops to crowds. Focus subjects are related to wellbeing.    In this conversation, you will hear Maria’s insight into how ADHD impacts her, and how she lives her life.  She points out that we live in a fast-paced society, which is challenging for those of us with ADHD.  She shares some strategies for slowing down, embracing silence, and overcome this busy lifestyle we all live.   Connect with Maria Luisa Ruiz Luna:  Facebook -   You’ll Learn:  [05:18] - Maria starts this conversation by talking about what she trusts, and is in situations that other people view as “crazy.”   [07:15] - According to Maria, having ADHD causes you to constantly try to be someone else.   [09:36] - Maria explains how mindfulness blends with her academic studies involving neuroscience and biology.  [16:17] - Our modern, fast-paced culture can be difficult for us.  Maria shares that we urgently need to be comfortable in our own skin.   [19:12] - Leaving space between activities helps Maria overcome our fast-paced society.    [22:47] - Maria explains what has led her down this path of mindfulness.  [25:25] - It’s easier to be positive when things are going well.  Maria explains how to find gratitude when things are rough.  [32:33] - Maria talks shares how to practice mindfulness when you have ADHD.  [42:18] - Silence is something we desperately need!  [44:40] - Maria says that she always thinks that she doesn’t deserve a break.  But that keeps her from experiencing the clarity of silence.   [45:50] - I walk in the evening, and I’ve been trying to let my mind wander instead of taking in information.   [47:33] - Maria explains why she sees everything as being sacred.  [52:00] - Maria talks about an upcoming trip to Africa, and she explains that she has no plan for this trip.    [55:30] - Our fast-paced society makes things more challenging for those of us with ADHD.  Maria talks about simplifying.    [1:02:12] - Maria and I talk about the idea of “work less, live more.”  Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:    ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group  Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th, and the group is now full.  If you’d like to secure an early spot and an early registration price for our winter session by RSVPing for our registration event on October 4th at 2pm Central.  This session starts January 7th. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .    Support the podcast on Patreon  Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at    ADHD reWired Facebook Group:  If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to  and fill out an application.  Productivity Q&A  Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to.  Want to be a guest?  Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .

This episode is the recording of August’s live Q&A.  The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live.  Brendan Mahan once again joins me on this Q&A.    This month, we have a few questions on careers.  We talk about exploring careers and finding the one that best suits us and our strengths and weaknesses, and we talk about being successful with a manager or in a workplace that is not necessarily ADHD-friendly.   If you’re listening to this on the day it is published, you can listen to September’s live Q&A at 1:30pm Eastern.  Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live.  You can register at .    Connect with Brendan Mahan    You’ll Learn:  [07:09] - Jennifer starts with a question about working for a manager or in an organizational structure that is not friendly to techniques people with ADHD use to thrive.  She also asks about disclosing ADHD.    [18:13] - Nick asks about using rewards to manufacture a habit.    [23:30] - Madeline admits to starting a lot of things, and finishing few of them because of “choice paralysis.”  She asks how to overcome this.   [30:40] - Christian shares a dilemma with us.  He believes he is in the career field he wants to do, but now he’s not sure.  He’s having trouble with blending his passions with his abilities, which are impacted by ADHD.  This leads to a discussion on self-awareness and strengths.    [44:45] - We answer another question about accomplishing career goals.  Brendan and I share our thoughts on satisfaction in careers.  [49:05] - Sheila is worried about being overwhelmed and stressed with her daughter visiting.  She wonders how to get her emotions under control.  We share some ideas with her.  [1:00:30] - Brendan shares how the heat and humidity have impacted his productivity.   [1:03:10] - Brendan asks me how I transition from one minor task to another minor task.  I share my strategy with these situations.  [1:04:45] - Brendan asks how I avoid being derailed by infrequent appointments. This leads to a discussion on cars.  Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:    ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group  Our fall season of the ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group will begin September 24th.  If you’d like to try to snag one of the last two spots, RSVP for the last registration event. To learn more or RSVP for the group registration, go to .    Support the podcast on Patreon  Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall.  Learn more at    ADHD reWired Facebook Group:  If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to  and fill out an application.  Productivity Q&A  Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm.  Go to.  Want to be a guest?  Hey! What about you?  Do you have a story?  Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician?  If you answered yes to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call .