

The ADHD Skills Lab
Skye Waterson
Navigate each day in an ADHD-friendly way – with research-backed strategies, real-life experiences and expert advice. Each week, UO founder Skye Waterson chats with expert guests, reviews the latest ADHD research, takes your questions and offers practical support to help you move past whatever may be holding you back. Skye Waterson is a former academic turned coach, podcast host, and founder of an international ADHD support service, Unconventional Organisation. After getting a surprise ADHD diagnosis in the first year of her PhD, Skye turned her struggles into research-based strategies. She researched and wrote over 50 articles with a combined readership of 250,000+ and then began her next phase of disseminating these strategies around the world. After being invited to share her strategies with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in 2022, Skye has supported late-diagnosed healthcare professionals, professors, lawyers, reporters, fortune 500 directors, and entrepreneurs. She crafted her vision for Unconventional Organisation after realizing how few personalized ADHD strategies were available for adults following her diagnosis.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 3, 2023 • 44min
Research Recap: ADHD motivation and the emotional experience of being undiagnosed
This week, Sarah and Skye examine what motivates us to achieve with ADHD before discussing a heart-wrenching but ultimately uplifting paper which outlines the effects of late ADHD diagnosis in women. Come for the latest research, stay for the practical strategies and shared experiences.Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academy 1:44 Retrospective Report of Academic Motivation Among College Students With Elevated ADHD Symptomshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231172799 14:52 Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Womenhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231161533 P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

18 snips
Jun 26, 2023 • 46min
ADHD in the workplace with Trina Haynes, founder of My Lady ADHD
This week, Skye is joined by the founder of My Lady ADHD, Trina Haynes. The pair discuss their experiences navigating the workplace with ADHD and explore the best strategies for getting started and staying on track in the world of work. As well as running the 150,000-strong My Lady ADHD online community, Trina also hosts the podcast of the same name and works daily to educate people about ADHD, neurodiversity and the importance of seeing our strengths.https://www.myladyadhd.com/Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academy P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

Jun 19, 2023 • 40min
ADHD Research Recap: Executive functioning, time perception and a new attention disorder
In each research recap, we pick over a few of the most recent peer-reviewed ADHD papers. This week, we explore the effect of mind-body interventions on symptoms of ADHD, discuss our attempts at mindfulness, and look at the controversial connection between Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and ADHD diagnosis. Finally, we examine an interesting study that dives deep into how people with ADHD perceive time. Come for the latest research, stay for the practical strategies and shared experiences. Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academyThe Effect of Meditation-Based Mind-Body Interventions on Symptoms and Executive Function in People With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trialshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231154897Executive Functions Contribute to the Differences Between ADHD and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) in Adults (2023)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231153948Time Perception Deficits in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Meta-analysishttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1087054720978557Idea of New Attention Disorder Spurs Research, and Debatehttps://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/health/idea-of-new-attention-disorder-spurs-research-and-debate.html P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

Jun 12, 2023 • 56min
Interview: Professional gravel racer Chelsea Bolton – staying focused with ADHD
Professional gravel racer Chelsea Bolton joins the conversation, sharing her inspiring transition from long-distance running to elite cycling. She candidly discusses her ADHD diagnosis and effective coping strategies that keep her focused on the track. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of personalized coaching and supportive relationships in managing ADHD-related challenges. The episode delves into structured flexibility in training and the empowering impact of community connections in her racing journey, offering valuable insights for those navigating similar paths.

Jun 5, 2023 • 36min
ADHD Research recap: Father-child interactions and emotional dysregulation
How do emotional regulation – and dysregulation – relate to ADHD? This week, we look at several studies about ADHD, executive function, and emotional dysregulation. Is emotional dysregulation tied to executive function? How do early childhood influences affect emotional dysregulation? And how does sleep – or the lack of it – affect emotional regulation and executive function? We'll discuss each study in depth and share our own experiences.Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academyDevelopmental antecedents of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in middle childhood: The role of father-child interactions and children’s emotional underregulationhttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000408Evidence of emotion dysregulation as a core symptom of adult ADHD: A systematic reviewhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280131Associations Between ADHD, Sleep Problems, and Mental Health Symptoms in Adolescentshttps://doi.org/10.1177/10870547231155871Additional Research Discussedhttps://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/post/adhd-and-mindfulnesshttps://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/post/self-criticism-and-adhd-five-strategies-to-check-in-ground-and-reset-when-you-feel-overwhelmedhttps://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/post/adhd-and-sleep-twelve-tips-to-facilitate-a-better-night-s-resthttps://chadd.org/attention-article/adhd-and-the-myth-of-the-bad-parent/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-022-01358-4 P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

May 29, 2023 • 35min
ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergent Parenting with Danielle Sullivan
Sarah and Skye chat with Danielle about her experiences with Autism, the differences between a combined diagnosis and a single ADHD diagnosis and how to regulate with neurodiverse children when you are overwhelmed yourself! Danielle is the owner and founder of Neurodiverging Coaching and the host of the Neurodiverging Podcast. They are a Certified Life Coach and have an M.A. degree, graduate certificate in women and gender studies. Danielle had intended to remain in academia to work on gender, disability, and religion, but pivoted after she was diagnosed autistic around age 30 after her eldest child was also diagnosed.Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academyhttps://www.neurodiverging.com/ P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

May 22, 2023 • 27min
Research Recap: ADHD Combined Diagnosis and Brain Imaging
Skye and Sarah delve into the evolving landscape of ADHD diagnoses, particularly in women, and discuss the long-term validity of these diagnoses. They explore fascinating research on brain imaging, revealing changes in brain structures associated with ADHD and the complexities of participant recruitment for studies. The potential of brain scans to tailor treatment options and improve understanding of individual neurobiological profiles is highlighted, making neuroscience more accessible and engaging for listeners.

4 snips
May 15, 2023 • 23min
ADHD, Entrepreneurship and Building Repeatable Systems with David Greenwood
Skye is joined by David Greenwood to discuss his experiences managing ADHD as a serial entrepreneur. David is the author of the book "Overcoming Distractions: Thriving with Adult ADHD" and host of the podcast with the same name. He is based just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He has worked as an entrepreneur in various fields, including owning a karate school, a restaurant and starting his own public relations firm. We discuss managing ADHD in a neurotypical environment, the importance of repeatable systems and protecting your time.https://overcomingdistractions.com/Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academyDavid Greenwood is the author of the book, Overcoming Distractions, thriving with Adult ADHD. The book looks at ADHD through the eyes of the entrepreneur, profiling their success and how many of them use their ADHD to their advantage. David interviewed several entrepreneurs and professionals that have ADHD and gained valuable insight and tips on what it takes to lead a fulfilling life as an adult with ADHD. David also hosts the popular podcast by the same name, Overcoming Distractions.https://overcomingdistractions.com/ P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

May 15, 2023 • 21min
Research Recap: Perfectionism and Executive Functioning with ADHD
Welcome to our first research recap! Join us for our honest assessment and wide-ranging discussion of the latest in ADHD research. In this episode, we discuss how University students with ADHD can hold themselves to a relatively low standard of achievement despite being highly self-critical of their own performance. We examine whether a short intervention targeting executive dysfunction can improve workplace performance and satisfaction. And we look at the effectiveness of self-guided online modules for ADHD.Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academyLow standards yet disappointed: ADHD symptoms and experiential avoidance in college studentsBodalski, E. A., Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Hough, C. E., Lefler, E. K., Meinzer, M. C., & Antshel, K. M. (2023). Low standards yet disappointed: ADHD symptoms and experiential avoidance in college students. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 28, 180-184.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212144723000388?via%3DihubWork-MAP Telehealth Metacognitive Work-Performance Intervention for Adults With ADHD: Randomized Controlled TrialGrinblat, N., & Rosenblum, S. (2023). Work-MAP Telehealth Metacognitive Work-Performance Intervention for Adults With ADHD: Randomized Controlled Trial. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 15394492231159902.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15394492231159902A self-guided internet-delivered intervention for adults with ADHD: Results from a randomized controlled trialKenter, R. M. F., Gjestad, R., Lundervold, A. J., & Nordgreen, T. (2023). A self-guided internet-delivered intervention for adults with ADHD: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 32, 100614.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782923000143?via%3Dihub P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

18 snips
May 15, 2023 • 46min
Katy Weber Talks Maintaining Routines with ADHD
Today Skye is joined by Katy Weber to discuss her diagnosis, maintaining routines with ADHD, and adding complexity to make things interesting. Katy is an ADHD advocate and coach, the founder of Women & ADHD and the podcast of the same name, ranking in the top 0.5% of all podcasts worldwide. She was diagnosed at 45 and has since made it her mission to help neurodivergent women learn to love their brains and live a more fulfilling life. https://www.womenandadhd.com/Unconventional Organisation: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/The ADHD Academy: https://courses.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-academy P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.


