Hacking Your ADHD

Skye Waterson, organizer and ADHD coach at Unconventional Organization, offers a research recap and practical takeaways. They highlight startling real-world medication discontinuation rates. Short segments examine causes like side effects, dosing and titration issues, stigma and pharmacy barriers. The conversation ends with pragmatic ideas to make refills, titration and clinician messaging more helpful.

Garrett Wood, certified clinical hypnotherapist and founder of Gnosis Therapy who helps high-achieving professionals with burnout and nervous system regulation. He breaks down how burnout differs from tiredness and maps the five stages so you can locate where you are. He also covers nervous system needs, sensory profiles, bio budgets, and simple first steps to start recovering.

Alan P. Brown, an ADHD and productivity coach, shares his transformative journey from battling undiagnosed ADHD to creating ADD Crusher and Crusher™TV. He discusses the significance of identifying your 'strong time' and limiting to-do lists to just one to three tasks to enhance productivity. Alan introduces 'micro-steps' and the concept of talking yourself into starting to conquer inertia. He also explores the 'outlaw brain' phenomenon and emphasizes the importance of planning for setbacks while accepting your unique pace.

Skye Waterson, the founder of Unconventional Organization and an ADHD researcher, joins to discuss the connection between childhood pain and ADHD diagnoses. They explore a study showing that children later diagnosed with ADHD had increased rates of pain-related medical visits, including headaches and joint issues. Skye also highlights potential mechanisms linking pain and ADHD, such as neurodevelopmental differences and sensory sensitivity. Parents and clinicians are advised to consider frequent childhood injuries as possible indicators of ADHD.

Hello all you beautiful people, happy new year. I'm gearing up for 2026 after a few set backs at the end of last year that we'll get into in a future episode. But today we're talking with Alyece Smith, founder of Socially Ausome, a neurodivergent entrepreneur coach, and the host of The ADHD CEO Podcast. She specializes in helping business owners build sustainable systems that actually work for their brains rather than against them. In our conversation today, we get into why we often feel the need to "earn our rest" and how that can lead to burnout. We also jump into how to systemize your life to save your brainpower for what actually matters. Alyece shares her "DMO" or Daily Method of Operation, and how she uses routine to cut down on daily choices. We also talk about the trap of monetizing every hobby, finding clarity in what actually fulfills us, and why knowing why your brain works the way it does is often more helpful than just trying to force a square peg into a round hole. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/264 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y835cnrk Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HackingYourADHD This Episode's Top Tips Try using Voice Memos to prevent context switching. When you feel a spiral coming on or have too many ideas, use a voice-to-text app (Alyece recommends "Voice Pen") to brain dump everything immediately. This allows you to get the thoughts out without stopping your current workflow. Once you have a brain dump, categorize items by the "mode" required to complete them (e.g., calls to make while driving, emails to answer at your desk, errands to run). This helps you batch tasks based on where you are, rather than just creating a deadline. Track your natural energy peaks to identify your "Spark Times." Save your high-value creative or money-making tasks for these windows, rather than wasting that high energy on low-priority admin work. Work on identifying "Fake" productivity. Be honest with yourself about whether you are creating tasks just to feel busy or "earn" your rest. If you are inventing work to avoid important tasks or to feel productive, it's a sign you need to pause and figure out what's really a priority in that moment (hint: it's usually taking care of one of your basic needs).

In this conversation, Chris Wang, CEO and co-founder of Shimmer, shares insights on ADHD-friendly goal setting. He emphasizes the importance of process-oriented goals that prioritize actionable steps over outcomes. Chris discusses the value of community in maintaining motivation and explores cultural competency in coaching. He highlights the significance of aligning goals with core values and suggests seasonal planning to make tasks more manageable. Expect actionable tips that can help you stay focused and build confidence as you tackle your goals.

Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organization and an ADHD-focused coach, joins to discuss the impact of subclinical ADHD traits on wellbeing. They unpack the nuances of symptomatology, including the challenges of self-diagnosis. The conversation reveals research findings linking ADHD traits to poorer mental, physical, and financial health among entrepreneurs and employees. Skye offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, advocating for tailored systems and support strategies to enhance autonomy and reduce stress for those with ADHD traits.

In this engaging conversation, Vanessa Gorelkin, an occupational therapist and ADHD coach with nearly 30 years of experience, reveals the intricacies of managing ADHD. She discusses the 'Want-to-Do' gap, highlighting why enjoyable tasks can still feel daunting. Vanessa sheds light on the cycle of anxiety and executive dysfunction, and why strategies can decay over time. Practical tips like breaking tasks into micro-steps and creating crisis plans offer invaluable tools for navigating emotional regulation and daily challenges.

Skye Waterson, an ADHD-focused coach and founder of Unconventional Organization, dives into the intriguing connection between ADHD and gut health. They discuss a meta-analysis revealing a significant link between ADHD and irritable bowel syndrome, while also exploring how common behavioral habits and dietary choices can affect gut symptoms. Skye emphasizes the importance of simple lifestyle changes over complex solutions, urging listeners to remain cautious of microbiome hype. Tune in for actionable insights that can enhance both mental and physical well-being!

Skye Waterson, a Doctoral candidate and ADHD coach, shares her expertise on managing neurodivergent challenges with practical strategies. She emphasizes the importance of a simple three-part organization system: capturing, prioritizing, and scheduling tasks. Skye discusses combating burnout through enjoyable activities and a consistent approach that accommodates setbacks. She also critiques the notion of chasing passion as a solution for ADHD, advocating for gradual, strategic job changes. Tune in for insights on making calendars more enjoyable and staying focused!