Listen to this episode
On this episode
Lots of doctors struggle with feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or out of sync with the demands of everyday life. Feeling constantly behind, dropping the ball on tasks, or battling critical thoughts can drain our energy and confidence.
Getting an ADHD diagnosis allows us to understand ourselves better and find tools that work for our unique brains. Medication can also be highly effective, and there are practical systems and routines that can help us stay on top of things.
It all starts with building small, effective routines, like regular exercise. But there are other techniques like body doubling that can be highly effective too. Automating tasks like meal prep can free up mental space, and seeking support from friends, family, or even virtual assistants can reduce the mental load.
People who struggle in silence or assume it’s “just them” often feel overwhelmed, anxious, and can get stuck in a cycle of self-criticism. This robs us of the energy and creativity we need to thrive, both at home and at work.
But support is on hand, and there are simple systems you can implement to stay on track. Small steps can lead to big changes.
Show links
More episodes of You Are Not a Frog:
- How to Thrive in a High-Stress Job When You’re Neurodivergent – Episode 178, with Matthew Bellringer
- Embrace Your Capacity, Not Your Limits – Episode 176, with Dr Sarah Coope
- How to Manage Your Energy if You’re a Highly Sensitive Person – Episode 194, with Dr Becki Taylor-Smith
About the guests
Reasons to listen
- For strategies like body doubling, automating tasks, and using routines to manage ADHD effectively in daily life
- To embrace strengths like hyperfocus and creativity, while addressing common ADHD challenges like disorganisation and time blindness
- To reduce mental load by seeking help, outsourcing tasks, and creating supportive systems for both work and family life
Episode highlights
How children with ADHD are labelled
How adults with ADHD can be labelled
The Butler
The trouble with meetings
The default mode network seesaw
The advantages of ADHD
The importance of exercise
The grieving process in late diagnosis
Automation
Meetings on foot
Body doubling
Backup and support
Sarah’s top tips
Rachel’s top tips
ADHD and menopause
ADHD parenting ADHD
Episode transcript
[00:00:00] Rachel: Have you ever secretly suspected you may be neurodivergent? Lots of doctors are. In fact, it may be one of the things that makes you particularly good in your role, but any strength also has its shadow side and it’s not uncommon for us to find life challenging in other areas, even if it’s easier in some. [00:00:17] Rachel: I myself have ADHD, diagnosed in the last five years and after the initial shock, I’ve lost counter the aha moments that I’ve had, and I’ve finally begun to understand fully what makes me tick, what my secret superpowers…
