Overcoming Distractions The Podcast

How does a creative digital nomad manage her ADHD on the road? On Overcoming Distractions this time is Nikki May, owner of Nikki D May Art and Design. Nikki sold her house, purchased a bus and now runs her art and design business on the road. In her business she does everything from drawing, designing accessories and apparel as well as web design. As a newly diagnosed adult with ADHD, she has had to build the skills necessary to run a business on the road including carving time out for work, meeting deadlines and getting it all done. Nikki admits that her brain doesn't always switch into working mode so it's important for her to have implemented several ways to be productive. Those include: Time blocking Planning Hiring and delegating Having a business manager Using contractors. She hired somebody to set up systems for her And one big thing, not saying yes to everything. Find Nikki D. May Art and Design here: https://www.nikkimay.com/ Want to work with Dave for coaching and mentoring? www.OvercomingDistractio

Many adults with ADHD can also experience imposter syndrome. Some even say it is much more common in adults with ADHD than others. That is the focus of this podcast with Matthew Zakreski a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Matt as many address him, gives an overview of imposter syndrome and what it might feel like. He says one thing that sticks out is when somebody gives us praise, we either feel relief or we celebrate the success. He discusses why it may affect people with ADHD more. Dr. Matt gives several examples of imposter syndrome and discusses how we can become more self-aware, including reflecting on situations when we feel our best and our worst and how to find context in every situation that doubts us. He discusses how we can move forward with intention. And he gives listeners advice on how to begin limiting imposter syndrome in our lives and possibly overcoming imposter syndrome. He talks about how to build confidence, better habits around doubtful situations, and even some quick tips if you're c

Dave talks about one of the simplest strategies to thrive with ADHD in the workplace. How and why making a list the night before each workday is a powerful tool for adults with ADHD. Many people tell us just to make a list; for others, that sounds very simple. But for those of us with adult ADHD, sometimes that is a difficult task in itself. Dave talks briefly about how to set the tone and create the habit. He also talks about how simple but powerful setting yourself up the night before can be. Yes, it is super simple, but Dave breaks it down in this short podcast. Find out more about Overcoming Distractions Community here. Join for free! https://overcomingdistractions.com/community/

Dave is back for a new year and talks about the power of having the right community as an adult with ADHD. He's talking about how being involved in a community that can support you, encourages you, and celebrates your successes is one of the best ways to thrive with adult ADHD. Some of the ways being in the right supporting community can benefit adults with ADHD are motivation, inspiration, building new habits, hanging out with people who understand you and one of our basic needs, and putting ourselves in a great mood. Learn more at www.overcomingdistractions.com/community

In this first podcast episode of 2023 we are discussing complex ADHD. Dave's guest on this important episode is Jess Levy MD, Who is a board-certified psychiatrist. Dr. Levy also diagnosed with ADHD personally understands the challenges that come as an adult with ADHD. His practice is A+ Psychiatry, a one-of-a-kind Direct Specialty Care Practice and represents a fundamentally different approach to psychiatric care. Dr. Levy First gives us an overview of complex ADHD, which is when an individual has ADHD in one or more other mental health concerns. Often, we call this Co-occurring and it comes in the form of anxiety, depression, learning disorders and other forms. He also discusses why it matters and why it is important to seek adequate treatment for complex ADHD. In short, if not addressed the symptoms and challenges of an adult with ADHD can only get worse and make life more challenging. Dr. Levy Runs through many of the symptoms and signs of complex ADHD and gives examples. And he discusses treatment option

In this new episode, we explore emotional and cognitive processing and how to communicate effectively at home and in the workplace. Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials comes back on the podcast to discuss processing and communicating during challenging situations. Situations that could involve conflict present themselves not only at home but in the workplace and it's important for us to build the skills to manage Interactions with others effectively. Brendan starts the podcast by giving three quick tips for thriving with adult ADHD in 2023. Brendan takes time to break down emotional and cognitive processing, runs through many examples, and discusses when these intersect. He gives great advice on processing emotions in difficult situations. Brendan also talks about how we need to validate our emotions. Other discussion points include being honest with ourselves. Asking for criticism to allow for personal growth. Noticing our emotions Allowing those emotions to take place. Find Brendan at: https://www.adhdessentia

Dave talks about three lists you should make when preparing for a new year. Because most of us with adult ADHD are not big on New Year's resolutions and because they are rarely effective, Dave talks about how you can slowly make the changes necessary in the coming year. Dave talks about the power of setting personal goals that drive your professional life, spending some time understanding what is currently not working in your life, and celebrating the activities that are working in your favor. Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com to work with Dave, or grab one of his affordable video programs on adult ADHD.

Many adults with ADHD either want a passion project or need to do something that allows them to feel a sense of purpose. When we embark on these types of projects, we feel energized, excited and fulfilled in life. This episode features Morgan Hancock, founder of Bourbon with Heart, based in Kentucky. Bourbon with Heart is a nonprofit that helps fund the arts and other nonprofit organizations. Morgan is a commercial real estate professional with ADHD, a U.S. Army veteran, and a successful entrepreneur, and she shares her tips for navigating a busy life and creating a passion project. Morgan discusses how many with ADHD need to embrace some type of chaos in life. She talks about how a basic To Do List saved her life. She discusses time blocking, including how she handles her commercial real estate duties and nonprofit responsibilities. Morgan also discusses how in some cases, impulsivity is a good thing when it comes to passion projects. Allowing many to take on risks that others would not. She also discusses

Dave provides some quick advice and talks about how powerful it is to group tasks and projects. Assigning the right amount of time for regular tasks and larger projects is one of the best ways to not only get things done but reduce your stress. Many of us have heard about time blocking but Dave breaks down why this is important and gives specific advice in a number of areas where you can maximize your energy and time. Dave talks about creating theme days, dedicating time during the week for shorter regular tasks, actually putting certain tasks off to maximize productivity, and a few other tips. Check out Dave’s new program, ADHD in the Workplace at: www.OvercomingDistractions.com

Many adults with ADHD decide to open their own business or become entrepreneurs. There are many reasons for this. But before we take on such an important journey, those with ADHD must be aware of what's ahead to succeed. Whether you are looking at entrepreneurship or just looking to find your next career move, you'll find great value in this discussion with Aron Croft of Hidden ADHD. Aron discusses some of the pros and cons of people with ADHD entering self-employment or entrepreneurship. He talks about why many with ADHD want and need freedom, the desire for scalability in their business, and being in charge because many with ADHD do not like being told what to do. Aron also talks about why he decided to become an entrepreneur but is honest about his journey along the way, which was not always smooth. While Aron had a great job, he found himself looking for a higher calling and began the process of building his entrepreneurial journey on the side. Aron also talks about the different types of fit you need to

One of the more challenging aspects of being in the workplace with ADHD is creating systems to get everything done. One key factor is having a to-do list system that works for your brain. Many adults with ADHD struggle with finding a to-do list that works. When we do not have an effective to-do list that can help us get our job done, we fall behind, miss important tasks, fail to meet deadlines, and, get stressed out. Dave runs through a few things to think about if you're trying to find a to-do list system that works for you and your job. Keep in mind there is no perfect To Do List, and everyone responds to different ways of getting it all done. Dave also briefly discusses his new video program, ADHD in the Workplace, now available. If you want to work with Dave one-on-one or find his new program, go to www.overcomingdistractions.com

Adults with ADHD can make more career decisions than others. There are many reasons for this, including boredom, not being challenged, and other reasons, such as overwork and burnout. Reevaluating your career, which will affect your overall life, is a process that should not be done with impulsiveness. Thought and care need to be put into your next career move and life change. Alex Gilbert from Cape-Able Consulting joined Dave on Overcoming Distractions to talk about how to be methodical about new life choices and the signs that you may need to make changes in your life. Alex brings up several great discussion points about reevaluating your career and life choices. She says to ask yourself, “what do I want and what do I need in a career? She said it might be time to evaluate your career and your job if you experience the following. Having trouble getting up in the morning. Being constantly reprimanded at work may indicate the wrong job or career. Working in a toxic environment. You feel bored or not challeng

In this mini episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave talks about how important having clarity is when you are an adult with ADHD. Having clarity in all areas of your life is an important goal to pursue, but in the workplace, it is crucial to thriving and surviving in a job or a career. Dave talks about the hazards when we lack clarity in certain areas, including procrastination. He also talks about why lack of clarity leads to stress and anxiety. Dave gives you a checklist to achieve more clarity, especially in the workplace. So grab a pen and a fresh notebook, listen, and absorb this short podcast on ADHD and clarity. If you are an adult with ADHD and have just been diagnosed, check out Dave's new video program. You can find it at www.OvercomingDistractions.com.

Have you ever wondered if you should disclose your ADHD to your employer, boss, or coworkers? Maybe even your clients? First, this is your choice, but hopefully this discussion will help you make the right choice for your situation. This week we have back Grant Crowell, Author of Grantasms Creative twisted words for cool people!  and a self-professed social wordsmith. Grant has been an employee and a contractor he's talked about his ADHD, and in some cases, he hasn't talked about his ADHD. In this discussion about disclosing your ADHD in the workplace, we cover the following: What are the negatives of disclosing your ADHD? The positive examples of disclosing ADHD. Resources available to understand your options for reasonable accommodations. What reasonable accommodations are in the workplace? Grant provides several tips to help you make the decision about disclosing your ADHD to your employer. Find an ally if possible. Obtain an official diagnosis of ADHD. Understand your strengths in the workplace. Don't

Have you just been diagnosed with adult ADHD or suspect you have ADHD? Maybe you want to go right back to the basics of managing your ADHD. Dave spends a few minutes on this shorter version of overcoming distractions on a few core parts of managing and thriving with adult ADHD. Dave tackles this subject in the way if he had to do it all over again. These are some of the core tactics and strategies as well as areas of life that every adult with ADHD it needs to focus on and improve. Dave has just launched a very affordable video program for people who have just been diagnosed with adult ADHD or want to learn more. You can find that here on the homepage. www.OvercomingDistractions.com

If you're looking for a little bit of motivation to kick your brain into gear, this episode of Overcoming Distractions will help you give you a bit of a kick start. Dr. Lara Honos-Webb, author of Brain Hacks and several other books on ADHD is back on the podcast, and she is joined by Pen King. Both are co-founders of Bonding Health. Pen is also a partner in a venture capital firm which requires him to be on his game. Both Lara and Pen off of their advice for giving your brain a little hacking. Lara says some of the more important things to consider when we are not feeling 100% is to recognize our feelings, create some type of action steps and create a list of our needs. She also outlines several questions you can ask yourself to get you thinking clearly again. Those include: —If I were more confident in myself, what would I do? —If I were more driven, what would I do? —If I were still age 10, what would I do? And more to get you thinking. Pen King discusses several things that he feels are important as a busy

Konrad Sanders is the CEO and founder of the Creative Copywriter based in London. The agency focuses on copywriting and brand building for many brands, large and small. Konrad comes on Overcoming Distractions to discuss how he built his copywriting agency to be a 7-figure company, and he also discusses some of the challenges getting there as an adult with ADHD. He talks about many of the challenges he needed to overcome as an entrepreneur with ADHD, including: Gaining more focus The shiny object syndrome Wanting to do everything at once The challenge with completing tasks and projects Time management Burnout Konrad talks with Dave about the “must haves” an entrepreneur with ADHD needs to have in place to grow and thrive. Those include: Self-awareness about you and your ADHD. Understanding your weaknesses. You must have optimism. Drive and passion as an adult with ADHD. Understand there need to be processes in place. Identify and find people that complement your skills. Find Konrad here: https://www.creati

Those of us with ADHD need to find the activities that provide us energy and good dopamine and allow us to maintain a good mood in outlook on life. When we constantly engage in activities that deplete our energy and even sucked the life out of us, we begin to face many challenges. Laura MacNiven of the Springboard Clinic based in Canada is back on the podcast. Laura talks about why it is important for people with ADHD to find the activities in their life that provide them with energy. Those going to be professional such as a career or a job, or personal activities, such as hobbies that you enjoy. Laura, however says that it is a challenge for many with ADHD to understand their own wants and needs, and it is essential to check in with yourself regularly to gain more self-awareness around activities that either provide us energy or ZAP our energy. Dave and Laura also discuss the concept of being more productive in our lives by removing the activities that challenge our energy. Laura and Dave also talk about how

People from all walks of life and all careers can experience burnout at some level. And while this could be a silent epidemic, there needs to be more discussion about how burnout can affect our lives. Dave gives you an audio list of 14 things you must know about burnout in this short podcast. If you are going to recover from burnout and prevent it from entering your life in the future, these 14 important aspects of burnout are something you must get to know. Do you want to buy Dave’s book Overcoming Burnout? Click here to get the book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WQ17T22  

Managing adult ADHD can be challenging for the best of us. Managing burnout can be a tremendous effort for many as well. When we have both, that presents circumstances that should cause us to take action to improve our well-being. This week we talk about adult ADHD, burnout, and many other challenges those of us face in our lives. Catherine Avery of Catherine Avery ADHD Coaching is the guest this week. Catherine discusses how she managed adult ADHD, two experiences of burnout, and recovery from cancer. She also discusses why she experienced burnout more than once and why she needed to make changes in her life after this second burnout. One key takeaway in this podcast from her experience with burnout is telling people to ask for help. Because Catherine is also a productivity and ADHD coach, she offers tips for improving productivity during stressful times. It's OK to be unproductive sometimes. Find a hobby or sport that you like. Meditation can help with productivity. Pause, plan, and prioritize. Save time by