Overcoming Distractions

This week on Overcoming Distractions, we talk with Brendan Mahan about what he calls the Wall of Awful. Brendan who has been on the podcast before and was featured in the book, Overcoming Distractions talks about how those who struggle with various takes can find a way to tackle those responsibilities that might be plaguing them to no end.

Brendan is also the founder of ADHD Essentials and coaches individuals of all ages. He runs the popular podcast by the same name.

Brendan says that there is a progression that many with ADHD go through when it comes to getting things accomplished. They run from failure, disappointment, rejection, worry, self-doubt and the emotions run high sometimes. There are just some days when anyone, regardless of whether they have ADHD or not, can run into this Wall of Awful and we need to find ways to tackle this wall.

Brendan talks about the ways in which you can tackle the Wall of Awful. Some ways are much better than others. He talks about putting a door in the wall, smashing though the wall and going around the wall. He talks about the strategies involved in trying to get from goals and tasks to done and accomplished.

Brendan and Dave also spend time on the topic of email and how it can slow our days down. Brendan shares some of his tips for making email more manageable and fun at the same time.

In this podcast, Brendan answers the common question, why is it so difficult some days to get things done! And he has the answers.

Find Brendan Mahan at his website which includes ADHD Essentials the Podcast. www.adhdessentials.com

This is an important episode for anyone that has had their work environment abruptly altered due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. Many of us are now working from home and may not be ready for that change to our working environment.

Dave sits down with Casey Dixon of Dixon Life Coaching about how you can continue to work and stay productive during this drastic change in our work and home life. Casey works with professionals including lawyers, professors and others in high-demand careers to help them stay on track and stay productive.

Dave and Casey talk about how in a time of crisis, there can be a shock to a person’s work environment and they talk about what can happen. However, many with ADHD who have become successful, have systems in place and can transition during these times. But there still can be challenges.

They discuss how to set up a place in your home if you don’t already have a dedicated space to work from. And they walk through how to set priorities when you suddenly have a house full of children that do not have a school to go to.  

Casey also talks about what happens when you suddenly have nothing to do. Many in the COVID-19 crisis lost their jobs or had a sudden drop in client work. While we hope this is temporary, Casey talks about how to stay active during these times.

And Casey goes through a checklist if you have suddenly had to change your work environment. She talks about time management, routines, staying healthy with mind and body exercises, blocking distractions and negotiating some structure with the rest of the family.

You can find Casey Dixon here: https://www.dixonlifecoaching.com/

If you want to improve your focus with ADHD, this will be a great podcast for you to listen to. Back for round two is Dr. Sarah Cheyette, a specialist in ADHD and the author of Winning with ADHD and the title of our podcast, ADHD and The Focused Mind.

In her book, Sarah and her co-authors Peter Johnson and Ben Cheyette walk readers through how you can use the techniques of athletes and martial artists to achieve greater focus when you have ADHD.

Sarah and Dave first talk about the myth that those with ADHD cannot focus. In fact, people with ADHD can have tremendous focus when they want to and on things that matter to them. They address both the public’s perception as well as the self-talk that many with ADHD tell use to tell themselves otherwise.

Sarah and Dave discuss our need for goals, how we have our best performance when we have practical and achievable goals and how self esteem comes from achievement. Sarah also goes through the concept of SMART Goals and how to implement them in your life.

Sarah talks about the will to train versus the will to win and how they differ.

And Dave and Sarah discuss how to how mind and body work together to help those with ADHD including nutrition, sleep, exercise, a healthy breakfast and positive visualization. How to keep your spirit up and the importance of believing in yourself.

Find Sarah Cheyette and the book here: https://sarahcheyette.com/

This week we are talking about time again but this is not a time management episode. This episode we are talking about how those with ADHD experience time differently than others. Dave sits down with ADHD Coach, Shelly Collins. Shelly also co-hosts the ADHD podcast Translating ADHD with Cameron Gott who has also been on Overcoming Distractions for a couple of discussions.

Dave and Shelly discuss what adults with ADHD struggle with when it comes to time and of course, the list could become numerous. But they also point out that those with ADHD are not the only ones that have challenges with time and that it is important for anyone with ADHD to understand this.

Dave asks Shelly what time “feels Like” for adults with ADHD and how that can be different than those that are neurotypical. Shelly discusses time horizons and how many with ADHD struggle with long term planning in regards to time. Does the future exist for adults with ADHD and what is destination thinking.

They also discuss topics such as procrastination as well as other forms of time delay that could be mistaken for time management issues.

And Shelly gives he tips for starting down a path of having a better relationship with time.

You can find Shelly Collins at: https://www.gatewayproductivity.com/

And find Translating ADHD the podcast at: translatingadhd.com

This week we chat with Sarah Cheyette MD about social anxiety. While many adults with ADHD might be very outgoing and have the gift of being a great communicator, some of those with ADHD also experience social anxiety in various situations.

Sarah Cheyette is the author of two books on ADHD; ADHD and the Focused Mind, as well as Winning with ADHD.

Sarah starts out by describing just what social anxiety is and how those with ADHD can experience this in various settings, both at home and at work. She discusses negative thinking and the neuroscience around it. Sarah also talks about the anxious part of our brains and that sometimes, we have challenges thinking straight when we are nervous.

Dave and Sarah talk about extrovert versus introvert and how for many of us, depending on the situation, can be both. Many with ADHD are outgoing. Can we be both?

Sarah says that from many that experience social anxiety, it can start at an early age. Many with ADHD experience a large amount of negative talk as we grew up. From school and classroom, as well as bad report cards to other areas of our lives where maybe we didn’t quite fit in.

Dave and Sarah talk about having more self-awareness about social anxiety and how you can better understand your own challenges. They discuss the types of issues can this cause as an adult or young adult including college and getting into the workplace.

And Sarah goes through some of her tips for managing social anxiety and getting more comfortable in public settings.

You can find Sarah Cheyette at: https://sarahcheyette.com/

Back this week for another podcast is Dr. Sharon Saline to discuss the topic of whether people grow out of ADHD. It is another one of those common discussions in the world of ADHD and a topic that many have different views on.

Dr Saline is the author of the book What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew and in private practice in Western Massachusetts.

Dave and Dr. Saline first discuss her book and that fact that there are many parts of the book that resonate with both children and adults with ADHD and there are valuable lessons to be taken away from her book.

Dr. Saline cites various research that suggests some children do outgrow ADHD but there is another camp that suggests that in most cases it is more about adapting to your environment and becoming more self-aware.

Dr. Saline brings up our 11 executive functions and how they operate. When we are doing the things we love, in the right environment or we have a great career that we enjoy, those executive functions may work great.

She also brings up what she calls the 5 C’s that she outlines in her book. Those are, Self control, compassion, collaboration, consistency and celebration. She details these and how they help an individual with ADHD.

Join Dave and Dr. Saline for a great discussion about whether we do in fact grow out of our ADHD>

Find Dr. Sharon Saline on her website at: https://drsharonsaline.com/

You can find her latest book here; https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143132393

If you have ADHD, you are probably a creative person and this podcast is dedicated to you. This week, Dave has back Laura MacNiven, founder of the Springboard Clinic based in Toronto.

Laura is also the co-author of the book, “May We Have Your Attention Please.” and Dave and Laura had a chat back several months ago about the book and several other topics with adult ADHD.

Laura and Dave discuss the topic of having ADHD and being a creative person. While many of us are creative by nature, some struggle with getting in that creative zone. Once we do, magic can happen. But we need to get there first.

Laura walks us through some of the tactics we can do to harness our creative expertise and make it flourish. She talks about learning when you can be most creative and what setting provides a flow of creativity.

Laura also speaks about how to track your creative ideas and how to find the easiest way to express your creativity.

And she speaks about finding out if you have a certain time of day that your creativity flows naturally.

One of the gifts of having adult ADHD is that we can be creative and make that work for us both for enjoyment as well as for our careers.

Find out more about the Springboard Clinic here and find the book, May We have Your Attention Please. http://www.springboardclinic.com/

This week Dave invited Jeff Copper from Dig Coaching back to continue the theme of ADHD myths. There are many myths about ADHD and Jeff and Dave tackle one that is always on the minds of many.

Myth- People with ADHD cannot focus.

This myth discussion is for both the general public and those with ADHD who feel they cannot focus.

While many with ADHD do have issues with attention, the fact that those with ADHD cannot focus is simply not true. Yes, some with ADHD do have challenges with focus but there are a few key elements when it comes to focus, attention and getting important matters taken care of.

Jeff explains that what we focus on depends on what we are interested in which is not unlike anyone. Whether an individual has ADHD or not, humans pay attention to things that they are interested in.

That goes for career and other interests.

Dave and Jeff talk about emotions, social media, getting in the right job and right career and they discuss positive self-talk. They also talk about how certain jobs and industries change with innovation and technology and how that can affect someone’s ability to focus.

Jeff also discusses way in which those with ADHD can increase their focus.

Find Jeff copper at: www.digcoaching.com

This week, Dave sits down with Dr. Hackie Reitman, the founder of Different Brains. Different Brains is a tremendous resource for those who consider themselves neurodiverse and their families. And for that matter, anyone that wants to learn more about those of us with different brains. From ADHD, autism and so much more, the website covers a wide range of topics.

Hackie and Dave talk about what neurodiversity is as well as where Hackie got his passion for this stage of his life. Hackie talks about his daughter and her challenges early on and how this inspired him to bring more attention to the world of neurodiversity.

Dave and Hackie talk about how a different brain can add value to a business and how different perspectives can be gained by an organization that listens to those with different abilities. Is ADHD misunderstood by the public and the business world? Hackie and Dave discuss this as well.

Hackie talks about his book Aspertools which is a guide for those with Asperger syndrome and others on the autism spectrum. You can find that book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0757318533/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

Hackie also talks about how he got his movie made, The Square Root of 2 about his daughter’s experiences growing up. He talks about being a professional boxer, surgeon and so much more.

In all, this is a great discussion about those of us who have different brains.

Learn more about Hackie and find all the incredible resources he has developed with his team at: https://www.differentbrains.org/

This week, Dave gets to sit down and chat with Max Fennell, a professional triathlete, entrepreneur and ADHD advocate. Max was also featured on the CBS show Million Dollar Mile, produced by LeBron James.

Max talks about growing up and how he found the world of triathlons and how a sports injury led him to this sport.

Max also discuses his tips for adults with ADHD and how he manages his ADHD including running and why he feels that is an important way to start the day.

Max and Dave also talk about the fact that many professional athletes have ADHD and that is the path in life they took.

Max gives the parents who may be raising a child with ADHD some hope and inspiration as he talks about making sure children and young adults who may be neurodiverse, the chance to find their way in life. Academics may not be for everyone and many with ADHD thrive in careers and business opportunities that they did not go to school for.

Learn more about Max at: https://www.maxfennell.co/