Flexibility and Creativity: The Benefits of Being Anti-Structure and Anti-Routine

In today’s episode, we talk about connection! How do you connect with yourself, the people around you, and your life? What are the impediments to achieving these connections? Why bother? We answer these questions and more. 

Detailed show notes:

• How to connect with yourself, and how you will feel and operate as a consequence. [2:31]
• Link to #71 Authenticity – Normalizing ADHD
• Questions for reflection – connecting with self (it’s worth pausing!) [4:14]
• Impediments to connecting with the people around us, and what happens when we can overcome them. [4:49]
• The single question that will shape how you connect with other people – W.I.I.F.M.T.? [7:49]
• Questions for reflection – connecting with people [8:56]
• Purpose, happiness, and meaning – how connected are you with your life as a whole? [9:23]
• Questions for reflection – connecting with life [11:01]
• Practices to develop your sense of connection with your everyday interactions [11:34]

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Join the ADHD reWired Team every second Tuesday of the month for our monthly Live Q&A!  Listen to this episode uninterrupted by ads when you become a Patron at $5.00 a month or more by going to adhdrewired.com/Patreon!  Questions & Topics in this Episode: [00:03:16] A listener asks about helping college students with rigid thinking and flexibility [00:10:40] “Time management, project management, time-blindness and distractions are weak spots in my daily work.  Where would you feel is the best place to try and put my efforts in preparation for a return to the office?”  [00:16:59] A listener who is starting their ADHD journey asks about being self-employed and getting themselves to work.   [00:29:48] “I would like to hear from the panel about how adults with ADHD can manage/heal the grief and trauma associated with the lifelong losses incurred by the previously unmanaged condition.”  [00:38:42] What are some ideas to make kitchen cleaning more fun and exciting? [00:49:52] Differential diagnosis for adults: Are there mental health or neurological conditions/combinations of conditions that causes an adult to display the entire range of EF (executive function) challenges in adults?  How can impaired adults advocate for a diagnosis and get support in the case nobody in their life noticed symptoms in their childhood?  [00:55:17] “What are the helpful visual cues to help keep track of time?” [01:01:24] A moment of dad & plenty of laughs Resources & Honorable Mentions: Time Timer   Time Tracker® Mini   App (iOS): It’s Almost Time for iOS    Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens  

Today, Eric is joined by Morgan Hancock who was diagnosed with ADHD at 31.  She is a commercial real-estate agent, entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, mother of 2, a passionate advocate of the arts, and the founder of Bourbon With Heart Inc., the world’s first and only arts-focused bourbon charity! In this episode, you’ll hear about the different paths Morgan took – including becoming a young mother, joining the army, law school, making insect repellent, and continuing to act on her big ambitions.  You’ll also hear about her life as a self-professed trouble-maker, hyperfocus and risk-taking, all-or-nothing thinking, what led up to her ADHD diagnosis, and how her fearlessness and resilience led to founding her bourbon-based non-profit organization. Learn More about Bourbon With Heart: Website: bourbonwithheart.org   Instagram: @bourbonwithheart   Facebook: BourbonWithHeart   Get in Touch with Morgan:  Instagram: @americasbestie   Other Questions/Topics Answered in this Episode: [00:01:13] Introducing Morgan [00:02:16] Life in school and the challenges Morgan faced [00:05:36] Morgan shares her optimism and desire to do big things “…even though my surroundings did not reflect that as a probability.”  [00:07:54] Joining the army at 18, how did Morgan navigate as a mother of a then 2-year-old son?  [00:09:00] What was life like for Morgan in her early 20s?  [00:11:16] What drove Morgan to go to law school?  [00:19:56] Eric asks Morgan about the catalyst that led up to her ADHD diagnosis [00:22:31] Morgan shares the positive effects that ADHD medication had on her life [00:23:56] Morgan tells us about Bourbon With Heart and Kentucky’s rich and vibrant arts culture [00:25:14] What’s the big “why” behind starting Bourbon With Heart?  [00:33:56] Eric asks Morgan about what happened during the break with an event she planned that sold out in a day.  [00:35:28] How did Morgan communicate her idea to others to get them on board, believe in her mission, and raise money to kick off Bourbon With Heart?  [00:44:10] How listeners can get in touch with Morgan, learn more about Bourbon with Heart, and closing words…  Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens Registration for the Spring Season of ADHD reWired’s Coaching & Accountability Groups is happening now!  Learn more about our award-winning intensive online coaching and accountability groups at coachingrewired.com!  If you’re ready to get your ADHD reWired, that’s coachingrewired.com to start your pre-registration process so you can join us for our next spring 2023 registration event on Thursday, March 2nd at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern! 

Join the ADHD reWired Team every second Tuesday of the month for our monthly Live Q&A!  And get the full ad-free version of this episode when you become a Patron at $5.00 a month or more by going to !   Questions & Topics in this Episode: [00:02:12] How have you learned how to accept your ADHD?  [00:11:56] How do you keep yourself from comparing your progress and productivity with that of your neurotypical colleagues, especially those who are high-achieving?  [00:26:54] I’m considering going back to college part-time and I’m having a hard time not getting freaked out about papers and exams. I just need to know how to figure out how to do it differently from my last two failed attempts.  [00:34:09] How do you protect your sleep?  [00:42:30] I would like some suggestions on how we manage expectations for those who don’t understand us [as people with ADHD].  What would you say to somebody who has no idea what ADHD is about?  [00:55:13] A listener asks about managing PMDD and having ADHD.  [00:59:14] Any tips on things to look for or do first before finding an insurance provider?  Resources & Honorable Mentions: Episode:   Website:   Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens  

Emily Sussman joins Eric on the podcast today to talk about mindfulness and reducing stress!  Emily, who is a mom and also has ADHD, has over 20 years of experience empowering others, uses mindfulness daily, and is a certified instructor in mindfulness-based stress reduction.  When asked why she practices daily, Emily says, “It’s like breathing!  You must breathe to survive, hence: mindfulness.”  In this episode, you’ll hear about what a “resource” room was, how Emily became an advocate, her experiences going through special education – both as a kid and as a parent, and why saw less success for neurodiverse brains in public schools.  Then, you’ll hear Emily’s definition of mindfulness, how she got started, the struggles she faced through schooling and learning, and then walks us through a meditation!  Get in touch with Emily: LinkedIn   Email:    Other Questions/Topics Answered in this Episode: [00:01:11] Introducing Emily & an ADHD moment  [00:02:48] How did Emily get into mindfulness-based stress reduction?  [00:05:19] As a kid who went through special education, how is it for Emily now, navigating as a parent? [00:07:16] Emily’s observations from public school to alternative schooling  [00:11:51] Emily shares how ADHD was the final piece of the puzzle  [00:21:32] What is Emily’s definition of mindfulness?  What is mindfulness-based stress reduction?  [00:26:55] Happiness and how mindfulness gave Emily a sense of purpose  [00:27:16] Emily shares a relatable ADHD struggle about explaining, expressing, and perspective  [00:28:17] What is a body scan meditation?  Why is it helpful?  [00:31:39] “There’s no such thing as clearing your mind!”  [00:32:56] Eric shares the importance of self-care, experiencing the benefits, and the impact of repetition [00:41:31] Prefacing a mindfulness meditation and suggestions before beginning  [00:45:27] Emily leads us through a meditation [01:00:17] Wrapping up and closing thoughts  Resources & Honorable Mentions: “Once you begin to come out of your shell, that’s when you’re going to start feeling good about yourself, that’s where you’re gonna learn how to learn, and then you find your passion.” – Emily  Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: ADHD Essentials with Brendan Mahan Hacking your ADHD with Will Curb ADHD Diversified with MJ Siemens ⭐️ Registration for our spring season is happening now! Learn more about our award-winning intensive online coaching and accountability groups at coachingrewired.com!  If you’re ready to get your ADHD reWired, that’s coachingrewired.com to start your pre-registration process so you can join us for our last spring 2023 registration event on Thursday, March 23rd at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern! ⭐️

The Annual International Conference on ADHD is this week!  Join virtually or in person in Dallas, Texas!  Listeners of ADHD reWired can get 15% off your registration at !  Or use the promo code adhdrewiredadhdcon2022 at checkout! – – – This week, Eric is joined by Robyn Buchanan, a mom of two teenage boys and partner to an ADHD husband.  Robyn is also a registered nurse, life and focus coach, and YouTube creator who is an advocate for people with ADHD and neurodiversity to capitalize on their ADHD strengths and push the mundane aside to live their best lives.  She encourages minimalism and self-employment for maximum freedom and joy, is a self-admitted tea-addict, loves gardening, walking with friends around her Vancouver island town, and watching Jane Austen movies.  You’ll hear Eric and Robyn talk about decluttering, how we can add “glitter” to make decluttering fun, and how important our spaces and environments are for getting things done.   Eric and Robyn also discuss how decluttering our own spaces has potential to bring others joy, different ways we can use the concept of minimalism to keep our spaces clean and decluttered, what prompted Eric to hire a professional organizer, what sparked Robyn’s interest into getting her home organized, and more!   Get in touch with Robyn: Instagram: Instagram: YouTube:   YouTube:   – – – Other Questions/Topics Answered in this Episode: [00:03:54] Eric admits he “has crap everywhere” and asks Robyn, “Where do we start?” when we want to begin decluttering.  [00:06:29] How do we make decluttering fun?  [00:10:10] Robyn shares how and why she schedules her anti-procrastination tasks.  [00:11:20] What sparked Robyn’s interest to get into organizing?  [00:15:38] How does Robyn define minimalism for her?  [00:23:29] Robyn takes us into the thinking realm of organizing:  What are the questions, leading thoughts, ideas, and the cognition piece behind this to help us make better decisions? [00:29:19] “You mean we have to work to keep our home decluttered?” and a discussion about maintenance. [00:37:16] How do we deal with family giving us things (memorabilia, furniture, etc.) that could lead to more clutter?  [00:42:10] How do we deal with our mail?  [00:47:10] What are some of the tools or the things that make keeping ourselves organized easier? [00:50:46] Why does it take up to two weeks to put laundry away?  Resources & Honorable Mentions: Website: – Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus  YouTube Channel:   Website: Website: (GTD)  – – – Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens Get the full ad-free version of this episode when you become a Patron at $5.00 a month or more by going to !