Neurodivergence
ADHD
Also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A lifelong difference in attention regulation, impulse control and activity level, which affects how easy it is to start, sustain and finish things.
What it can feel like
- Difficulty starting or finishing tasks
- Losing things, forgetting appointments
- Time feeling either now or not-now
- Restlessness, or mental noise
- Interrupting, or intense focus that is hard to break
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Make the task visible
External memory: written lists, alarms, things laid out the night before. Working memory is where the difficulty lies.
Use body doubling
Doing a task alongside someone, in person or on a call, dramatically improves initiation for many people.
Design for your brain
Shorter work blocks, movement breaks, and fewer decisions in the morning. Change the environment before blaming yourself.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Ask a GP about assessment if it is affecting work, study or relationships. Medication and skills-based support both help.
Often looked at together
Autism
A lifelong developmental difference affecting sensory processing, communication and social understanding. Not an illness, but often accompanied by real distress in an unsuited environment.
Tourette Syndrome
A neurological condition causing involuntary tics, movements or sounds, which can be suppressed briefly but at the cost of rising tension.