BLOG

If you're thinking about working with an ADHD coach, you might be wondering how to choose the right person. There are lots of coaches offering their services, but their training, experience, and approach can vary considerably, so I have compiled a list of things I would recommend checking before deciding who to work with. Check Their ADHD Coaching Qualifications and Accreditation ADHD coaching is not a protected title, which means that people can call themselves ADHD coaches

I recently had the pleasure of delivering a neurodiversity talk at LGC in Fordham, where 60 managers and employees came together to learn more about neurodivergence in the workplace. The session covered dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and ADHD, looking at some of the difficulties people may experience at work and what can be done to make things easier. We discussed ways individuals can manage their own needs, how colleagues can be more understanding, and what managers can do t

Do you ever put off starting something because you're worried you won't do it properly? Perhaps you spend far too long thinking about how to approach a task, keep putting off a project until you have more time, or struggle to finish something because it never feels quite good enough. Perfectionism and ADHD might not seem like an obvious combination, but they can go hand in hand. For some adults with ADHD, the desire to get things right can make everyday tasks much harder than

When life is full of work, family commitments, and everyday responsibilities, it's easy to put the things you enjoy at the bottom of your to-do list. When you have ADHD, everyday life can involve a lot of effort; between work, family commitments, household jobs, and all the little things you need to remember, it's easy to put your own interests to one side. However, having a hobby you enjoy can make a real difference to your overall wellbeing. How can hobbies benefit adults w

Why Are Workplace Adjustments Important for Neurodivergent Employees? Does your workplace take into account the accessibility needs of your neurodivergent employees? Being an ADHD coach means I often hear about the difficulties people experience at work, from struggling to prioritise tasks and manage distractions, to feeling overwhelmed by competing demands. These difficulties can cause real issues for my clients, to the point where some have had to leave their jobs, and othe

Deciding whether to tell your employer you have ADHD can be difficult. You might be struggling with organisation, concentration, deadlines or managing your workload, but feel worried about how your manager will react if you explain why. Some people find that being open about their ADHD helps them get the support they need, but others worry about being judged, treated differently, or having their abilities questioned. These concerns are understandable, particularly if you have

“How did you manage to be a teacher if you have ADHD?” It’s a question I’ve been asked a few times, and I can understand why people ask it. Teaching involves a lot of organisation, planning, deadlines, paperwork, managing interruptions, and keeping track of what feels like 20 things at once. Those are all areas that can be difficult when you have ADHD, but there are also parts of teaching that can suit an ADHD brain really well. For me, teaching had plenty of challenges, but

October is ADHD Awareness Month, so I thought it was a good opportunity to talk about why raising awareness of ADHD still matters. Although ADHD is talked about far more openly than it was when I was diagnosed, there are still plenty of misconceptions about what ADHD actually looks like. It isn't simply being distracted, hyperactive, or forgetful, and it certainly isn't something that only affects children. ADHD can affect people in very different ways, and the difficulties c

When we think about clutter, we often focus on the practical problems of having too much stuff or not enough storage. However, when you have ADHD, clutter can become much more than an organisational issue, with the emotional impact sometimes being harder to deal with than the mess itself. You might have a cupboard, spare room, or even an entire house that needs sorting, but feel so overwhelmed by the amount of work involved that you struggle to get started. Even when you do m

On Saturday 19 September, I held the first ADHD Extravaganza in Ely, bringing together the local ADHD and wider neurodivergent community for an afternoon of talks, live music, local businesses, and plenty of opportunities to meet other people. The event was a huge success, with over 100 people attending, and I’m really pleased to be able to confirm that we raised £540 for ADHD UK from the ticket proceeds. I had hoped the event would go well, but it actually went much better t

If you have ADHD, you may have experienced the slightly frustrating situation where you pick up your phone to check one thing, watch a quick video, and somehow find yourself still scrolling an hour later wondering where the time has gone. I am guilty of doing it myself! There is something particularly compelling about short-form video when you have ADHD because there is a constant stream of novelty, with something new appearing every few seconds, and very little effort requir

When I decided to organise the ADHD Extravaganza in Ely, one of the things that was important to me was that the event should have a purpose beyond simply gathering people together for an afternoon. I wanted it to raise awareness of ADHD, bring people together, give local businesses and speakers an opportunity to share what they do, and ultimately raise some money for a charity doing important work for people affected by ADHD. That is why I chose ADHD UK as the charity to ben

ADHD is often associated with children and younger adults, but there are plenty of people who reach their 50s, 60s or beyond before they start wondering whether ADHD could explain some of the difficulties they have experienced throughout their lives. This is particularly interesting because someone who has reached this stage of life may reasonably ask themselves: "If I've managed all these years, why would I need a diagnosis now?" The answer is that managing something for dec

I'm really pleased to be bringing something a little different to Ely this September. On Saturday 19th September, I'll be hosting the ADHD Extravaganza at The Lighthouse on Lynn Road. It's an afternoon celebrating neurodiversity, bringing people together and giving some brilliant neurodivergent local businesses an opportunity to share what they do. What can you expect? There will be plenty going on during the afternoon, including an ADHD talk from me, ADHD coach and teacher M

My wife and I went to Poets House in Ely at the weekend and had a wonderful time together. We love our children - obviously - but sometimes you just need to spend some time alone together. It is very easy for life to become centred around your children, particularly when they are young. There are school runs, clubs, meals, bedtime routines, work, and all the other everyday things that need doing, and before you realise it, you can have gone weeks without having any proper tim

When someone receives a diagnosis of ADHD, medication is often one of the main things they consider. I have ADHD myself but chose not to take medication - it is a personal decision, and I think it is important to do what is best for you. From speaking with my clients over the years, it is clear that everyone's experience with ADHD medication tends to be quite different. Some find it transformative for their focus and impulse control, whereas others struggle with side effects

Technology is a bit of a double-edged sword when you have ADHD. My phone can remind me about appointments and my next clients, store reminders, set alarms, and make sure I don't forget things I would otherwise probably forget. However, it can also completely steal my attention. I can pick up my phone to check one thing and, a few minutes later, find myself reading up on potoo bird mouth for the next hour. If you've never seen a potoo bird, I can assure you that this was a ver

There are some places where you arrive, take a look around and immediately realise that you are going to remember the view. Castillo de la Muela in Consuegra, Toledo, is one of those places for me. The climb up to the castle was certainly hot work in the Spanish sunshine, but once we got up there and I saw the view across La Mancha, it was pretty easy to forget about the walk up. A castle with more than 800 years of history The castle sits high on the Cerro Calderico and has

Most people with ADHD know what it feels like to mask, although some people will experience it much more than others. If you aren't sure what it actually looks like, then carry on reading below.. What Does ADHD Masking Look Like? When you're around other people, it can feel as though you are performing rather than simply being yourself. You might find yourself concentrating hard on looking as though you are listening intently, even when your thoughts have drifted elsewhere. S

I recently came across a Batman statue and couldn't resist recreating the classic superhero pose. Batman: "We need a plan" Me: "Absolutely. I've got 17 of them" Batman: "Excellent. Which one are we starting?" Me: *Panics in ADHD* It gets a laugh because there's more truth in it than many people realise. One of the biggest misconceptions about ADHD is that people simply don't plan ahead, when in reality, many of the people I work with are excellent at coming up with ideas, res