The Axioms of ADHD
ADHD Open Space Podcast
Originally published as an article on . For the last few months I’ve been writing down things that help me function with ADHD. These were short phrases, kind of like mantras: hurrying is kryptonite. Nothing is on the way to anything else. Choice is friction. I started calling this my “Rules of ADHD”, and planned to write them up — but when I got to number sixteen, I realized that would make for a pretty complicated article. Also, who’s going to remember sixteen different rules, especially when there were likely to be more? I’m lucky enough to be friends with Amber Beckett from ...
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Grace & Discipline with ADHD (Part Two)
ADHD Open Space Podcast
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Grace and Discipline with ADHD (Part one)
ADHD Open Space Podcast
• Photo by on The Deeper Long-Term Effects of Late-Diagnosis ADHD I was interviewed recently by the hosts of a decluttering podcast (link to come later, it’s not online yet!). I’ve been writing about organization systems and techniques for decades. I have always enjoyed trying out new systems, finding out the advantages and limitations and constantly re-optimizing them in various ways whether physical (whiteboards and labeled boxes!), paper (53 folders! File cabinets and notebooks!) or digital (Obsidian! Notion! Johnny Decimal! Tags, tags, so many tags…). It’s...
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Your Productivity Tools and Hacks Are Useless Without This One Thing.
ADHD Open Space Podcast
originally published on I learned the hard way, so maybe you won't have to. I write a lot about productivity tools and methods. I’ve written about time management and project planning and habit formation and self reflection. I’ve reviewed the things that make these possible, apps and notebooks and timers and even wrote a book about my favorite form of meditation. I left something very important out. Something that happened in December made me realize that I’d done my readers a disservice: all this productrivia was worthless without one particular practices. Come with me to the Coliseum...
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How TIIMO Can Help You Manage Your Time and Relieve ADHD Anxiety
ADHD Open Space Podcast
Raise your hand if any of these phrases sound familiar: “Oh, %$#@, it started five minutes ago!” “Wait — that was today?” “This is taking forever. How can it not be over yet?” “Guess I’m just gonna be late…again.” “What was it I’m supposed to be doing now?” If your hand is still down, this article is not for you; go back to reading “How to enjoy your perfectly manageable schedule” or “How to let people without an unfailingly accurate internal clock know how much you pity them” or whatever it is people like you read. One the other hand (the one...
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The 3-Step Foolproof Way to Find Lost Things When You Have ADHD
ADHD Open Space Podcast
drawing by the author using Adobe Fresco #byHumansForHumans #noAI Raise your hand if you’ve ever found yourself rummaging through drawers, wandering through room after room in your house, checking backpacks and briefcases and pockets repeatedly, all while muttering “I know I saw that somewhere…” “That”, of course, is a thing that you did not need when you saw it last. It registered as a blip on your conscious mind — the feeling of “Oh, I see that. Good to know I still have it” without the burden of actually remembering where it is located. Then, a few days/weeks/months...
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Five Things You're Guaranteed to Get at the ADHD Open Space
ADHD Open Space Podcast
Transcript: Welcome to the ADHD Open Space Podcast. My name is Gray Miller, and I will be your host and facilitator as we explore ideas, workarounds, accommodations, and other aspects of being a professional adult with ADHD. ...
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ADHD: The Scattering
ADHD Open Space Podcast
Let me tell you about the winter when the Idea Monster came and sat in his brain and almost kept the last five NaPodPoMo podcasts from happening. And also…about the fun game about ADHD that I’m creating. “Squirrel card, like…Someone sent a thumbs up emoji and you're distracted, lose, you're distracted, so you lose a certain number of emotional regulation tokens. Or you moved houses three months ago and can't find that one box with all the cleaning supplies. Immediately give up on all house related goal cards. So if you were planning on organizing your closet, or doing the dishes, nope,...
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ADHD in Relationships: Interview with my partner, Natasha
ADHD Open Space Podcast
This was a hard one to post, because my partner is loving and honest and so there are parts of this interview that my brain tells me will make you hate me. But authenticity is important, as is trust, and I trust both her and you, my listeners. So here it is in unedited glory.
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How My ADHD Brain Created a Nightmare of Social Anxiety
ADHD Open Space Podcast
After my diagnosis, even my dreams make more sense. Sort of. Note: all people mentioned in this article are fictitious constructs of my subconscious brain. Even the one who is real. Since my relatively recent diagnosis, I’ve been immersing myself in research, anecdotes, podcasts, videos, and social media related to adult ADHD. It’s been quite the revelatory experience, as my perspective of the last fifty or so years of my life changes with this new lens turned on myself. Last night all that knowledge finally seeped into my subconscious and I had what I suspect will only be the...
info_outlineWelcome to my somewhat unconventional journey through adulthood, peppered with the kind of ADHD moments that make you go, "Aha!" So, grab your favorite beverage (I would recommend coffee, the adulting juice, but you’d never sleep, so maybe try water?), and let's dive into the delightful chaos that has been my life. Every ADHD moment you spot is a reminder to take a drink — and that life is never dull!
Chatterbox Kid Turned Chatty Adult
It all started in a kindergarten class in New Jersey. I was the kid who couldn't stop talking, labeled with 'diarrhea of the mouth.' Little did I know, this was my first unofficial badge in the world of ADHD. Fast forward a few decades, and yes, I'm still the one public speaking both in meatspace an (of course) on podcasts, much to everyone's amusement (or dismay?).
The Reading Rebel in the Classroom
School days were a juggling act between being an avid reader and a somewhat attentive student. Books were my escape from the humdrum of regular classes. My teachers called it a distraction, I called it multitasking. Turns out, it was ADHD doing its thing.
Home Life: A Series of Forgotten Chores
Chores and I did not get along. It was that whole “attention to detail” thing. Sweep the stairs? Sure, I will - most of them, anyway. Do the laundry? I did! Except I might forget to move them from the washer to the dryer…for a few days. My parents' attempts to instill responsibility were met with my brain's unique approach to remembering tasks. It's not just forgetfulness; it's the ADHD brain's creative way of prioritizing (or not).
The Procrastinating Potential in High School
Oh, the high school years! A time when potential was my middle name, and procrastination was my game. Teachers saw a bright student who just needed to 'apply himself.' I saw a bunch of homework that paled in comparison to the more exciting things in life, especially after realizing how fun “study dates” could be. Spoiler alert: That was ADHD in stealth mode, and once it discovered the dopamine-mine that is sex, my grades were never the same.
Juggling: More Than Just a Party Trick
Juggling wasn't just a quirky hobby I found at age 14; I believe, in hindsight, it was a necessity. It kept my hands busy and my mind at peace - a perfect antidote to the ADHD restlessness. And let's not forget the sweet tooth that often accompanied my “study sessions”. Donuts, ice cream, and juggling balls - the unsung heroes of my ADHD journey.
A Career Path Less Traveled
From the heat of 29 Palms as a U.S. Marine to the grill of a Denny’s kitchen as a short-order cook to the spotlight of adult sex education conferences, my career path has been anything but ordinary. These weren't just random choices; they were the result of an ADHD brain seeking new and stimulating experiences at every turn.
Embracing the ADHD Diagnosis
It took a while, but the realization finally hit - all these quirks and unique choices were the workings of an ADHD mind. Understanding this has been like getting a manual to my brain, albeit a few decades late.
So, there you have it - my not-so-linear path through the maze of adult ADHD. If you've managed to keep up then congrats! You’re well-hydrated, and I salute your adulting skills. Here's to embracing the chaos and finding the humor in life's unexpected ADHD moments. Keep tuning in for more tales and insights from an adult who's just figuring out the neurodivergent life.