Episode 63: Errin Anderson

Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Welcome to episode #63. We’re thrilled to be joined by Errin Anderson today.

Errin Anderson is a dedicated ADHD Clarity Coach, empowering professionals with ADHD through his 90-day program. Offering personalized strategies and motivational support, he helps individuals overcome challenges, focusing on their strengths. His empathetic, focused approach aims to transform personal and professional lives, understanding the unique hurdles faced by those with ADHD.

Welcome to the show Errin!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity?
   1. When did you realise that you weren’t neurotypical?
      1. I always thought I was different, but it was not till I was going through a rough patch that I started to think about ADHD since other family members got diagnosed, Officially diagnosed when I was 32.
         1. Relatively late diagnosis
         2. Diagnosis gave a reason to the things going on with him
   2. What challenges did you face?
      1. Always mind a friend and work colleague who always said Errin you're like a Duracell Bunny on Drugs, running at 100 mph,
      2. I could not focus a lot of the time, unless I had a deadline to meet; mind from Uni, I was writing my essay at midnight when it was due to be handed in at lunchtime
      3. Noise is always in my head, thoughts going 1000mph
         1. Brain is always busy
   3. What is it like now?
      1. Learned just to be me
      2. Mediation has really given me the quiet mind
      3. Through coaching developed lots of tools and techniques that work for me to maintain focus and not lose EVERYTHING (mobile, wallet, keys)
      4. I am happy, not that I've never been happy but the longest I've felt in the happy emotional state.
         1. More emotional granularity (understanding the nuances between emotions)
      5. Having visual reminders like calendar reminders to help him manage time.
   4. What neuroexceptional strengths are you leaning into now?
      1. Being creative
         1. Getting lost in Canva
      2. Being my true self and getting that mask drop
      3. Thinking outside the box, is there a way i can get around, over or under this challenge
      4. Being able to listen to others and understand what really going on
         1. Active listening
         2. Not filling in the space
            1. Instead allow thinking time.
         3. Was able to build it with small habits
         4. Allows fidgets and sensory toys
            1. Fidget ring
         5. Walking can help
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Busy (always busy!)
   2. Background is working in non profit space
   3. Really focusing the now on setting up my coaching business working with professionals ND, providing them with the safe and time to reflect and develop actions, within a safe nonjudgemental place, oh and love the random moments we have in coaching when our brain takes us down that rabbit hole and allowing people to explore the space. Without feeling pressured into focus on what was the first thing we spoke about
   4. Charities
      1. Untangling some admin messes (e.g. financials)
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. When not working with Charities across Scotland or working on my coaching, i spend time with the family. 2 children (9 and 13), and the wife (who just gets it)
      1. Getting away
      2. Youngest has ADHD traits
   2. Time out in the garden - well when it’s actually sunny in Scotland and not raining
4. What do you do to optimise productivity during your working hours?
   1. 1. To Do list - but small GOALS,One product split into 5/10 steps to reach the goal, use online software to help me plan, has been a life saver. Used to write to-do list which was huge, and i would lose it so spent most the time trying to mind what was on the last one and redoing the list
         1. UseMotion.com
         2. Remarkable notepad
   2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
      1. FOCUS and have QUIET, sounds like hell to me, i need noise to keep my brain busy on two things at one. Trying to just focus with nothing else going on it, make my brain feel like we need to run a marathon - Well that will never happen physically.
         1. Music
            1. What he listens to depends
               1. When hyperfocused, doesn’t matter what the music is
               2. When he’s trying to get into something, lyrics get distracting
         2. Subtitles makes him feel like he’s multi-tasking
            1. Reading and listening at the same time
5. COMMERCIAL BREAK
6. How do you manage communication with neurotypical folk?
   1. Before i would just close down and disengage, now its all about the relationship ive developed with them. Of course at the start i will apologies all the time, as my brain switches off or im listen but doing something else at the same time
   2. Why should i conform to neurotypical, they need to take me as i am, maybe they should change or we can meet half way?
7. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Morning routine what's that!
   2. Initial i would wake up get ready and get to work no matter the time, can mind being in the office at 6am as i was up which just burned me out
   3. Now - always up around 1.5/2 hours before i need to leave, give myself time to have everything ready, and spent some time on stuff i need to do, if going into the office, jump on the bus and listen to a podcast whilst reading the news to see whats happening in the world.
8. How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Sleeps an interesting thing, probably spent that last 2 years really struggling with sleep, you would be lucky if i was getting 5 hours a night and being topped up on drugs to get me to wind down, by evening i was done but my heads was WIDE awake and wanted to do everything
   2. Now as im having time for me and allowing space to winddown at night, and having lights that change with the sunlight helps my body feel like it needs to sleep and can now sleep a full night, well unless the kids are up .
9. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. You can get me on Socials
      1. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/philanthropeakcoaching/
      2. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PhilanthroPeakCoaching
      3. TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@philanthropeakcoaching?_t=8iqQJxoyHDM&_r=1
      4. Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/errin-anderson/
   2. Best place - via my website https://philanthropeak.co.uk/
10. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Be you, learn about yourself and take the pressure off, sometimes just having that conversation with someone who gets can change everything. Lets those grey clouds and fog lift away.

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