I have adhd too (and ocd - super fun combo), and honestly, small steps helps me not dread or put off my writing time. It’s not such a big and daunting commitment this way. Right now my bare minimum is 250 words and my max capacity is 500 words. It has been really helpful in allowing me to make slow but substantial progress on my novel!
Hi 👋 I have adhd combiner with ocd too, I know how hard it can gets especially with creativity. Just wanted to share that you’re not alone! I’m grateful you shared that bc it makes me feel less alone too 🤍
I feel like the superpower of ADHD people is learning to spot these limits and our energy levels. Just having a bare minimum makes it easier to just show up and get things done.
I had to get a better exercise routine for my spinal stenosis. Starting off with 15 minutes on a treadmill every day was so easy to get done. At this point, I workout in the middle of my treadmill walks 3x a week, and I'm all sweaty after the typical 45-minute workout 7 days a week.
I needed to learn to meditate if I was going to deal with my anxiety. I started at 3 minutes per session and crept up from there as I felt it was possible. Luckily, I don't feel like I ever need to meditate more than 15 minutes now.
Humblebrags aside, the fact that you know what you can do lets you actually do it... and because you show up, you get to see the progress over time. (c:
Dear Amie! I’m not going to lie I’m not surprised, I knew from the first podcast episodes I started listening but I think it’s because we ADHD people spot each other like queers do. Welcome to the club of messy magical beings who are full of contradictions but make the world better.
I function well with routines and small steps too but I will have a meltdown whenever I have to face any kind of admin stuff. I see you and I love you!
My heart has ALSO broken for the ADHDers that believe they can't, when I know (for a fact) they can. I went from struggling and white-knuckling through a very unsupportive (corporate) life... to THRIVING as an ADHD artist because I understood that the way I operate in the world is different.
Different is beautiful. Different is ART. Different MAKES STUFF.
...but "different" has to BELIEVE in possibility, first. Thank you for encouraging all of us to do that. <3
This really hits me in the gut. I feel like there is enough social media chatter about ADHD now that you can find all the confirmation bias you need to think you're stuck. Learned helplessness is the norm on places like Instagram or Reddit, posts like this are what help break down that pattern.
Breaking free of the corporate life is what it took me as well. I hate my boss for laying me off just shy of 20 years. I won't thank them for it. But I am so much better as a person since removing that boat anchor.
As an AuDHD I’ve actually felt your wisdom has been very ND friendly because so much of your message has been to listen to our own bodies and how we work best, not to try to follow a certain routine. To be creative is to work outside the norm in any case, why would we want to put the norm on that? And small steps doesn’t mean we have to go in one straight line, it doesn’t mean get rid of hyper focus or all the other amazing things with ADHD brains. We just need to learn to channelise the flow! Not stop it or change it. And at least since I discovered you a year ago I think your teachings encompass all of that in a very genuine way. I love how you keep reframing and break down so much of what we grew up thinking is “right” about creating! That’s ND affirming in its core!
Within the last few weeks I also received my badge of neurodiversity, ASD. Your post perfectly encapsulated things I have felt and thought from both sides. I know people who could use this message, who need it - I'll be passing it on to them. Great work love it ❤️
I’m AuDHD. I wouldn’t give up this brain for anything. I love it intensely. My creativity even takes me by surprise. It’s not one rules for all, but multiple rules for one.
I'm "only" ADHD, but wouldn't trade my brain for anything. On the hard days it sucks, but on the good days... on most days, I love where it takes me, especially as I create the tools I need to help channel it more effectively.
Learn to live and thrive with the disability long enough, and you start to see it isn't actually as much of a disability as you thought.
I’m actually not surprised at all. When I heard you talk I was thinking ADHD and maybe a bit manic (not bipolar, I don’t know you in real life and so I don’t know if you also have waves of depression.) because one of my best friends is manic and you remind me a lot of her. You’ve learned to manage yours, which is great. I used to be able to manage mine, but as perimenopause has started, nothing is working, and I’m having to figure out how to rebuild from scratch. That’s something that isn’t talked about for women - how your hormonal changes affect literally everything in your life including any illnesses you might have had. It’s a slow process because I can’t settle into anything, but I’m trying. I want to start at maybe 150-300 words a day, while allowing myself to leap from thing to thing as needed. Consistency isn’t my strong point, but I’m going to give it my best shot!
This is so good! I also use that incremental strategy and it's hugely effective. My husband has ADHD and he's a highly competent person, and I think it's because he doesn't judge his brain. He just works with it. He does that Itty bitty step work, and he let's himself jump from thing to thing. He's highly creative and highly productive because he does it his way. I wonder if people with ADHD suffer more because they are trying to force their brain to go in a straight line and if they let go and allowed themselves to be more zig-zag, it would work out better. I'm not making an emphatic statement, I'm just musing. Thanks for sharing your experience Aimee!
yeah! ive noticed the same works better for me too… its just that oftentimes i dont really know what exactly is my brains own way 🤷🏻♀️ so figuring that out is a journey too, but thankfully a very hopeful one!
I love this! Your work is endlessly inspiring. Late diagnosed adhd myself, I spent many MANY years dreaming of being an artist and writer without ever doing anything about it. The struggles of day to day life had made that feel so impossible. Now that I have a support system set up and feel as though I’ve recovered somewhat from burnout of work work work, I’ve found that creativity is empowering, healing and magical. It’s become instrumental in building a life for myself that doesn’t overwhelm my brain. Thank you for sharing about this. It is possible, and there are so many different approaches to it.
Dear Aimee, since discovering your work last year and joining the Inspired Collective I have discovered I am ADHD (I am 51 years young!) and your work has helped me be so much more confident and productive!! You are awesome and everything you do has a good intention behind it.... there are always people ready to criticise but that s their own self sabotage. Love ya! xx
PS. I haven't pledged because I am going to continue to buy every course and book you every send out to the world ; )
Have you ever looked at Human Design? I’m a mental Projector and you sound very similar to me, energy wise. It’s free to do a chart. I’d be curious to know if you’re a Projector too… it’s like astrology, but with a whole load of other goodies thrown in. Let me know if you check it out ☺️
Love this!! Speccially how you turned the table on feeling hurt by hatters (which is absolutely normal, and I’m so sad that people feel entitled to be mean to someone that helps so much to make this a better world) and make this profound insight on your beautiful person and how you approach creativity with the brain that you have and can’t (and I’m guessing) won’t change for any other.
I celebrate my diagnosis every year because it completely reframed the way I see myself. I’m drawn to fellow neurodivergents so not surprised at all, but I’m so glad you’ve learned this about yourself and are out here shattering stereotypes. 💥
* I stole the term Neurotype Day from Hayley Dunlop.
I'm not surprised either, haha. I've found that the people I click with tend to be neurodiverse, and I click with you (parasocially, lol) a whole lot, Aimee! 😄
I'm happy for you for getting a diagnosis and being able to put a name to the feeling. 💗
I have adhd too (and ocd - super fun combo), and honestly, small steps helps me not dread or put off my writing time. It’s not such a big and daunting commitment this way. Right now my bare minimum is 250 words and my max capacity is 500 words. It has been really helpful in allowing me to make slow but substantial progress on my novel!
Hi 👋 I have adhd combiner with ocd too, I know how hard it can gets especially with creativity. Just wanted to share that you’re not alone! I’m grateful you shared that bc it makes me feel less alone too 🤍
It’s exhausting, but I’m glad we’re both here ❤️.
combined* it can get* 🤷🏻♀️🫣
I feel like the superpower of ADHD people is learning to spot these limits and our energy levels. Just having a bare minimum makes it easier to just show up and get things done.
I had to get a better exercise routine for my spinal stenosis. Starting off with 15 minutes on a treadmill every day was so easy to get done. At this point, I workout in the middle of my treadmill walks 3x a week, and I'm all sweaty after the typical 45-minute workout 7 days a week.
I needed to learn to meditate if I was going to deal with my anxiety. I started at 3 minutes per session and crept up from there as I felt it was possible. Luckily, I don't feel like I ever need to meditate more than 15 minutes now.
Humblebrags aside, the fact that you know what you can do lets you actually do it... and because you show up, you get to see the progress over time. (c:
Dear Amie! I’m not going to lie I’m not surprised, I knew from the first podcast episodes I started listening but I think it’s because we ADHD people spot each other like queers do. Welcome to the club of messy magical beings who are full of contradictions but make the world better.
I function well with routines and small steps too but I will have a meltdown whenever I have to face any kind of admin stuff. I see you and I love you!
From one ADHD artist to another: THANK YOU.
My heart has ALSO broken for the ADHDers that believe they can't, when I know (for a fact) they can. I went from struggling and white-knuckling through a very unsupportive (corporate) life... to THRIVING as an ADHD artist because I understood that the way I operate in the world is different.
Different is beautiful. Different is ART. Different MAKES STUFF.
...but "different" has to BELIEVE in possibility, first. Thank you for encouraging all of us to do that. <3
This really hits me in the gut. I feel like there is enough social media chatter about ADHD now that you can find all the confirmation bias you need to think you're stuck. Learned helplessness is the norm on places like Instagram or Reddit, posts like this are what help break down that pattern.
Breaking free of the corporate life is what it took me as well. I hate my boss for laying me off just shy of 20 years. I won't thank them for it. But I am so much better as a person since removing that boat anchor.
As an AuDHD I’ve actually felt your wisdom has been very ND friendly because so much of your message has been to listen to our own bodies and how we work best, not to try to follow a certain routine. To be creative is to work outside the norm in any case, why would we want to put the norm on that? And small steps doesn’t mean we have to go in one straight line, it doesn’t mean get rid of hyper focus or all the other amazing things with ADHD brains. We just need to learn to channelise the flow! Not stop it or change it. And at least since I discovered you a year ago I think your teachings encompass all of that in a very genuine way. I love how you keep reframing and break down so much of what we grew up thinking is “right” about creating! That’s ND affirming in its core!
Within the last few weeks I also received my badge of neurodiversity, ASD. Your post perfectly encapsulated things I have felt and thought from both sides. I know people who could use this message, who need it - I'll be passing it on to them. Great work love it ❤️
I’m AuDHD. I wouldn’t give up this brain for anything. I love it intensely. My creativity even takes me by surprise. It’s not one rules for all, but multiple rules for one.
I'm "only" ADHD, but wouldn't trade my brain for anything. On the hard days it sucks, but on the good days... on most days, I love where it takes me, especially as I create the tools I need to help channel it more effectively.
Learn to live and thrive with the disability long enough, and you start to see it isn't actually as much of a disability as you thought.
I’m actually not surprised at all. When I heard you talk I was thinking ADHD and maybe a bit manic (not bipolar, I don’t know you in real life and so I don’t know if you also have waves of depression.) because one of my best friends is manic and you remind me a lot of her. You’ve learned to manage yours, which is great. I used to be able to manage mine, but as perimenopause has started, nothing is working, and I’m having to figure out how to rebuild from scratch. That’s something that isn’t talked about for women - how your hormonal changes affect literally everything in your life including any illnesses you might have had. It’s a slow process because I can’t settle into anything, but I’m trying. I want to start at maybe 150-300 words a day, while allowing myself to leap from thing to thing as needed. Consistency isn’t my strong point, but I’m going to give it my best shot!
Your joy around creativity is refreshing and something I needed this morning. So thank you!
This is so good! I also use that incremental strategy and it's hugely effective. My husband has ADHD and he's a highly competent person, and I think it's because he doesn't judge his brain. He just works with it. He does that Itty bitty step work, and he let's himself jump from thing to thing. He's highly creative and highly productive because he does it his way. I wonder if people with ADHD suffer more because they are trying to force their brain to go in a straight line and if they let go and allowed themselves to be more zig-zag, it would work out better. I'm not making an emphatic statement, I'm just musing. Thanks for sharing your experience Aimee!
yeah! ive noticed the same works better for me too… its just that oftentimes i dont really know what exactly is my brains own way 🤷🏻♀️ so figuring that out is a journey too, but thankfully a very hopeful one!
I love this! Your work is endlessly inspiring. Late diagnosed adhd myself, I spent many MANY years dreaming of being an artist and writer without ever doing anything about it. The struggles of day to day life had made that feel so impossible. Now that I have a support system set up and feel as though I’ve recovered somewhat from burnout of work work work, I’ve found that creativity is empowering, healing and magical. It’s become instrumental in building a life for myself that doesn’t overwhelm my brain. Thank you for sharing about this. It is possible, and there are so many different approaches to it.
Dear Aimee, since discovering your work last year and joining the Inspired Collective I have discovered I am ADHD (I am 51 years young!) and your work has helped me be so much more confident and productive!! You are awesome and everything you do has a good intention behind it.... there are always people ready to criticise but that s their own self sabotage. Love ya! xx
PS. I haven't pledged because I am going to continue to buy every course and book you every send out to the world ; )
Have you ever looked at Human Design? I’m a mental Projector and you sound very similar to me, energy wise. It’s free to do a chart. I’d be curious to know if you’re a Projector too… it’s like astrology, but with a whole load of other goodies thrown in. Let me know if you check it out ☺️
Love this!! Speccially how you turned the table on feeling hurt by hatters (which is absolutely normal, and I’m so sad that people feel entitled to be mean to someone that helps so much to make this a better world) and make this profound insight on your beautiful person and how you approach creativity with the brain that you have and can’t (and I’m guessing) won’t change for any other.
LOTS OF LOVE AMIE! ❤️
Love this so much Aimie!!! Neurospicy writers unite 🌶️💖🙌🏼 xoxo
I celebrate my diagnosis every year because it completely reframed the way I see myself. I’m drawn to fellow neurodivergents so not surprised at all, but I’m so glad you’ve learned this about yourself and are out here shattering stereotypes. 💥
* I stole the term Neurotype Day from Hayley Dunlop.
I'm not surprised either, haha. I've found that the people I click with tend to be neurodiverse, and I click with you (parasocially, lol) a whole lot, Aimee! 😄
I'm happy for you for getting a diagnosis and being able to put a name to the feeling. 💗