Organizing an ADHD Brain

Why consistency doesn’t work for ADHD brains — and how learning to come back without shame creates real change.If you’ve ever felt like you can’t stick with anything — routines, organizing, decluttering, goals, or New Year’s resolutions — this episode is for you.Book a Call with Megs > CalendarIn this episode, Megs talks honestly about why starting over is not failure, especially for ADHD brains. She breaks down why so many systems don’t stick, how social media narratives can quietly box people with ADHD into believing there are things they “just can’t do,” and what actually creates sustainable change.This conversation is about the messy middle — the part no one posts about. The part where motivation fades, routines fall apart, planners get abandoned, and shame creeps in. And why that middle isn’t a problem to fix — it’s where learning happens.Instead of pushing consistency, Megs introduces a more realistic (and ADHD-friendly) concept: persistence — the ability to come back without shame, even after you forget, avoid, or fall off.This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder that:Your ADHD brain is not brokenYou’re not lazy or inconsistentYou don’t need to change everything at onceAnd there is always a moment you can begin againArticle Referenced in Podcast > What is Executive Dysfunction in ADHD?01:03 — How Social Media Shapes ADHD Beliefs02:31 — Why the New Year Feels Like a Reset for ADHD03:22 — Noticing ADHD Patterns That Block Change05:55 — Persistence vs Consistency for ADHD Brains09:12 — Organizing Strategies That Actually Work With ADHD19:52 — Why ADHD Community and Support Matter24:33 — Microdosing Mindfulness for ADHD OverwhelmShare your thoughts with Megs! Would you like to learn more about hiring Megs as your ADHD coach? Start here> The Perfect Place to Start The Community is OPEN! Join right here: Organizing an ADHD Brain You can also learn more about the community HERE> OrganizinganADHDBrain.com

You know that moment when you walk into a room and your whole body reacts before your brain even has time to make sense of it? That’s what today’s episode is really about, how clutter hits the nervous system first, and how that shapes everything from motivation to avoidance to why that one corner has been haunting you for months.In this episode, I’m sharing the real, lived experience behind regulation, what it is, why it matters, and how it changes the way ADHD women interact with their homes. We walk through each protection pattern (fight, flight, freeze, appease) in a way that helps you see yourself with clarity instead of shame.You’ll hear more about my own journey with understanding regulation, the resources that shifted everything for me, and why this work matters so much if you’ve spent years thinking, “Why can’t I just do this?” My mission: to help you rebuild self-trust, one tiny regulated moment at a time.If this episode resonates, I’d love to hear where clutter shows up in your nervous system. Your stories help other women feel less alone. 01:17 — Personal Updates and Reflections 02:47 — Understanding Regulation and ADHD 05:15 — Personal Journey into Regulation 10:31 — Reactions to Clutter: Fight Mode 15:11 — Reactions to Clutter: Flight Mode 17:42 — Reactions to Clutter: Freeze Mode 20:18 — Reactions to Clutter: Appease Mode 23:08 — Final Thoughts and Community UpdatesCheck out Jenna Free: https://www.adhdwithjennafree.com/Check out Mindful as a Mother: https://mindfulasamotherco.com/ ^Go join their community! Megs is in it too!Check out Laura Hope: https://www.hopeandhealingcoach.com/Share your thoughts with Megs! Would you like to learn more about hiring Megs as your ADHD coach? Start here> The Perfect Place to Start The Community is OPEN! Join right here: Organizing an ADHD Brain You can also learn more about the community HERE> OrganizinganADHDBrain.com

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Anishia Denee — a board certified behaviour analyst, ADHD coach, and founder of Authentic Self ADHD Coaching. She helps adults make sense of their patterns, shift from shame into curiosity, and build strategies that actually fit their strengths, values, and capacity. Her blend of behavior analysis, ADHD coaching, and lived experience offers such grounded, compassionate support for real ADHD life. Website link: https://www.authenticselfadhd.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anishiab/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@anishiabWe talk about: • using behavior analysis to build supportive rhythms  • recognizing and celebrating tiny wins • navigating the messy middle • making decluttering easier on your nervous system • what to do when executive function taps out • how community + self-awareness change everythingThis is a gentle, encouraging conversation that reminds you:You don’t need to be consistent to make progress — you just need to keep returning to yourself. (persistence)01:47 — Anisha’s Background and Journey How she went from behavior analysis into ADHD coaching — and why her personal story matters.04:49 — Behavior Analysis and ADHD Coaching How behavior principles can support ADHD brains without shame or rigidity.07:16 — Understanding and Embracing Personal Values Why values-based living makes rhythms stick more than motivation ever will.11:46 — Managing Clutter and Environment Realistic strategies for building a home that supports (not drains) your brain.15:16 — Navigating the Messy Middle Progress isn’t linear — here’s how to stay steady when it feels chaotic.19:27 — The Value of Coaching Through Challenges Why co-regulation, support, and outside perspective matter so much for ADHD women.21:21 — Basic Needs and Self-Compassion A gentle reminder that sleep, food, and rest are foundational — not optional.23:13 — Community, Creativity, and ADHD How connection makes follow-through possible, and why creativity is a strength, not a flaw.25:03 — Experimentation and Personalization There is no one-size-fits-all. Learn to test tiny adjustments and honor what actually works for you.29:18 — Noticing Progress and Releasing Perfectionism How to see the tiny victories your brain tends to overlook.32:38 — Behavior Analysis and Understanding Triggers Why your reactions aren’t personal failures — they’re patterns you can understand.33:55 — Connecting and Finding Support How coaching, community, and safe people help you break old ADHD cycles.35:40 — Final Thoughts and Encouragement A gentle send-off reminding you that small shifts build real confidence over time.Share your thoughts with Megs! Would you like to learn more about hiring Megs as your ADHD coach? Start here> The Perfect Place to Start The Community is OPEN! Join right here: Organizing an ADHD Brain You can also learn more about the community HERE> OrganizinganADHDBrain.com

In this Thanksgiving-week episode of Organizing an ADHD Brain, I’m inviting you into a very real season of my life — the messy middle of moving across the country with my husband, and everything that stirred up inside me.If you’re someone who feels every life transition deep in your nervous system — the overwhelm, the freeze, the “this is too much and also I’m glad I’m doing it” duality — this episode is for you. You’re going to hear stories, yes… but also practical grounding, gentle reframes, and reminders that you’re not behind. You’re just human. And your ADHD brain is allowed to have a tender response to big change.We explore: 🌱 how growth often feels chaotic before it feels good 🌗 the power of holding two truths at once 💛 the hidden emotional labor of transitions 🧠 ADHD responses that show up during change 🙏 gratitude that doesn’t ignore the hard 🌬️ and simple ways to regulate when life gets loudMegs Getting out of debt journey: The Messy Middle of Getting out of Debt01:30 — Introduction + Thanksgiving Greetings A warm, grounding check-in… and a reminder you’re not expected to hold it all together during the holidays.01:36 — The Journey Across the Country How a cross-country move cracked me open, stretched my capacity, and exposed all my ADHD “under stress” patterns.03:08 — Insights from the Journey What big change teaches us about identity, self-trust, and nervous-system safety.03:34 — Organizing and Personal Growth Why your home often mirrors your emotional landscape — and how change shakes both up.04:31 — Embracing Dual Emotions Holding joy + grief, excitement + overwhelm at the same time. (ADHD brains feel all the things, sometimes all at once.)05:28 — The Move to Nashville The messy middle, the tears in the car, and why transitions don’t follow a clean timeline.09:49 — Adventures in Georgia Finding grounding in small moments, even when everything else feels like a lot.10:44 — Facing Challenges + Building Resilience How to navigate hard seasons with compassion, not pressure. And what to do when your ADHD brain freezes.15:40 — Regulation + Self-Trust Tiny nervous-system resets you can use when your environment (or emotions) feel too big.23:44 — The Importance of Gratitude Not the forced kind — the gentle, “I’m finding one small good thing today” kind.27:37 — Final Thoughts + Coaching Invitation A soft invitation into support if you’re craving co-regulation, momentum, and systems that don’t collapse in three days.Share your thoughts with Megs! Would you like to learn more about hiring Megs as your ADHD coach? Start here> The Perfect Place to Start The Community is OPEN! Join right here: Organizing an ADHD Brain You can also learn more about the community HERE> OrganizinganADHDBrain.com

In this solo episode, Megs opens up about her family’s big move, her husband’s new job, and the messy middle of rebuilding routines, dreams, and self-trust. She shares why traditional goal setting can feel so cringey and overwhelming for ADHD brains—especially during the holiday season—and how to reframe goals into something more realistic and compassionate. Through personal stories about yoga, budgeting, and “one-day projects,” Megs reminds listeners that progress doesn’t have to be perfect to count. This episode is about trusting your pace, finding small wins, and believing that the tiny steps you take today are proof that you can do hard things.Recommended Listening: Financial Self-Care Podcast with Financial Therapist, Lindsey - The Messy Middle of Getting Out of Debt with Organizing an ADHD Brain CEO, Megs CrawfordKey Chapters0:00 - Introduction to the Goals and Personal Journey2:19 - The Complexity of Goal Setting for ADHD7:51 - Building Trust Through Small Actions11:46 - Reframing Goals and Realistic Expectations16:40 - Beliefs and Progress in Goal Achievement21:45 - Setting SMART Goals for the Holiday SeasonWhat are SMART goals? They are Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-based. Focus on what you are doing and by when to create accountability.Share your thoughts with Megs! Would you like to learn more about hiring Megs as your ADHD coach? Start here> The Perfect Place to Start The Community is OPEN! Join right here: Organizing an ADHD Brain You can also learn more about the community HERE> OrganizinganADHDBrain.com