James Ashton - ADHD Coach

15/09/2023

04/09/2023

The saying "If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly" can be paralysing. It implies that unless you can do something perfectly, you shouldn't bother trying.

But even if you do something 'badly' or imperfectly, you're still moving forward, and that momentum is often essential for those grappling with ADHD or perfectionist tendencies.

So next time you find yourself putting something off… remember it may be better to do it ‘badly’, than not to do it at all.

01/09/2023

On a lighter note

31/08/2023

Neurodiversity is the natural variation in human brains; the differences in how we think and function.

The neurodiversity movement embraces differences in brain function & behaviour as natural variety rather than disorders. It draws attention to the potential strengths of people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s and other conditions that are traditionally seen as purely disorders.

ADHD fits well within the neurodiversity framework. Though it poses challenges, ADHD also offers advantages, such as enhanced creativity, applied hyperfocus, and rapid idea generation. Some even consider ADHD to be their 'superpower', and a study published in the Journal of Business Venturing indicated that entrepreneurs are six times more likely than the norm to have ADHD.

Neurodiversity has significant implications for ADHD coaching, because it shows the importance of addressing strengths as well as weaknesses, and of tying your goals and strategies to the needs, values and desires that truly matter to you.

24/08/2023

ADHD coaching can you help you go from someone with a million ideas, to someone who sees their best ideas through.

18/08/2023

Naming a condition like ADHD is extremely difficult, and open to a lot of debate.

The current name is historical, concise and gets to the crux of the most known symptoms, but it is arguably also misleading to those with and without the condition, and may contribute to missed diagnoses, especially in women and girls.

07/07/2023

Executive functions are the skills that help us to get things done. We use them to make decisions, solve problems, and manage our time.

Poor executive functioning is a commonly reported symptom of ADHD, and you may personally struggle with:
o Focusing on tasks
o Remembering what you are meant to be doing
o Losing things… even if you had them just a minute ago!
o Planning and organizing your time and activities
o Controlling your emotions and behaviors

Executive functioning difficulties can be improved with practice and training. There are tools, tricks, systems and practices - such as mindfulness - that can help you to overcome the challenges of ADHD and feel more competent.

02/07/2023

A study in 2011 suggested that adults with ADHD are 3-5 times more likely to have anxiety than the general population.

Untangling ADHD and other conditions, such as anxiety, is one of the many reasons that managing your ADHD can be so difficult.

ADHD coaching can help you to untangle your difficulties, work out where to start, and come up with strategies for managing your ADHD.

29/06/2023

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 🏆

𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝟮.𝟬 (𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗝 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘆)
A detailed and insightful overview of ADHD and its symptoms by two world renowned authorities on ADHD. It’s not specific to ADHD in adults, but I still strongly recommend it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 (𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀)
While not specific to ADHD, the mind management techniques in this book are accessible, helpful and focus strongly on impulse control and emotional regulation.

𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 (𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗖 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗸𝘆)
The best guide I’ve read to overcoming some of the common organizational difficulties that can make ADHD such hard work to live with. I also found lots of “Oh! That’s why I do that!” moments.


𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 👍

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 (𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲)
A very engaging and easy to read text. Phil is a psychiatrist and an executive coach, so this is a strong choice for anyone who already has a good understanding of their ADHD and is looking to self-coach.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 (𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆)
An expert guide to ADHD symptoms and how to overcome them, focused on Adult ADHD. This didn’t make my top three as it is a dryer and more difficult read than ADHD 2.0, and Barkley’s strong views on who counts as having ADHD seemed (to me) to be more semantic and emotional than logical or practical.

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 👎

𝗔 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 (𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗺)
72 pages of large fonted, very basic information that barely covers the topic. Please don’t waste your money or time.


𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘼𝘿𝙃𝘿 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩?

I struggle with long, practical self-help books, especially ones with “homework” or concepts you really need to get your head round.

I tend to listen to them as audiobooks first. Usually while doing physical work, simple chores or walking. For those that work for me, I then buy and read the physical copy.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥?

29/06/2023

My top three book recommendations for adults with ADHD. (Not sponsored, just the best that I've read).

I'll also post more details on my page about these top three, my honourable mentions, and one dishonourable mention.