A Solo Person's Guide to ADHD

Christine
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Looking for ADHD answers -- especially if you're single (solo)?  Look no further!

  1. 2D AGO

    Selfisms: Elevator Pitches for Your Life

    What if you didn’t need resolutions, vision boards, or a “word of the year” to move forward? In this episode, Christine introduces Selfisms — short, personal belief statements that act like mental shortcuts for decision-making, social situations, and overwhelm. Think: small rules you already live by… just made intentional. If you know what an elevator pitch is – it’s like that, but not necessarily for your business. Christine kicks things off with a Broadway story that includes an unexpected encounter with Lin-Manuel Miranda, then breaks down how Selfisms helped her freeze less, decide faster, and show up more confidently — long before she ever knew she had ADHD. This episode is especially for solo adults with ADHD who are tired of constantly reinventing the wheel every time life throws a decision their way. In This Episode, We Cover: What a Selfism is (and what it is not)Why Selfisms work better than resolutions for ADHD brainsHow Selfisms reduce overwhelm, anxiety, and decision fatigueReal-life examples from:Teaching and educationJob interviewsSocial situations (including celebrity encounters 👀)How to spot Selfisms you’re already usingHow to write your own so they sound like you, not a memeWhere to keep them so they’re actually usefulWhy Selfisms can evolve as you doWhy Selfisms Are ADHD-Friendly Selfisms help because they: Reduce mental loadEliminate “start from scratch” decisionsAct as built-in scripts for sticky momentsCreate consistency without rigidityLower anxiety in social and professional situationsThey’re not about perfection — they’re about making life easier for Future You. Mentioned in This Episode: Broadway culture & theater peopleMusic teaching philosophy & classroom decision-makingJob interviews and values-based alignmentThe upcoming ASAP for ADHD framework:AccessStructureActivationPersistence(More on ASAP coming in January!) Next Up: Next week’s episode focuses on reflection, rebooting, and intentional transitions, and how Selfisms can support you during reset seasons — whenever your reset happens. Let’s Stay Connected Subscribe on YouTube: A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHDListen on your favorite podcast appVisit: www.twocatscoaching.comLike, share, and comment — it truly helps the show growAnd if you’re navigating life solo with ADHD and want one-on-one support? Christine’s here. This is what she does. You aren’t broken. You aren’t behind. And you’re not as alone as you think.

    17 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Too Much, Too Fast: Why the Holidays Drain Solo ADHD Adults

    If the holidays make you feel tired, frazzled, overstimulated, or “just done” before December even really begins — you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken. This episode breaks down why the holiday season hits solo ADHD adults so much harder. From sensory overload to time compression, emotional intensity to financial pressure, we take a compassionate, nervous-system-first look at what’s really going on in your brain and body. This is not the logistics episode (that’s Episodes 22 & 24). This is the ADHD nervous system episode — the “why this season drains you before you do anything” episode. You’re not weak. You’re overloaded. And today, we talk about why… and what to do about it. What We Explore in This Episode: 1️⃣ The Invisible Solo Load What it means to produce “a Broadway show with a cast of one”Why ADHD brains burn more energy per stepHow the financial burden of gift-giving hits single adults harder⭐ Gentle solution: Set a gift rule this year to protect your budget + sanity2️⃣ Sensory Overload Everywhere Crowded stores, flashing lights, noise, scents — the December sensory buffet ⭐ Gentle solution: Shop at low-sensory times + use headphones/earplugs/curbside pickup3️⃣ Emotional Intensity & Holiday Landmines Nostalgia, grief, comparison, and pressure to be “on”Why ADHD emotion centers run hot⭐ Gentle solution: Create a grounding ritual (30 seconds counts!)4️⃣ Time Compression (aka The Holiday Speed Run) The entire season crammed into 3–6 weeksWhy pace changes wipe out ADHD energy⭐ Gentle solution: Protect ONE routine this month5️⃣ Decision Fatigue Why December becomes one giant bowl of decision soupHow choices drain your brain before you start doing anything⭐ Gentle solution: Use “decision defaults” to simplify everything6️⃣ The Holiday Energy Mismatch Holiday energy = FAST + LOUD + CONSTANTADHD energy = uneven + sensitiveSolo energy = “I am the whole team”You’re not the mismatch — the season is mismatched to YOU7️⃣ Compassionate Reframe “You’re not exhausted because you’re weak or unprepared. You’re exhausted because the season triggers every ADHD lever at once — and you’re carrying it alone.” Key Takeaway You’re not failing. You’re not behind. Your holiday exhaustion is predictable, understandable, and fixable when you stop blaming yourself and start understanding your nervous system. Links Mentioned Episode 22: Holiday To-Do ListsEpisode 24: Holiday Hacks + AI HelpersWant More? Subscribe to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD on your favorite platform. Follow Christine: Website: TwoCatsCoaching.comPodcast on YouTube: A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHDSocials: @TwoCatsCoaching

    17 min

  3. DEC 9

    “Hacks for the Holidays… and How AI Can Save Your Sanity”

    If the holidays feel like a group project you didn’t sign up for, today’s episode is for you. In Episode 24, we’re ditching “Pinterest perfect” and aiming for possible. ADHD brains + solo living + December = a lot. So here’s an episode full of shortcuts, hacks, permission slips, and some AI magic to make the season lighter. 🎁 What We Cover in This Episode ❤️ Part 1: 17 ADHD-Friendly Holiday Hacks From gifting shortcuts to décor minimalism to surviving grocery stores, you’ll learn: How to pick ONE universal gift for half your listWhy experiences beat stuff (especially for kids!)The magic of a gift drawerWhy gift cards absolutely count as giftsHow to decorate using just ONE binHosting tricks that take 10 minutesWhy multitasking will make you cry (and what to do instead)🤖 Part 2: Let AI Carry Half the Load Perfect for ADHD brains that are done for the year. We talk about using AI for: Holiday card messagesWriting polite declines and boundary scriptsGift planning and kid-specific ideasMeal planning and grocery listsTravel prep checklistsFocus, timers, and prioritizingTurning your brain dump into an organized plan📘 Part 3: Easy, ADHD-Friendly AI Primer Learn how to: Think of AI like your enthusiastic checklist-loving internPick ONE AI tool based on what you already useWrite prompts using Christine’s simple formulaAsk AI to plan events, meals, holidays, and moreUse tone, role-assignment, and details to get better resultsIncludes a full example prompt for planning a cozy six-person holiday dinner! ✨ Key Takeaways Holiday success has NOTHING to do with how “magical” things lookFewer decisions = a calmer ADHD brainYou can absolutely opt OUT of anything that drains youAI can help you write, plan, organize, and breatheYou don’t have to suffer your way through December💛 About Your Host I’m Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and your guide through the wild, wonderful world of ADHD solo living. If this episode helped you, please leave a rating or review — it truly helps! Find me at twocatscoaching.com!

    25 min

  4. NOV 25

    I've Been Invited to a Holiday Party, and my ADHD Brain Says "Now What?"

    Holiday Social Plans… Now What? Welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD! I’m your host, Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and owner of Two Cats Coaching. Holiday socializing is hard enough — now add ADHD, winter fatigue, disrupted routines, and the fact that you’re doing this alone. Suddenly every invitation feels like someone assigned you a group project for a class you forgot to attend. This episode gives you realistic, ADHD-friendly strategies for three moments every solo ADHDer faces in December: I got an invitation — now what?I’m at the event — now what?I realize I’m overcommitted — now what?This isn’t about becoming a holiday party superstar. It’s about protecting your energy, honoring your limits, and choosing what works for your brain. 💌 Section 1 — “I Got an Invitation… Now What?” When impulsivity says “Sure! Future Me will totally have energy!” — pause. Here’s how to make choices that support your current bandwidth: 10-Second Gut Check: Would I go if it were today?The Social Math Test: Does the energy I’ll spend match the energy I’ll get?The Half-Attend Strategy: Commit to the first hour, not the whole night.Pre-Written Declines: Save scripts so you don’t panic-type.ASAP Framework Tie-In: This is Access — creating supports before you need them. 🎉 Section 2 — “I’m at the Party… Now What?” You don’t need to “work the room.” You need a structure that keeps your nervous system grounded: Be the Helper (take a task = instant structure)Anchor to One Person (no need to mingle endlessly)Pre-Decide Your Exit ConditionsCreate a Calm-Down Bubble (quick escapes are healthy!)Have an Exit Script ReadyDrop the Holiday Performance PressureASAP Tie-In: These are Activate tools — tiny steps that help you function in high-stimulation spaces. 📅 Section 3 — “I Overcommitted… Now What?” Canceling is allowed. Editing your December is allowed. Protecting your energy is necessary. The Permission to Cancel PrincipleThe Calendar Edit (star the draining stuff, remove 1–3)Use Social Substitutions:3-hour dinner → 20-minute coffeeParty → FaceTimeGift exchange → send a card💛 Section 4 — A Gentle Reframe You’re not antisocial. You’re not flaky. You’re not failing the holidays. You’re managing ADHD, solo adulthood, masking, emotional labor, and winter fatigue at the same time. That’s called being human, not being broken. ✨ Section 5 — Soft January Teaser January kicks off the “good stuff”: Long-term, sustainable systems using the A and P in ASAP — Access and Persistence. Your future self will thank you. 🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode: Free Consult Call: www.twocatscoaching.com❤️ If this episode lightened your mental load… Hit subscribe, leave a review, or share with a solo friend who needs it. You’re not as alone as you think.

    13 min

  5. NOV 18

    Holiday To-Do List vs. One ADHD Brain: A Completely Unfair Fight

    Hey friends — welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD! I’m Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach and founder of Two Cats Coaching. Today we’re breaking down the real reason the holidays feel overwhelming when you’re both ADHD and solo: the entire holiday workload defaults to you. No partner, no backup brain, no shared executive functioning. This episode focuses on the practical, physical, cognitive demands of the season — not emotions or sensory overload (that’s coming in Episode 25!). We’ll look at the invisible, underestimated tasks that drain your executive functioning and why “dropping balls” doesn’t mean you’re disorganized — it means you’re doing the work of two adults with one brain. In this episode, we cover: The holiday timeline: Halloween → New Year’s → January 2 collapseWhy solo adults carry every task by defaultADHD + decision fatigue (gifts, meals, travel, RSVPs)The invisible holiday workload no one talks aboutThe emotional load you're carrying — even when this isn’t the “feelings episode”Four simple micro-solutions that make the season lighter right nowQuick Relief Tools Mentioned: One-page Holiday Dashboard ( I use my phone calendar!)Reduce decisions with the Power of One (one kind of gift, only one store etc.)A decompression routineSaying noUpcoming Episodes: 🎧 Holiday Hacks Episode (Episode 24) — ADHD-friendly, solo-friendly tips you can use immediately🎧 Ep 25 – Holiday Emotions, Sensory Overload & Why You Feel “Too Much”Work With Christine If this episode took even one thing off your mental load, hit subscribe so Future You doesn’t miss an episode. And if you want coaching that actually fits a solo ADHD life, I offer 1:1 support. 👉 Book a free consult using this link.

    18 min

  6. NOV 11

    Finding Your Perfect ADHD Side Hustle

    (Part 4 and final of the Side Hustle Mini-Series) Hey friends, welcome back to A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD! I’m Christine Dunning — Master Certified Life Coach, owner of Two Cats Coaching, and your caffeinated companion through the wild world of ADHD-friendly side hustles. If you’ve been following the mini-series, we’ve covered: 👉 Episode 18 – Finding the Right Side Hustle for You (and Your ADHD) 👉 Episode 19 – Side Hustles: Failures and Successes 👉 Episode 20 – Top 15 ADHD-Friendly Side Hustles And today, we’re wrapping it all up with the final piece: how to choose the right one for you — plus a few tools, mindset shifts, and money tips to make it actually work. So if your brain is currently a pinball machine of ideas (been there!), grab a notebook — this is your roadmap to finding a side hustle that fits your ADHD life instead of fighting it. 🧭 What You’ll Learn How to define your “Why” before you chase the next shiny gigThe Three Filters — Time, Energy, and Money — that make or break sustainabilityThe three main Side Hustle Styles and how to match them to your brain and scheduleA quick self-check quiz to find your personal side hustle “sweet spot”Tools, templates, and ADHD-friendly systems to keep you on trackHow to know when it’s time to pivot, pause, or pass 💡 Resources Mentioned ADHD Budget Template (Free Download)Two Cats Coaching: TwoCatsCoaching.comFree 30-minute consultation: Book here 🧩 Key Takeaways ✅ Your “why” is your compass — without it, you’ll chase dopamine and burn out fast. ✅ Use the Three Filters to evaluate every new idea. ✅ You’re allowed to pivot! ✅ Sustainable side hustles should give you at least one of these: money, skills, joy, or fun. 🐾 Connect 💬 Share your favorite side hustle wins on socials — I’d love to celebrate with you! 🌐 TwoCatsCoaching.com @TwoCatsCoaching 📸 Instagram | 🧵 Threads | 💼 LinkedIn | 📧 Substack Next month’s theme? Holiday Burnout! (Yes, we’re doing hacks, humor, and survival plans for ADHDers.) Until then, stay curious, stay kind to your brain — and give your cat an extra treat for me.

    15 min

  7. NOV 4

    Top 15 ADHD-Friendly Side Hustles, Pros & Cons

    Host: Christine Dunning — Master Certified Life Coach, cat enthusiast, and your friendly neighborhood reminder that side hustles can be a great thing. Series: Side Hustles, Part 3 of 4 A fast, honest tour of 15 ADHD-friendly side hustles, grouped by how your brain likes to work—structure, flexibility, creativity, or “please just help me pay for that trip.” You’ll get pros/cons, typical start-up costs, and quick “pro tips” so you can test one without melting your executive function. Section One: Part-Time Jobs (structure + social + low decision fatigue) 1. Retail / Seasonal / Food (bookstores, craft stores, cafés, restaurants) 2. Event & Catering Gigs 3. Substitute Teaching / Para Sub Section Two: 1099 & App-Based (you pick the hours) 4. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) 5. Delivery (DoorDash/Instacart/Amazon Flex) 6. Field Inspections (WeGoLook, Gigwalk, etc.) 7. Companion/Helper (Papa Pals, Care.com, errand services) 8. Pet & House Sitting (Rover, Wag, private clients) Section Three: Freelance & Creative Work (you’re the boss) 9. Freelance Writing 10. Virtual Assistant / Admin Support 11. Online Tutoring or Music/Lesson Teaching 12. Digital Products (printables, templates, courses) 13. Social Media Management / Content Creation 14. E-Commerce & Handmade (Etsy/Shopify/POD/craft fairs) 15. Local Micro-Services (house cleaning, lawn care, babysitting, handyman) Pro tips & notes Rideshare: Budget for car wear, gas, and gap insurance (app time vs. personal policy).Events/Food: Some states require a food handler card.Tutoring/Lessons: Pay varies wildly—market yourself locally for better rates.Digital Products: Respect copyright & asset licenses (clip art, fonts, Canva usage).Pet/House Sitting: Overnights pay best; reliability is everything.High-need niche: Morning kid-launch help (breakfast/backpacks/school drop-off).Work with Christine Need help picking and launching your best-fit side hustle? I coach 1:1 to map your energy, set prices, and get you earning—without burnout. 👉 Book a consult: TwoCatsCoaching.com  NEXT EPISODE Part 4: How to choose the right hustle for your brain (decision matrix + red/green flags). Call to action: Follow A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD, rate & review, and yes—give your cat a treat for me.

    29 min

  8. OCT 28

    Episode 19 — Side Hustles: Failures and Successes (My Story)

    🎙️ Episode 19 — Side Hustles: Failures and Successes (My Story) A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD | Hosted by Christine Dunning, MCC ADHD brains love a new idea — that dopamine rush hits and suddenly we’re convinced we’re starting a dog-treat empire, buying overpriced craft machines, and signing up for every delivery app known to humankind. 🐶✨ In this episode — the second in our Side Hustles Mini-Series — I’m sharing the good, the bad, and the “what was I thinking?” lessons from my own side-hustle journey. I’ve tried a LOT of them… so you don’t have to learn the hard way. 😉 💡 What You’ll Learn The 3 main types of side hustles for ADHDersWhy “passive income” isn’t actually passiveThe upside (and downside) of taking on more than one gigHow to recognize when a hustle is draining youThe right time to quit — without feeling like a failureReal-life stories from rideshare driving, substitute teaching, music gigs, digital products & more 🔑 Key Takeaways Structure helps when your brain is tired.Flexibility helps when your soul is tired.“Failure” isn’t failure — it’s data.Side hustles should support your life… not take it over. 🧭 Mini-Series Progress ✅ Episode 18 — Why do a side hustle? What to avoid ➡️ Episode 19 — My wins and fails (you are here!) 🔜 Episode 20 — Popular hustles: pros, cons, and real talk 🔜 Episode 21 — How to pick the right one for you 💬 Mentioned in This Episode Music and theater side gigs 🎶Renting spare space 🏡Trivia hosting 🎤(find me at QuizlandiaDenver.com)Rideshare driving 🚗Digital products 💻Life coaching 🐾 👋 Stay Connected Looking for guidance while building your ADHD-friendly work life? ➡️ Book a coaching consult: www.twocatscoaching.com ➡️ Join me on social: @TwoCatsCoaching ➡️ Check out the podcast website: https://asolopersonsguidetoadhd.buzzsprout.com If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review & subscribe — it helps so much! 💛

    23 min
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Looking for ADHD answers -- especially if you're single (solo)?  Look no further!

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