Structured Success
@structuredsuccess.ca
ADHD Coach & Academic Strategist | Guiding ADHD, autistic, and neurodivergent clients through lived experience | they/her | #AuDHD | www.structuredsuccess.ca
Medical guidelines: "You need 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week"
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
February 4, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Medical guidelines: "You need 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week"
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Being autistic means overwhelm is a constant threat. Unfortunately, this overwhelm impacts our ability to function on many levels.
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
February 3, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Being autistic means overwhelm is a constant threat. Unfortunately, this overwhelm impacts our ability to function on many levels.
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Just because you think someone would benefit from an accommodation, medication, or coping strategy doesn't mean they'll value it enough to try it or even consider it.
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
February 2, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Just because you think someone would benefit from an accommodation, medication, or coping strategy doesn't mean they'll value it enough to try it or even consider it.
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
The ADHD understanding of time is sometimes described as Now and Not Now. Now is basically what we're fully engrossed at the moment, and Not Now is everything else.
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
February 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
The ADHD understanding of time is sometimes described as Now and Not Now. Now is basically what we're fully engrossed at the moment, and Not Now is everything else.
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
In some way, ADHD'ers are great at flexible thinking. We can often adapt more easily to information presented out of order, for example.
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
January 31, 2026 at 8:19 PM
In some way, ADHD'ers are great at flexible thinking. We can often adapt more easily to information presented out of order, for example.
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
Everything that we store in long-term memory has to pass through our working memory to get there.
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
January 27, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Everything that we store in long-term memory has to pass through our working memory to get there.
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
Self-understanding is so important to improving upon neurodivergent struggles.
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
January 25, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Self-understanding is so important to improving upon neurodivergent struggles.
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
Allistic people underestimate how constant the threat of overwhelm and overload are for autistic people.
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
January 23, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Allistic people underestimate how constant the threat of overwhelm and overload are for autistic people.
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
Being ADHD is longing for any solitary morsel of dopamine the way my dog longs for the tiniest taste of the food I'm eating
January 23, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Being ADHD is longing for any solitary morsel of dopamine the way my dog longs for the tiniest taste of the food I'm eating
Reducing distractions isn't always the right answer for coping with shifting attention.
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
January 22, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Reducing distractions isn't always the right answer for coping with shifting attention.
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
Because so many people with ADHD don't have a good sense of time perception, it can be SO important for us to have some way to see time passing.
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
January 21, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Because so many people with ADHD don't have a good sense of time perception, it can be SO important for us to have some way to see time passing.
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
ADHD struggles with working memory aren't just about forgetting why we walked into a room, although that is a problem.
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
January 20, 2026 at 4:14 PM
ADHD struggles with working memory aren't just about forgetting why we walked into a room, although that is a problem.
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
Sometimes, the biggest barrier to finding the right supports for us is actually fear.
Being afraid of being judged for our accommodations or being afraid of side effects and unintended consequences is natural when looking for support, but it can stop us from accomplishing our goals
Being afraid of being judged for our accommodations or being afraid of side effects and unintended consequences is natural when looking for support, but it can stop us from accomplishing our goals
January 19, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Sometimes, the biggest barrier to finding the right supports for us is actually fear.
Being afraid of being judged for our accommodations or being afraid of side effects and unintended consequences is natural when looking for support, but it can stop us from accomplishing our goals
Being afraid of being judged for our accommodations or being afraid of side effects and unintended consequences is natural when looking for support, but it can stop us from accomplishing our goals
My partner: "I'm still not sure whether I have ADHD. It's possible, I guess"
Me: "Honestly, there's no harm trying ADHD coping strategies. If they work for you, great. If not, so what?"
My partner's keys, left in the front door lock for the third time this week: "...hello? ...guys? ...anyone?"
Me: "Honestly, there's no harm trying ADHD coping strategies. If they work for you, great. If not, so what?"
My partner's keys, left in the front door lock for the third time this week: "...hello? ...guys? ...anyone?"
January 18, 2026 at 5:28 PM
My partner: "I'm still not sure whether I have ADHD. It's possible, I guess"
Me: "Honestly, there's no harm trying ADHD coping strategies. If they work for you, great. If not, so what?"
My partner's keys, left in the front door lock for the third time this week: "...hello? ...guys? ...anyone?"
Me: "Honestly, there's no harm trying ADHD coping strategies. If they work for you, great. If not, so what?"
My partner's keys, left in the front door lock for the third time this week: "...hello? ...guys? ...anyone?"
There's simply no tool that works for everyone with ADHD.
Some folks need stimulant medications, others need non-stimulant options. Some need extra structure, others need flexibility.
The one true way to coping better with our ADHD is finding what works for us
Some folks need stimulant medications, others need non-stimulant options. Some need extra structure, others need flexibility.
The one true way to coping better with our ADHD is finding what works for us
January 18, 2026 at 4:31 PM
There's simply no tool that works for everyone with ADHD.
Some folks need stimulant medications, others need non-stimulant options. Some need extra structure, others need flexibility.
The one true way to coping better with our ADHD is finding what works for us
Some folks need stimulant medications, others need non-stimulant options. Some need extra structure, others need flexibility.
The one true way to coping better with our ADHD is finding what works for us
I used to really look forward to reading blogs posts and deep dives into ADHD, autism, and various other topics.
Now so many of them are just AI slop and I'm just so tired of constantly searching for something that isn't
It makes being a person on social media thing so much harder
Now so many of them are just AI slop and I'm just so tired of constantly searching for something that isn't
It makes being a person on social media thing so much harder
January 17, 2026 at 8:33 PM
I used to really look forward to reading blogs posts and deep dives into ADHD, autism, and various other topics.
Now so many of them are just AI slop and I'm just so tired of constantly searching for something that isn't
It makes being a person on social media thing so much harder
Now so many of them are just AI slop and I'm just so tired of constantly searching for something that isn't
It makes being a person on social media thing so much harder
There's a lot of advice directed at parents of autistic people that boils down to invasion of privacy.
Autistic children should have the same rights to privacy, extra-familial support, and personal space as non-autistic people, and that should go without saying. SHEESH
Autistic children should have the same rights to privacy, extra-familial support, and personal space as non-autistic people, and that should go without saying. SHEESH
January 17, 2026 at 5:44 PM
There's a lot of advice directed at parents of autistic people that boils down to invasion of privacy.
Autistic children should have the same rights to privacy, extra-familial support, and personal space as non-autistic people, and that should go without saying. SHEESH
Autistic children should have the same rights to privacy, extra-familial support, and personal space as non-autistic people, and that should go without saying. SHEESH
*gasps cinematically* ...
... I slept through the last month didn't I ...?
Um, hi?
... I slept through the last month didn't I ...?
Um, hi?
Wake Up Panic GIF
ALT: Wake Up Panic GIF
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:39 PM
*gasps cinematically* ...
... I slept through the last month didn't I ...?
Um, hi?
... I slept through the last month didn't I ...?
Um, hi?
Every time a website updates their privacy policy, I just assume that they are finding new ways to harvest and sell my data at this point, and the more corpo-speak they use in the announcement the more data I assume they're stealing :/
December 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Every time a website updates their privacy policy, I just assume that they are finding new ways to harvest and sell my data at this point, and the more corpo-speak they use in the announcement the more data I assume they're stealing :/
Being autistic doesn't stop when you have kids, if anything, it changes in unique and unpredictable ways.
Being an autistic parent means navigating all the challenges of parenting while also needing to navigate our own (and often our child's) neurodivergent needs. It's a lot
Being an autistic parent means navigating all the challenges of parenting while also needing to navigate our own (and often our child's) neurodivergent needs. It's a lot
December 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Being autistic doesn't stop when you have kids, if anything, it changes in unique and unpredictable ways.
Being an autistic parent means navigating all the challenges of parenting while also needing to navigate our own (and often our child's) neurodivergent needs. It's a lot
Being an autistic parent means navigating all the challenges of parenting while also needing to navigate our own (and often our child's) neurodivergent needs. It's a lot
The goal of emotional regulation isn't to reduce the size of emotions, nor is to to stop feeling emotions altogether.
The goal is to absorb mild emotional shocks without them becoming outsized emotional reactions that reek havoc on physical, mental, and social wellbeing
The goal is to absorb mild emotional shocks without them becoming outsized emotional reactions that reek havoc on physical, mental, and social wellbeing
December 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The goal of emotional regulation isn't to reduce the size of emotions, nor is to to stop feeling emotions altogether.
The goal is to absorb mild emotional shocks without them becoming outsized emotional reactions that reek havoc on physical, mental, and social wellbeing
The goal is to absorb mild emotional shocks without them becoming outsized emotional reactions that reek havoc on physical, mental, and social wellbeing
Stop thinking about ADHD and/or autism only in terms of behaviour!
Neurodivergent conditions change our behaviour and behavioural needs, sure, but they also change our sensory experiences, how we think about ourselves and world, and our emotions
Neurodivergent conditions change our behaviour and behavioural needs, sure, but they also change our sensory experiences, how we think about ourselves and world, and our emotions
December 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Stop thinking about ADHD and/or autism only in terms of behaviour!
Neurodivergent conditions change our behaviour and behavioural needs, sure, but they also change our sensory experiences, how we think about ourselves and world, and our emotions
Neurodivergent conditions change our behaviour and behavioural needs, sure, but they also change our sensory experiences, how we think about ourselves and world, and our emotions
Autistic communities aren't always inclusive or accessible to all autistic people equally.
Autistic social and support groups (and research participants) often under represent the true diversity of autistic people. This skews our understanding of autism, autistic experiences, and community needs
Autistic social and support groups (and research participants) often under represent the true diversity of autistic people. This skews our understanding of autism, autistic experiences, and community needs
December 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Autistic communities aren't always inclusive or accessible to all autistic people equally.
Autistic social and support groups (and research participants) often under represent the true diversity of autistic people. This skews our understanding of autism, autistic experiences, and community needs
Autistic social and support groups (and research participants) often under represent the true diversity of autistic people. This skews our understanding of autism, autistic experiences, and community needs
If you want to change a behaviour, you need to understand why the behaviour is happening.
If you don't meet the need that causes the behaviour to arise, simply discouraging or punishing the behaviour isn't healthy or ethical, and it's not going to work.
...this skeet is about ABA.
If you don't meet the need that causes the behaviour to arise, simply discouraging or punishing the behaviour isn't healthy or ethical, and it's not going to work.
...this skeet is about ABA.
December 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If you want to change a behaviour, you need to understand why the behaviour is happening.
If you don't meet the need that causes the behaviour to arise, simply discouraging or punishing the behaviour isn't healthy or ethical, and it's not going to work.
...this skeet is about ABA.
If you don't meet the need that causes the behaviour to arise, simply discouraging or punishing the behaviour isn't healthy or ethical, and it's not going to work.
...this skeet is about ABA.
Before getting diagnosed with ADHD, it can feel like everything is leading up to our assessment, like our assessment is the destination or end of the journey.
But learning you are neurodivergent is the beginning of self-understanding, not the end
But learning you are neurodivergent is the beginning of self-understanding, not the end
December 13, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Before getting diagnosed with ADHD, it can feel like everything is leading up to our assessment, like our assessment is the destination or end of the journey.
But learning you are neurodivergent is the beginning of self-understanding, not the end
But learning you are neurodivergent is the beginning of self-understanding, not the end