Somewhere along the way, we forgot to play

Sitemap Open in app Sign up Sign in Medium Logo Get app Write Search Sign up Sign in Kim To An ADHD coach. Diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD late in life. I write about neurodiversity, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Follow writer Kim T

Why attending the Edinburgh Fringe reminded me of the importance of play for neurodivergent brains

Dear dopamine-curious friends

I’ve been religiously attending my weekly therapy sessions in person. It’s been 6 sessions so far, and I can already tell the difference it is making. It helps me process my inner world, and I leave the sessions feeling like things have been processed. I’ve also picked up painting. I purchased a pocket water colour set, and now when I feel like I need to disconnect, I will take out the water colour set and paint something quickly. I used to paint what I see, but lately I have been painting abstract images which capture what I am feeling in the moment.

The importance of Play for the ADHD brain

The last two weeks I went up to Edinburgh to experience Edinburgh Fringe. This was my second time going, and I spent 2 days spending a lot of money attending comedy shows and buying books from independent bookshops. It made me think about the importance of play for my ADHD regulation. I think everyday monotony can kill the desire to be creative and to have fun. I realised that play in my life is essential for my mental wellbeing. Play helps stimulate dopamine production and helps with emotional regulation. I would encourage everyone to think about what sort of play you can add to your daily lives?

My top tip for adding play to your life is think about unstructured play. This may look like you giving yourself one hour to engage in spontaneous activities purely for enjoyment. Think puzzles, painting, a board game.

Free neurodiversity screeners

I’ve built these screeners as I wanted something to send to my clients. These screeners have been built using the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) and do not confirm a diagnosis, but can be useful to start conversations with yourself and your GP. The screeners allow you to download a PDF at the end.

Trust your gut. I remember when I read the symptoms list of combined ADHD back in the summer of 2021, when I was struggling with my mental health, and I just knew that this explained my life challenges up to that point. Feel free to share these screeners with anyone you think who would find it useful and give me feedback as I’m always looking to improve my screeners

Click here for neurodiversity screeners

Pilot group coaching with ADHD UK charity (in discussions)

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I’m currently in discussions with Henry from ADHD UK about designing and delivering an 8-week group coaching programme. We know that 1:1 ADHD coaching works (I have experienced this first-hand as an ADHD coach and myself as a client), but I recognise that not everyone can access 1:1 ADHD coaching This is why I believe a well-designed and executed group coaching programme can be an affordable way for people to upskill, be held accountable, make friends and build confidence.

The idea is that we will have 8 weekly group coaching sessions covering topics such as executive function, emotional regulation, task initiation, etc. There will be homework and peer-to-peer matching for accountability. If you are interested in taking part in the pilot, please sign up here. I am estimating that each group coaching session will cost £20 per session.

Resources to help anyone navigating a tough job market

In this tough job market, I’m always on the lookout to share anything that can help my community upskill or find work. I do think one of the most important skills anyone can upskill in is entrepreneurship.

Here are the opportunites here on my radar:

Applications are now open for Women into Frontier Tech: a FREE, 12-week accelerator designed to help women build practical AI deployment skills and transition into one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries. Over 12 weeks, you’ll receive technical training, work on a live AI deployment project with an SME, and connect with employers through insight days and career support.
Hatch Enterprise is a great place to start your entry into the world of entrepreneurship. I joined Hatch’s incubator programme when I was starting as an ADHD coach nearly 5 years ago, and it was a safe and warm place to join weekly Zoom calls to upskill myself as an entrepreneur.

🤝 How I can help

🎤 Lunch & Learn: a 60–90 minute awareness session for your whole team on neurodiversity in the workplace. Great starting point for any organisation. DM me to chat about booking one in.

🏆 Neurodiversity Manager Training: CPD certified, 3 hours, built for managers and leadership who want to actually get it right when supporting neurodivergent team members. Get in touch to find out more.

🧠 Flairya: my neurotech platform for neuroinclusion at work, currently in beta. If you’re part of an ERG or HR team and want early access, message me, I’d love to have you testing it.

🎓 Coaching Neurodivergent Clients: a CPD certified, self-paced course for coaches, mentors and managers who want to support neurodivergent people properly. Drop me a message for details.

Wishing you lots of dopamine, Kim 💛

128 City Road London, London EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom