The ADHD Advantage
The ‘tabs’ analogy is overused in neurodivergent discourse for a reason—because it’s accurate.
For me, ADHD means my brain can feel like a browser with 47 open tabs—some playing music, some frozen, and one inexplicably loading a Wikipedia deep dive on the biomechanics of how penguins generate lift while swimming. (Since you asked: by using their flippers like hydrofoils, similar to how birds use wings in the air.)
But having inhabited this brain for a while now, I'm pretty into it.The way my brain works gives me enthusiasm, creativity, and adaptability, helping me approach life with energy and curiosity.
1. Energy & Passion
You want me in a group project. You want me in your audience - I'm the best rent-a-crowd your presentation could ask for. If there is a Q&A session, I will have a useful question. If there's an activity, I will be the first to jump in. If there's awkward silence, I will break it.
I even practice deep listening, holding space, fading into the background with this same laser focus. On this point, do I have an internal algorithm ensuring everyone gets a fair share of the conversation? Of course. Have I been silently tracking who’s spoken and for how long? Maybe. Why are you attacking me like this?
Unwarranted accusations from you aside, my enthusiasm is transferable to whatever the moment requires. It’s why I can tap into unexpected bursts of energy for creative or practical problem-solving—whether that’s staying up late fine-tuning a presentation until it’s just right, diving into a hands-on project, or finding a way to make a dull concept engaging.
And because I wear my enthusiasm so openly, I don’t have ‘formal and impersonal’ in my repertoire—I do engaged, present, and fully human.
2. Fast Thinking & Creative Problem-Solving
You know that moment in a conversation, when everyone is carefully weighing up options, and you’ve already mentally sketched out five possible solutions? That’s where ADHD is actually useful. My brain naturally jumps between ideas quickly, which makes problem-solving and troubleshooting feel like second nature. It’s also why I tend to bring an optimistic, problem-solving energy to most situations—whether that’s keeping a conversation lively, finding solutions on the fly, or turning unexpected hiccups into opportunities. It's why I love group facilitation so much—reading the room, adjusting on the go, and making sure everything flows smoothly just feels instinctive. (Do I find myself in group situations, perceive that nobody is facilitating, and tend to step up? Sure. And look, I didn’t plan to run the meeting, but here we are.)
3. Hyperfocus (a.k.a. The Rabbit Hole Effect)
The flipside of getting distracted easily? When I am interested, I can focus with the intensity of a kid who just learned everything about dinosaurs and must learn even more everything-er. I don’t just learn things—I consume them. Recent case in point: e-learning. When I first needed to upskill in instructional design and online course development, I went from zero to deep-diving into every tool, platform, and best practice I could find. What started as a necessity quickly became a fascination, and before I knew it, I was designing interactive modules and joining obscure Reddit groups, to read the misspelled invectives of u/Articulatesux, like I'd been doing it for years.
4. Seeing Patterns & Big-Picture Thinking
My brain is wired to spot connections and patterns, often before I consciously realise it. This is super helpful when working with kids, families, and professionals—because I don’t just focus on individual challenges; I zoom out and look at the bigger picture. It’s probably why structured, one-size-fits-all approaches give me the ick —I’d rather find ways to adapt frameworks so they actually work for the humans using them.
It’s why I have an involuntary ability to latch onto patterns in language, which also means I’ll absolutely stop mid-sentence to tell you that ‘clue’ originally meant a ball of thread, because in Greek mythology, Theseus used one to navigate the labyrinth.
5. Workarounds Are My Default Mode
Forget 'thinking outside the box'—I usually forget the box exists. ADHD means I’ve spent my entire life coming up with systems, tricks, and shortcuts to make things work. If there’s an easier way to do something, I will find it. I tend to elevate tasks like unloading the dishwasher into an exercise in streamlining and efficiency. My brain thrives on reducing unnecessary steps. And if there isn’t an easier way, I will try to invent one. It’s why I’m always on the lookout for creative solutions—whether that’s finding a better way to do something, streamlining a process, or just making life a little easier for myself and those around me.
And if all else fails? We pivot. ADHD also means I’m great in unpredictable situations—whether that’s navigating last-minute plan changes, rolling with new ideas, or spotting opportunities in unexpected places. Spontaneity is a feature, not a bug.
For a long time, I thought I needed to be more organised, more systematic, more grown-up (and, look, I had a point). But the reality is, in the right settings, my brain's operating system is a feature not a bug, to steal another oft-used phrase. A brain that thrives in dynamic environments, spots opportunities others miss, and finds ways to make things work even when the manual doesn’t make sense.
Yes, I frequently hyperfocus on a project so intensely that meals become an afterthought—but once I get the 'bit between my teeth', I can turn out an almost alarming amount of high-quality work. Fast thinking, sharp connections, and creative problem-solving? That’s ADHD chaos at its best—and honestly, I'm lowkey obsessed.
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Do you have an ADHD superpower (or an absurdly specific rabbit hole you've fallen into)? Tell me below or send me an email—I’m always keen to connect!