Building a business with an ADHD brain can feel less like following a carefully laid plan and more like learning to work with ever-changing waves of energy, focus, and creativity. How do you create something sustainable for you, and what are the best foundations to start from?

This episode is part of a workshop I delivered called Just Because You Can Solve It Doesn't Mean You Should. It's a gentle but powerful reframe for ADHD women building businesses who want to work with their nervous system rather than constantly pushing against it.

You'll discover why trying to force consistency, productivity, and motivation every day may be working against you, and how understanding your natural energy patterns can help you build a business that feels more sustainable and supportive.

This episode explores:

• Why coming to understand that ADHD energy is not linear can help you embrace fluctuations in your productivity and creativity.
• How hormonal cycles greatly influence your motivation and energy levels, which is important to recognise in business.
• Why you should practice self-compassion on low-energy days and reframe motivation
• Listening to your nervous system as crucial burnout prevention method to maintaining a sustainable pace of business.

By the end of the episode, you'll have simple reminders to help you tune into your nervous system, make decisions from a place of self-awareness, and build a business that supports your wellbeing as much as your success.

If you've ever felt like you're constantly trying to keep up, this conversation offers a different approach to honour your unique rhythms and helps you create success that feels true to you.

The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Recording is here!

My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right.

Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here!

Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find:

• Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes next
• Dr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it does
• Hannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lens
• Adele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopause

Understand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve. Because every woman with ADHD deserves access to the knowledge, expertise and understanding that for too long simply hasn't been available to us.

To get lifetime access for £44, click here.

Links and Resources:

• Find my popular ADHD workshops and resources on my website [here].
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeing_pod

Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.

Foreign.

So hi everyone.

Welcome back to another More yourself episode here on a Monday.

And today I am bringing to you a workshop that I did called Just because you can solve it doesn't mean you should.

And this is for all the fixers and the sorters and then the people that want to just keep doing, perhaps people pleasing but always seem to be on the cusp of burnout.

I really resonated with this workshop and I hope it's a bit of a gentle reframe for any of you ADHD women who are working hard, maybe building businesses you're maybe you're self employed or really just ambitious and want to work to your potential, but keep hitting those same stumbling blocks of exhaustion and burnout.

Or perhaps falling into the trap of.

Trying to do and be everything to everyone and that you are now, now that you're learning about your neurotype and understanding your nervous system, you're wanting to work with it and not against it.

This is all about awareness and using that awareness.

So we're going to be talking about setting boundaries to make life, career, business more sustainable and that self recognition that can be a great starting point to help build those foundations and recognizing how all the years of masking and all the years of overcompensating has perhaps contributed to this sort of cycle of burnout that perhaps you've subconsciously or unknowingly been living through.

And now maybe with hormones or perimenopause, it's just becoming unsustainable.

So I'm going to be giving you.

Some tools, a little bit of a somatic check in exercise and hopefully some ways to implement a working pace that feels easier for you.

So I hope that this has come a timely moment and you are able to sit and listen to this and hopefully it'll help you move forward with your day, your week and your month.

Here it is.

And don't forget that I do have lots of resources on my website on burnout and nervous system and how to live with your brain and your body and your wiring and lots of information there where we're able to understand our hormones and really, I hope lots of.

Effective tools and strategies if you are.

Looking for more guidance.

So if you are interested, head to.

My website that is ADHD womenswellbeing.co.uk and you'll see all the information also on today's show notes.

So here is today's episode.

As you probably well know, ADHD energy is never linear, not much.

What we do is linear.

And so it's so important that we recognize that it's okay when things aren't linear, it's okay when things fluctuate and change.

And we are not here to do things the same way consistently every single day.

That's where our sparks of genius come from.

When things aren't linear.

And as women we have hormones as well.

So our energy, our motivation, our passion and our focus naturally fluctuate because we're cyclical being beings.

And because we're cyclical beings with a hormone, this is when we things wax and wane.

We can have these big ideas, moments of great creativity and expansion and excitement.

And then the next morning we wake up and it's like we don't have, we don't have anything to give.

We're just exhausted and we're overwhelmed by our own brains, we're overwhelmed by our own plans and our over commitments that we thought the day before was a great brilliant idea.

And of course we could do that or RSD kicks in, or fear of judgment or fear of how are we even going to execute this.

It's, it's almost like before we understand our adhd, we kind of operating from, you know, two different, it's like Bonnie and Clyde, like two different alter egos.

And there must have been for me a lot of self shame, a lot of embarrassment about why one day I'm full of motivation and spark and passion, the next day it's just like no want to shut it all down.

And I used to really beat myself up about this and now I'm so much more compassionate and accepting that it's okay to fluctuate.

It's okay to be like nature and the sea, where there's days where the sun is out and everyone is wanting to be sociable and have fun and be outside.

And the next day it starts raining, people want to go back inside.

You don't want to be sociable.

And we don't really question that, we just accept it.

But why can't we do that for ourselves?

So we need to recognize when we are running businesses, it's going to be influenced by our hormones, our energy levels, our sleep, our dopamine.

You know, that weaves into everything, our nervous system, what is being loaded, what external circumstances we're holding as women for sure.

You know, if you've got families, if you have got responsibilities and where we are in our cycle, where we are with hormones, perimenopause, all of that, it's like a big bucket.

And every day that bucket changes and evolves and we have to recognize what's in there.

So we don't put so much shame in ourselves when things don't, we don't feel like it's a good day or a good week.

So we need to listen to our nervous system more and we need to listen to what our body is telling us because when we go, we go.

And we can probably do three days worth of work in one day.

So again, use this time to have a reflection of noticing where you are in your cycle, noticing one on those days.

What are you able to put to one side when you aren't feeling full of motivation and energy, when you are having a flat day?

Can that just be a day where you, you know, take care of a bit of admin and you do all things that sort of just don't need a huge amount of brain and energy capacity.

And the days where you know you're going to feel better, use that as like creativity, use that as like those days where you charge forward where you have to push, you know, with motivation.

You need to take calls or have meetings, be curious around it.

Not shameful.

Our brains are driven by dopamine and the fluctuating of dopamine and other hormones and chemicals as well.

Whether it's to do with adrenaline, cortisol, serotonin, endorphins, it's all intermingled and we have to be aware, aware of all of that and almost utilize those good times and the good, the good feelings with when we push that drive and when we know our dopamine is dipping.

Whether it's to do with our being in our luteal phase, whether it's to do with the fact that we've not slept well, we've got more stress in our life at that time.

We just have to recognize it and know what's sustainable and what isn't sustainable.

And every one of us is different.

And we, I think we put a huge amount of pressure on ourselves to push through every single day like it's the same day and bypass all the things, the different lifestyle factors and all the different things that really you should take into account.

Because that is when the negative self talk kicks in.

That is when we say, you know, we're lazy, we're flaky, we're failing again, we're not trying hard enough.

We need to do something differently, we need to change tap, we need to pivot.

And yes, sometimes we do need to do those things.

And yes, sometimes we do need to just pause and breathe and think is it worth it?

You know, a friend of mine always says, is the Juice worth the squeeze.

And I love that because I kind of think, oh yes, there's so many things that we think we should be doing, we think cause other people are doing them.

But actually what is it that lights us up?

I also think that we need to give ourselves a lot more compassion and a lot more grace for taking things slower, for having more time to breathe, having more space in our diary, not committing so much, just bringing this down to a more gentle, you know, a gentle pace.

So when we're having those low energy days, can we lead with more compassion?

And again, this reflection is, how do you speak to yourself on those low energy days?

How can you reframe?

How can you change the way you speak to yourself?

So you give yourself permission to slow down or go to a slower pace.

You give yourself permission to be that version of yourself that doesn't have to be constantly productive and constantly doing.

And when you feel that rise, that rise of the energy and the creativity and the excitement and the dopamine, it's like, how can you channel that but to a point where it doesn't feel so extreme as well?

So I guess what I'm trying to say is to really work from a place of self acceptance, recognition and self compassion.

And then we've got, you know, like me, I'm definitely in the throes of perimenopause.

I'm really noticing those hormonal shifts and fluctuations where some days I really, you know, can't speak properly, I can't form a sentence.

My memories shot, my mood, my sleep, everything is, you know, I'm scraping the barrel.

And with that I look back and I think, oh my God, I've been doing this, you know, for decades.

I'm tired.

You know, I've got teenage kids, I've got older parents, and we're holding a lot.

We're doing a lot beyond our business, outside of what we're trying to achieve in our businesses.

And we only have a certain capacity and we have to recognize that.

So we've got this added layer of being late diagnosed, neurodivergent of years of masking the emotional labor, the expectations that we have on us as women.

And many of us will feel that in our bodies, we'll feel that in our nervous systems, and we'll feel that in our hormonal changes as well.

That the burnout isn't about doing too little.

It's not about that.

We have to just kind of like take everything away.

But we have to recognize how much we've been doing for Such a long time without anyone else getting it and hiding all of this.

So that in itself, that added layer of the masking and the overcompensating, overworking, but not even sure why, knowing that we have potential and knowing that we have, you know, we want to prove something, and we have this justice, sensitivity, and we have strong moral compasses, and we also want to create impact in this world.

But we also have to recognize that our energy is finite.

And actually we are very sensitive beings and we have to treat ourselves very, very sensitively.

So we have to ask ourselves, you know, what are you noticing?

Where have you noticed that tension?

How often you get in those migraines?

When are you not sleeping properly?

When do you feel overwhelmed?

When have you said yes?

Far more than you want to be saying no?

Write this down.

Create a logbook.

Because that logbook is going to be the part of you that will recognize those burnout triggers.

They'll recognize where you are building up towards a place where it's not sustainable anymore.

And you have to break that cycle to be able to prevent the burnout from coming.

And then you eventually get to a place where the burnout doesn't feel as extreme, that you're able to pull back way before the place of burnout, where you would have to, you know, stop working, you'll need help with your kids, or you will have to just be sort of signed off work, whatever that has looked like for you.

With this comes boundaries.

And I always say boundaries is not about being difficult.

It's not about being selfish.

This is about looking after your nervous system.

It's about nurturing the most important part of you.

It's so weird because we can't see our nervous system and we talk about it all the time.

We're not quite sure even what it is.

We know it's sort of connected to our vagus nerve and our gut and all parts of us.

But the nervous system is what drives our behavior.

It's what drives so much of the way we show up in the world.

And when we come from a very dysregulated nervous system, so many facets of our life start to fall apart, like our sleep, like our relationships, like our mental health.

So many different things.

And we can't run a solid business from a dysregulated nervous system.

So we have to put in those boundaries because they are healing and they're protective and they are the only way that we can show up day in and day out with truth and authenticity of what feels aligned with us.

And the more you understand your nervous system, the more you will know whether you have an expansive feeling of joy and excitement about saying yes to something that really fills you up.

And when you know, you, you, there's a jarred feeling in your nervous system when you just think, oh, I cannot do this.

So these boundaries are there to protect your energy, to reduce your overwhelm, prevent this burnout cycle, create more sustainability in your business, and also allow you to grow and expand from a place that feels really aligned and authentic to you and build on strong foundations.

Because it's those strong foundations that when you want to pivot or you want to change something or you want to add a new service or you want to do something different, like new training, you've got the foundations in place.

And yes, with adhd, we want to, you know, different things light us up.

We like novelty.

We might want to introduce different things or try or experiment or get curious.

And that is all.

Okay.

What is not okay is to do it from shaky foundations, is to do it from a place where you're not quite sure what boundaries are for you and that feel authentic to you.

So this is your time to now think.

What are those yeses that you're saying that you're agreeing to that are costing you energy, that are taking and depleting from that, making you feel more and more depleted and noticing when you're overextending and when you are leaning into those obligations and places where you are feeling guilty, where that's adding to the stress of what you do.

And I would ask you right now, again, as a point of reflection, is where can you support your wellbeing now with a gentle boundary, what is it that can.

You can start that doesn't feel too scary, that you think, you know what, I can do that and have a little think.

And this is when you are able to do that body, that somatic nervous system.

Check in.

So you can do that with just putting one hand on your chest, a hand on your belly, take some nice deep breaths.

You slowly inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth, and do this three times.

And notice when you're doing this breath, what do you feel?

Notice where the tension, your.

Your.

The awareness of tension is going, where feels tired or heavy, where feels tight, but also where feels calm and open.

Notice what is going on in your body because this is going to be the place that will alert you.

It'll be your sensory kind of alarm system that will tell you when you are overdoing, overcompensating where you are compromised with your boundaries and listening to your body is going to be one of the most amazing things that you can do in your business.

Because sometimes it doesn't make sense, but your body is saying, yes, yes, try it, do it.

And then on the flip side, something, it really does make sense and you just think, oh no, I don't know why I don't want to do that.

That's just not for me.

I don't want to start a YouTube channel or no, I don't want to show up every day on Instagram.

But yes, I want to do a live event that sounds really, really good and really easy and effortless in my nervous system.

Lead with that because sometimes I are logic is trying to protect us or keep us safe.

And it's our logic that is trying to rule the show, our brain or ego and very often it's our nervous system or inner wisdom, our soul.

Whatever you want to talk about, however you want to look at it, is wanting to be that inner compass for you.

Now, if you can do this, what if shift or the what shift of just gently visualizing this sort of what if I just do more or try harder or change things or get another training or just work a bit harder instead of doing that.

What if I just focus on what feels more aligned or what if I supported my nervous system right now or what fits into my current energy season.

What if I chose something that felt so much more sustainable long term but is not what this person, that person doing this person on social media and it's starting to visualize what feels good to you, that will feel safe and calm in your nervous system where you feel connected and this is your business speaking to you.

It's allowing you to evolve with you because that is where the magic happens, is that very often it's.

It is this sort of like fear voice, this voice of safety, this voice of maybe keeping us small or protected that is leading the show.

But what if we visualize bigger, we visualize differently and we recognize maybe this is our business trying to evolve and trying to shift into something really sustains my energy that I'm able to work with.

So have a little think about what might change if you build around your energy and not against it.

Thank you for being here and listening to today's episode.

I just want to remind you that if you are looking for more support on your ADHD journey, there are so many resources waiting for you over at ADHD.

Womenswellbeing.co.uk so inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Workshop Library, you'll find practical and compassionate guidance on topics such as nervous system regulation, rejection, sensitive dysphoria, perfectionism, emotional regulation, hormones, parenting and so much more.

All designed specifically for late diagnosed neurodivergent women.

You can also explore my new book, the ADHD Women's well Being Toolkit, which was published by dk, which is also available in ebook and audiobook, which is packed full of tools to help you feel calmer, more regulated and more like yourself.

And if you do crave a bit more deeper connection and ongoing support, come and join us inside the More Yourself Community.

It's a gentle space for learning, reflection and connection with other neurodivergent women.

And you'll also find the recordings from our first ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event, which brought together incredible speakers and a room full of inspiring women for a truly special day.

We have recorded it all for you and it's it's there to buy.

So whether you're just starting your journey or looking to go deeper, there's something there for every stage.

Just head to ADHD womenswellbeing.co.uk to explore everything.

And as always, thank you so much for being here and for being part of this community.