Discover how Turbo Thinkers© can leverage mindfulness for enhanced productivity and well-being. Learn to harness neurodiversity, challenge assumptions, and embrace uncertainty using Dr. Ellen Langer's research. Explore practical strategies to reframe challenges, shift perspectives, and actively notice new things. Unlock your potential for creativity, focus, and intentional living in this guide to mindful productivity for neurodiverse individuals.

Last week, while visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), I was immediately captivated by the exhibit "John Scott: Blues Poem for the Urban Landscape" in the Great Hall. Scott's monumental woodcut prints, which capture the very soul of New Orleans, confronted me in a stimulating and thought-provoking way. As I studied his work, I couldn't help but notice how his creative process embodied the concept of "spherical thinking," a non-linear approach to simultaneously looking at the past, present, and future. This idea resonated with me as a Turbo Thinker, and I began to see parallels between Scott's artistic mindset and the way our minds work.

To create each print, Scott carved into the surface of large sheets of plywood with a power saw and routing tools, creating lines and forms that are impressionistic yet visually imposing. The composite nature of these prints exemplifies Scott's jazz-inspired explorations of spherical thinking. Like a jazz musician, Scott improvised, riffed, and layered elements to create a cohesive whole that tells a story — in this case, the story of New Orleans.

At Mind Coach, I often encounter high-achieving professional clients who feel they are always catching up. They own up to the fact that they can’t get ahead with anything new because they don’t have the time and space to develop strategies and see the big picture. They are constantly falling behind, trying to catch up. Even though they cannot take on more, they seem to always say yes, forcing themselves to work late into the night or on weekends. Yet they don’t let anyone know, because they feel they should be able to do things faster and better than anyone else, able to do it all alone without complaints.

This is due to a form of time blindness. We Turbo Thinkers© really struggle with time estimation, so much so that our magical thinking extends to the point of making us delusional.

At Mind Coach, I often encounter high-achieving professional clients who feel they are always catching up. They own up to the fact that they can’t get ahead with anything new because they don’t have the time and space to develop strategies and see the big picture. They are constantly falling behind, trying to catch up. Even though they cannot take on more, they seem to always say yes, forcing themselves to work late into the night or on weekends. Yet they don’t let anyone know, because they feel they should be able to do things faster and better than anyone else, able to do it all alone without complaints.

This is due to a form of time blindness. We Turbo Thinkers© really struggle with time estimation, so much so that our magical thinking extends to the point of making us delusional.

At Mind Coach, I often see a phenomenon I call idea hoarding in my high-achieving, Turbo-Thinker© clients. It may look like 87 open tabs crowding a screen. Or thoughts scribbled haphazardly on Post-it notes plastering the office walls. We are driven by a fear of losing something potentially valuable - an idea that might be useful or important one day.

Neurodiversity presents itself differently in every individual. As a coach, I work with you to idenity and celebrate your unique talents. It is not our goal to eradicate your neurodiveristy or to mask as “normal.” We get to know your own unique brain and what it needs to succeed. Armed with this awareness and information, we can then take responsibility for communicating our needs in an effective manner. Rather than guess what “they” want and try to do that, we can learn to advocate for ourselves so that everybody wins.

As we near the end of Q2, it's time to revisit those goals we set back on January 1st when we were full of excitement and optimism, armed with a fresh planner and a world of possibilities. We flip through those early pages, reading over our aspirations. But then comes the inevitable question: Have we ticked off everything on our list? As a high-achieving Turbo Thinker with sky-high expectations, it's rare that everything is neatly crossed off. So, how do you find that balance of feeling motivated and empowered as you review your goals at this time of year?

Many Turbo Thinkers© tend toward perfectionism. We often hear the command "Jump!" and respond with "How high?" We can be quick to prove ourselves and eager to please, much like a show dog on an agility course. All of this intense focus and drive for perfection can be both stimulating and nerve-wracking.

Many Turbo Thinkers© tend toward perfectionism. We often hear the command "Jump!" and respond with "How high?" We can be quick to prove ourselves and eager to please, much like a show dog on an agility course. All of this intense focus and drive for perfection can be both stimulating and nerve-wracking.

For high-achieving Turbo Thinkers©, AI serves as a valuable ally in overcoming emotional blocks that hinder access to our executive function skills. How often have you found yourself gazing at a blank screen, cursor blinking, awaiting the eruption of genius? Time elapses, but how much? I don't know either. AI steps in as a solution, allowing us to delegate or automate emotionally charged tasks, overcoming the procrastination hurdle.

Earlier this week, I collaborated with a Turbo Thinker© who once found themselves mired in the depths of misery. Rowan's initial strategy was to endure the grind of a lucrative job until early retirement, then live their best life. However, the present was a quagmire of stress and overwhelm.

As Turbo Thinkers©, we share a strong character strength—curiosity—a force that propels us toward learning in the fearless pursuit of our passion. I recently came across an article in HBR '4 Phases That Build a Culture of Curiosity', immediately recognizing its applicability to our unique brain type.

As 2023 draws to a close, it looks like 2024 might be a roller coaster of a year. From the specter of natural disasters fueled by global warming to the intriguing advances in AI, the world seems perched on the edge of uncertainty. Simultaneously, conflicts persist in various corners of the globe, and with the USA entering an election year, the stage is set for a whirlwind of change.

On the way home from football practice, my ravenous teenage son asked me what’s for dinner. I replied that I didn’t know, but we'd figure it out. As soon as we got home, he looked in the fridge and the pantry and cried that we had nothing to eat. "That’s not what I see," I replied, encouraging him to take a hot shower while I got busy.

Amidst the enchanting glow of holiday lights and the splendid burst of New Year's fireworks, it's only natural for us to sometimes perceive ourselves as somewhat lackluster, dimmed, or overshadowed. This season calls for introspection, a contemplative review of the year that has passed.

Let's use ADHD Awareness Month to foster understanding and replace myths with knowledge. By debunking these misconceptions, we pave the way for empathy, support, and improved lives for those impacted by ADHD.

Let's use ADHD Awareness Month to foster understanding and replace myths with knowledge. By debunking these misconceptions, we pave the way for empathy, support, and improved lives for those impacted by ADHD.

Let's use ADHD Awareness Month to foster understanding and replace myths with knowledge. By debunking these misconceptions, we pave the way for empathy, support, and improved lives for those impacted by ADHD.