You can watch the full replay here, plus other resources, including the chat. We’ll also organise another event for the new year, so stay tuned.
WATCH THE REPLAY:
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This webinar covered:
• Managing the mental load of the festive season
• Strategies for coping with Christmas Day
• Using technology to assist with holiday planning
• Navigating family dynamics and traditions
• Budgeting and spending during the holidays
Overview:
1. Challenges of the Festive Season
The discussion begins with Sarah and Hannah sharing their personal experiences of the festive season. Both highlight the overwhelming nature of this time of year, with Sarah mentioning the excessive expectations and Hannah focusing on the risk of burnout. They emphasise the importance of recognising and managing these challenges, particularly for those with ADHD.
2. Coping Strategies for Christmas Day
Several strategies are discussed to manage the stress of Christmas Day:
• Identifying and focusing on one specific contribution (e.g., bringing a particular dish)
• Using small glasses for alcohol to manage consumption
• Drinking non-alcoholic beverages from wine glasses to avoid social pressure
• Setting boundaries around sugar consumption, especially later in the day
• Taking short breaks or finding quiet moments throughout the day
• Avoiding contentious discussions with family members
3. Managing the Mental Load
The conversation explores ways to handle the increased mental load during the festive season:
• Writing everything down, assuming you’ll forget otherwise
• Using digital tools like OneNote for easy access across devices
• Creating detailed packing lists for holidays
• Outsourcing tasks to AI tools like ChatGPT
• Breaking down self-care into sensory experiences (what you want to see, hear, smell, taste)
• Setting lower expectations to reduce disappointment
4. Technology and AI Assistance
Sarah and Hannah discuss the potential of using AI, particularly ChatGPT, to assist with holiday planning:
• Generating task lists with time estimates
• Creating personalised Christmas playlists
• Drafting messages for teacher gifts
• Providing explanations for children about complex topics (e.g., current events)
• Brainstorming ideas when feeling overwhelmed
5. Family Dynamics and Traditions
The discussion touches on navigating complex family situations:
• Dealing with different family traditions when married
• Managing expectations around Santa across multiple households
• Using phrases like “in our family, we don’t do…” to explain differences in traditions
• Finding ways to contribute that align with personal strengths and interests
6. Budgeting and Spending
Hannah shares her struggles with overspending during the holidays and suggests strategies to manage this:
• Setting a specific budget for gifts
• Being mindful of impulsive purchases, especially online
• Considering supporting local businesses instead of large retailers
• Keeping track of gifts purchased to avoid overbuying
Suggested Next Steps:
• Purchase Advent calendars early to avoid last-minute stress
• Buy batteries in advance for Christmas gifts
• Untangle Christmas lights ahead of time
• Consider doing all Christmas shopping in one day with a list and budget
• Set up a budget for holiday spending
Challenges:
• Managing overwhelm and burnout during the festive season
• Navigating complex family dynamics and expectations
• Controlling impulsive spending and sticking to a budget
• Remembering all the tasks and commitments associated with the holidays
• Balancing personal needs with family traditions and expectations
Additional Notes:
• Both Sarah and Hannah have personal experiences with ADHD, providing a lived experience perspective to their discussion.
• They emphasise the importance of finding humour and connection with others who understand ADHD challenges.
• The conversation touches on the positive aspects of ADHD, such as creativity and passion, which can be channelled during the festive season.
• There’s a recognition that strategies that work for one person may not work for another, encouraging listeners to adapt tips to their own needs.
• The discussion highlights the ongoing journey of managing ADHD, with both speakers openly sharing their struggles and successes.
Tools and ideas to help you
We know what it’s like to need practical ideas and tools when managing ADHD, and that’s why we wanted to share two things that might make your work life a little easier. And yes, we’re biased – they’re our businesses! But that also means they’re created by people who absolutely totally 100% get it.
1. Want to be an ADHD advocate at work?
We know advocating for yourself (or others) with ADHD at work isn’t easy. It can be really hard to know where to start, what to say, or even how to communicate so that people understand. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
If this sounds like you, joining ROW can give you the tools, confidence, and support you need to navigate these conversations. You’ll connect with a community of people who understand what you’re going through and are actively working to make workplaces more neurodiverse-friendly. It’s a space where you can share ideas, get real-world tips, and learn how to speak up for yourself and others in ways that make a difference.
Sound good? Come on in! Subscribe now and start exploring these articles and a fantastic podcast to kick things off:
- Unmasking ADHD’s impact on women at work
- How to support people with ADHD at work
- Episode 35: Understanding neurodiversity and ADHD (unlocked)
2. Looking for tools to make life easier?
If you’re looking for a way to make things easier and get more work done, especially if you’re managing ADHD, Contented could be a great option for you. It uses voice technology to help you stay organised and productive without the stress of manual note-taking.
You can use it for anything – testing your ideas, recording client meetings, summarising webinars, or even just capturing your thoughts. With flexible output formats and secure data storage, Contented helps you stay focused, manage your time, and tick those jobs as done.
Check out Contented here
Have a wonderful festive season ahead!
