Change is one of the few guarantees in life — but for adults with ADHD, it can feel extra intense. ⚡ Even positive changes — a long-awaited retirement, starting a new career, or moving into a different season of life — can bring stress, overwhelm, and uncertainty. ADHD brains love stimulation and novelty, but we also rely on routines and anchors. When those are disrupted, it can feel like the ground has been pulled out from under us.
In this episode of ADHD Support Talk Radio, co-hosts Tara McGillicuddy and Lynne Edris 🎙️ dive deep into what it really means to navigate change with ADHD — and how to build a 🌱 new beginning that works for you.
💡 Why Change Feels So Hard with ADHD
ADHD adds layers of complexity to transitions. Routines and systems aren’t just conveniences — they’re lifelines that provide external structure 🗓️ and help us function day-to-day. When life shifts, those supports can fall away.
Even changes we choose, like retirement, moving, or changing careers, can feel destabilizing. Lynne shares her personal story of retiring from live ADHD coaching after nearly 20 years. 🎓 While exciting, it also meant an identity shift — letting go of a role that had defined her for so long.
💞 The Emotional Side of Transitions
Transitions touch every part of our lives. Tara and Lynne talk about the mix of emotions that come with change: excitement 🎉, grief 😢, relief 😌, and even guilt.
Tara reflects on her own experience of moving through menopause 🌸 and how it reshaped her energy, motivation, and routines. Like many ADHD adults, she discovered that what worked in one season of life didn’t necessarily work in the next.
🔑 ADHD-Friendly Ways to Navigate Change
So how do you move forward when life feels upside down? Tara and Lynne share practical ADHD-friendly strategies, including:
✨ Pause & Check In — Ask yourself simple, neutral questions: What’s working? What feels off? 🧘
✨ Break Change into Steps — Ease into big transitions gradually, instead of all at once. 🚶
✨ Keep Anchors in Place — Hold onto small routines that provide structure, like a morning ritual ☕.
✨ Give Yourself Permission to Evolve — Growth is messy — and that’s okay. 🌱
✨ Balance Overworking & Underworking — ADHD often swings between extremes. Stay aware ⚖️.
🍂 Seasons of Life & Identity Shifts
Life unfolds in seasons, and each one brings different priorities and challenges. 🌞🌙
When we resist change, we risk burnout, boredom, or stagnation. When we allow ourselves to move into the next season with openness, we create space for renewal. 🌸
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For Lynne, this means shifting away from live coaching toward family, travel ✈️, and new opportunities.
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For Tara, it has meant adjusting to physical and emotional changes and redefining structure.
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For listeners, it could mean moving 🏡, starting or ending relationships ❤️, or reevaluating daily habits.
🛠️ Practical Ways to Build a New Beginning
Creating a new beginning doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means carrying forward what works, letting go of what doesn’t, and experimenting with new supports that fit your current season.
Some ADHD-friendly strategies include:
✅ Daily Micro Check-Ins — Two minutes asking: How am I doing today? What’s one shift I need? ⏱️
✅ External Systems — Use calendars, reminders, and visual cues 📌 to stay grounded.
✅ Supportive Community — Stay connected with others who understand. J
✅ Self-Compassion — Remind yourself that change is hard for everyone. 💖
🌟 Why This Episode Matters
Not everyone is retiring or making a huge identity shift, but everyone faces change. From small daily shifts to life-altering transitions, learning to navigate change with ADHD is a skill you’ll use again and again.
As Lynne reminds us, you already have a 💯% success rate at surviving change. Every difficult transition you’ve faced — you made it through. This episode is a reminder that you can do it again, and that you have the power to shape your next chapter with intention. ✨
Podcast Co-Host Lynne Edris helps overwhelmed professionals take control of their time and tackle their to-dos with ease so they have more time, more energy, and more money for what they love most! As a woman with ADHD herself, she has been where her clients are and come out the other side, so to speak. She’s gone from living in a constant state of chaos and under-performance to a life full of success and fulfillment, and wants to help you achieve your version of success as well! Learn more about her 90-day “Get it Done” program to help you solve your struggles with avoidance, overwhelm and procrastination once and for all by addressing them at the real, root cause of “what’s going on between your ears” at www.ProcrastinationProgram.com . You can learn more about Lynne and contact her through her website at www.CoachingADDvantages.com.
Tara McGillicuddy is described by those who know her – clients, fellow leaders, and community – as dedicated to the deep, soulful
energetic-level shifts required by life. Whether she’s helping to SEE your life more clearly, identify where you’re stuck, tuning into sacred energies OR she’s helping to build a practical life with tools, structure, physical help and precise action steps, she is committed to giving everything she knows to help you live your best life and to feel fulfilled by it.
Tara has been known and celebrated in the ADHD community for decades of practical and long-lasting shifts in tens of thousands in her communities. The creator of ADDClasses.com, The ADHD Awareness Expo and ADHD Support Talk Radio Tara is one of the longest-standing leaders in the field. Over the years she has also honed her natural skills as an empath.
ADHD Support Talk Radio is an award winning Podcast for Adults with ADD / ADHD. Co-hosts Tara McGillicuddy and Lynne Edris are joined by Adult ADHD experts and they cover important topics related to Adult ADD / ADHD. Podcast guests include Dr. Edward Hallowell, Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, Dr. Ari Tuckman, Laurie Dupar, Terry Matlen and many more.
Tara McGillicuddy is the Producer, Owner and Co-host of the ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast. You may contact Tara with general questions or feedback about the podcast.
Lynne Edris is the Co-host of the ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast. You may contact Lynne with feedback about her episodes.