In this episode of ADHD Support Talk, hosts Tara McGillicuddy and Lynne Edris dive into one of the most challenging seasons for adults with ADHD: end-of-year transitions. From holiday overwhelm to shifting routines to the pressure of unfinished tasks, this time of year can easily derail focus, energy, and follow-through.
Tara and Lynne break down why the end of the year is uniquely difficult for ADHD brains—executive function strain, disrupted routines, emotional load—and share practical, compassionate strategies to help you navigate it with more ease.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why end-of-year transitions strain ADHD executive functions (planning, organization, and time awareness)
- How to avoid overwhelm when the holidays, deadlines, and shifting schedules collide
- Simple ADHD-friendly ways to stay organized using calendars, planners, lists, and visual systems
- How to wrap up the year without burning out by breaking tasks into manageable steps
- The importance of reflection—celebrating successes and noticing areas for growth without judgment
- How to set supportive goals for the coming year that actually work with your brain
- Why self-care, self-compassion, and realistic expectations matter more than ever
- How support systems—coaches, therapists, friends, and ADHD communities—can make transitions easier
Episode Takeaways
End-of-year transitions don’t have to feel chaotic. With the right structure, mindset, and support, you can close out the year with more clarity and less stress—and start the next one grounded, motivated, and ready for what’s ahead.
This episode originally aired on December 17, 2022.
Podcast Co-Host Lynne Edris is a Productivity & ADHD Coach who helps overwhelmed professionals from all over the world learn to accomplish what they intend and take control of their days with ease so that they can perform at the level of their abilities and have more time, more energy and more bandwidth for what matters most to them. Lynne is a woman, wife, and mom with ADHD herself, so she understands the struggles and challenges of living with ADHD. She has gone from living in the constant state of chaos, overwhelm, and under-performance that adults with ADHD know far too well, to living a life of more success and fulfillment than she once dreamed possible. Her passion is to help others fulfill their own potential and start “firing on all cylinders” in all areas of your life. You can learn more about Lynne 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. She now also combines the rare gift of sight and energetic knowing and her latest project is Empath Now a resource to help Empower Empaths.
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 or if you are interested in having her interview you as a guest.
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