Top 5 Productivity Hacks for Neurodiverse Entrepreneurs

Hello my fellow neurodivergent entrepreneurs!

We are officially moving through Q4 - the time I evaluate my processes and what parts of running my business are and are not working with my neurodivergent strengths and weaknesses.

What I’ve found? Running a business when your mind works a little differently can be exhausting—but it doesn’t have to be.  For me, my biggest operations pain points can be remedied in 5 productivity hacks: Templates, Automation, Integration, Timing, and Calendar & Reminders.  I’ve gathered my top game changing strategies and packed them into one neat, neurodivergent-friendly list to share.

Take or leave or reach out so we can discuss how we can streamline and implement them in your business.

Presenting my 5 productivity hacks for neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

Templates: The Busy Neurodiverse Entrepreneur’s Hack for Productivity

If there’s one thing that can bring a neurodivergent brain to its knees, it’s repetitive tasks (not mine though, my ND brain loves a round of repetitive tasks and a podcast). Whether it’s writing emails, drafting proposals, or planning social media posts, the prospect of repetition can trigger a rage quit even before we start. Solution: templates!

Decision Fatigue? Not Today!

Neurodivergent brains tend to hit decision fatigue faster than most. Having templates on hand cuts down on the decisions you need to make, which preserves your brainpower for bigger and more important things. If you would rather spend that brainpower breathing life into the big ideas instead of draining your mental energy over the small details like remembering how to format your customer communications - templates have got you covered.

"Look at Me, A REAL Professional!"

Neurodivergent brains are also notorious for skipping steps when overwhelmed, excited, or in a rush. Templates help ensure standardization and consistency in both form and function of your business documents.  You can avoid missing key information or forgetting important details because everything is outlined for you already. You’ll add your personal touch and customize as needed, but everything you send out feels cohesive – looking professional, polished, and put together. With consistent formatting and clean structures, your business will come off as credible, organized, and reliable.

AUTOMATE, AUTOMATE, AUTOMATE

Imagine, if you will…you’re sipping your favorite AM beverage, mentally preparing for the day, while your business is in the background practically running itself. Scoff pure fantasy you say? Nay, I assure you, ‘tis the truth! For neurodivergent business owners, automating business processes is pretty much the closest thing to sorcery.  We all know our brains are brilliant, but remembering the less fun, but necessary business details like sending invoices, updating social media, or following up with clients? It’s like, A LOT! BUT manageable with automation.

The Robots Are Coming, Best Embrace Them Now

Let’s be honest: some business tasks, though necessary, are just...mad boooooring. Tedious, repetitive processes like sending out confirmations, posting social media updates, or tracking and logging expenses. Luckily, automation tools like Zapier, IFTTT, or good ol’ Hootsuite can handle those for you. 

With automations, you can just sit back and let the beep-boops do their thing: getting rid of the boring, time-consuming work so you can focus on what sets your business apart. You just show up for the stuff that only you can do - the stuff that makes your business shine!

Less Chaos, More Sanity

By automating repetitive tasks, you create a system that runs smoothly in the background, eliminating those adrenaline inducing “OH MY GOD!  I FORGOT…!” mental fire drills that seem to pop so randomly (but like, all the time?) interrupting your productivity and creative flow.  With fewer to-dos crowding your brain, you’ve gifted yourself the space to produce and create, minus the chaos.

Integrations: Your Secret Weapon for Productivity (Without the Extra Brain Overload)

Does your calendar sync with your scheduler that talks to your video conferencing platform?  Does the contact form on your website generate a warm lead in your CRM that adds the lead information to your mailing list for your next email marketing campaign?  Sounds complicated, but all that and more is possible with the right integrations and a little forethought.

Make Your Tools Work for You (Not the Other Way Around)

What exactly are integrations? They’re an extension of automation.  Imagine this: you set up a client meeting in your calendar, and bam—an integration automatically sends a confirmation email, updates your to-do list, and adjusts your workflow. Basically, integrations connect your apps and tools so they can talk to each other. They cut down on the digital clutter, syncing your favorite apps (like Asana, Gmail, Slack, etc.) to help you keep track of everything you need in one place.

The best part? Integrations don’t just streamline your workflow—they actually adapt to how your brain works. Prefer voice memos? Sync those to your project management tool. Want reminders to magically appear on your phone without even thinking about it? Done. It’s like putting your business ops under one big "easy" button.

Time-Tracking Tools: The Defense Against Time-Blindness

Ever been working on a project, then you look up and suddenly you’ve lost three hours? Or worse—it feels like you’ve been focused for hours, but it’s only actually been 8 minutes? This magical phenomenon is called: time-blindness. Essentially, time becomes a weird, amorphous, ‘suggestion’ that you either lose completely or can’t seem to hold on to.  Your weapons? Time trackers and productivity timers.

Because Time Isn’t Real (But Deadlines Are)

Time-blindness is a common challenge for neurodivergent folx, especially business owners juggling multiple projects. There’s where time trackers like Toggl and RescueTime come to save the day as your personal timekeepers. They tick along in the background, measuring how long you spend on which tasks for whom (silently, with no judgment), so you don’t have to wonder, “Are those deadlines feasible?” or “Wait, what did I even do today?”  

Productivity Timers & The Pomodoro Method

If you’ve ever sat down to take care of something “real quick” and then lost an entire afternoon, productivity timers are about to change your life! Tools like the Pomodoro Timer break your work into short, focused, work sprints, usually 25-minute chunks, with short breaks in between. It’s like giving your brain a snack-sized portion of focused work instead of an all-you-can-eat, multi-task buffet.

Timers are also great for beating the dreaded “task inertia”—you know, when you just can’t seem to start a project. Setting a timer for just 10 minutes of work tricks your brain into starting, and next thing you know, you’re in full-on productivity mode. Plus, breaks! A mandatory, guilt free excuse to do something fun.

And if you’re into data-driven decisions, pairing a timer with a time-tracking tool?  Can’t beat it. Now you’ve got data to back up just how long you actually spend scrolling through Instagram during “business research.” Plus, a fantastic black and white (or color coded) illustration to show yourself that yes, you were indeed productive today.

Calendars & Reminders: External Hard Drive for Your Brain

Keeping track of time and tasks when you’re neurodivergent can feel like trying to herd invisible cats.  That feeling where you know you had an idea or a deadline floating around somewhere, but poof! That oh-so-important information just flies out of your head, disappearing into the great abyss, maybe to resurface at a really inconvenient time? That’s where calendars and reminders come to the rescue!

Calendars - Structure, but Make It Fashion

For many neurodivergent brains, the concept of time is...optional at best. Enter: your calendar/diary/agenda, the productivity workhorse! But not just any calendar—find the one that works with your brain. Google Calendar, iCal, or even a colorful paper planner can cut down on chaotic thought patterns by giving you a visual roadmap and the time to mentally prepare for your day, week, or month.

With a central place to document upcoming meetings and important deadlines, be sure to set aside time blocks for work that grows your business, too like admin tasks, deep work sessions, or creative brainstorming. Bonus hack: color-code your calendar for maximum dopamine boosts!

Reminders - The Gentle Nudge You Actually Need

Ever told yourself, “I’ll remember that!” only to realize three days later you didn’t even remember saying you’d remember? That’s what reminders are for! Set up reminders on your phone, computer, smart speaker—whatever device you’ll actually use and won’t get lost in your sea of tabs. You can set alerts for everything from bill pay to “Take a break!” because let’s face it, basic human functions often take a backseat when we’re hyperfocused!

And there you have it—my top productivity hacks for neurodiverse entrepreneurs who want to crush their to-do list without crushing their souls. Not sure where to start? Schedule your free 30-minute discovery call with a trusted virtual assistant (hi, that’s me!) and let’s talk about how I can help you tackle the details, so you can focus on the best parts of your business. Click here to get in touch with me today!