Why Neurodivergent Creatives Need Tailored Business Systems
- Kendra Woods
- Oct 28, 2024
- 5 min read
For anyone - running a business is a lot. Throw in the neurodivergent challenge of trying to balance your creativity, talent, and amazing ideas with the quirks of an unconventional brain and you’ve got a brand-new extreme sport! If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by standard advice about organization that just never seems to click, know that you’re not alone!
Your brain is different therefore, your business needs customized systems that work for you. Toss out the ‘conventional’ wisdom (it’s not working anyway) and let’s break down why tailored business systems are an absolute must-have for neurodivergent creatives.
Neurospicy TLDR: Creating systems that work with your unique brain can make efficiently running your business not just possible but fulfilling (and maybe even a little fun).
1. The Myth of “One Size Fits All” Business Systems
If I had a dollar for every “fail-proof” business system that promised to streamline my life only to…fail, I’d probably have enough money to buy an ADHD-friendly planner I’d get really into for a week then never look at again. The truth is, conventional business systems are often designed for a hypothetical “average” brain. But neurodivergent entrepreneurs don’t have average brains—we have fantastic, out-of-the-box, creative minds that demand a different kind of structure.
Why Traditional Systems Don’t Always Work for Us
Neurodivergent brains don’t operate like factory assembly lines. We work best with systems that are fluid, customizable, and, ideally, a little bit forgiving. Systems that allow for flexibility, creativity, and the occasional random-but-necessary hyperfocus session. It’s not about creating more rules—it’s about creating a system that gives you room to breathe.
Takeaway: If a system isn’t working, it’s not you. It’s the system. Time to create (or adjust) one that speaks your brain’s language.
2. Decision Fatigue is Real (and Templates are Here to Save the Day)
When we’re making decisions all day, it’s easy to hit a point of burnout where even choosing between emails feels like too much. Decision fatigue impacts neurodivergent folx especially hard because we tend to burn through mental energy quickly, often before lunchtime.
Templates Can Help
Templates are like your pre-packaged solutions to repeated problems. Rather than re-inventing the wheel every time you respond to a client or send an invoice, you can lean on templates to do the heavy lifting. Templates cut down on decisions, which means more energy for the things that actually matter in your business.
Takeaway: Templates are lifesavers for decision fatigue. They let you stay in the flow without overtaxing your brain on the small stuff.
3. Automate What You Can… (Because Repetition Isn’t for Everyone)
How many times have you gone to send a follow-up email, only to remember that you never sent the first one? Or completely forgotten about a client invoice? Don’t worry; automation tools are here to help.
Automation Is Basically Magic for Neurodivergent Brains
Automation tools allow you to set it and forget it. Apps like Zapier, Hootsuite, and Calendly help you manage repetitive, tedious tasks so you can stay focused on the work that actually excites you. Now, setting up automations will take a bit of upfront work, but it absolutely pays off. Never having another “Wait, did I remember to…?” moment followed by frantically checking five different tabs is worth it alone!
Takeaway: Automations free you from boring, repetitive work and keep follow-up from slipping between the cracks. You can stay in your creative zone and avoid the “uh-oh” adrenaline spikes.
4. Integration is Your Secret Weapon Against Brain Overload
For most people, using five different platforms to run a business is “normal.” For neurodivergent creatives? It’s a digital minefield. The more apps, systems, and passwords you have to remember, the more likely it is that something (hopefully not important) will go unnoticed.
Integrations for Less Chaos
By connecting your tools so they “talk” to each other, you create an environment where information flows naturally from one app to the next. Integrations mean you don’t have to juggle platforms or worry about whether your tasks, calendar, and reminders are all in sync.
Takeaway: Integrations eliminate the need for so many touch points and help your processes run smoother. The fewer ‘stops’ in your process = fewer chances for mistakes and missed opportunities.
5. Time-Tracking Tools to Keep Time-Blindness in Check
Do you start a project, glance at the clock thinking only 30 minutes have passed, and realize it’s actually been three hours? That’s time-blindness, and it’s a common experience for many neurodivergent people. It’s also one of the main reasons why structured time management can feel, well, elusive.
Time-Tracking Tools Are Clutch for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs
Tools like Toggl and RescueTime offer insight into where your hours go, especially helpful when you feel like they’re vanishing into thin air. Time-tracking apps can help you build awareness of your work habits and create accountability for those tricky hours that seem to disappear into a productivity black hole.
Takeaway: Time-tracking tools can help you get a handle on time-blindness, making deadlines feel a bit more real and manageable.
6. The Calendar-Reminder Combo: External Hard-Drive for Your Memory
Your brain is a powerhouse of creativity, innovation, and ideas. But remembering all the nitty-gritty details? That’s what calendars and reminders are for! For neurodivergent folx, externalizing memory is essential to reducing mental clutter.
Calendar Hacks for Neurodivergent Brains
Calendars are more than just places to jot down deadlines—they’re visual roadmaps for how to navigate your week. Color-coding, adding “buffer time” between meetings, or even scheduling downtime are all ways to make your calendar neurodivergent-friendly and get ahead of burn-out. And don’t forget reminders for when life gets a little overwhelming.
Takeaway: Calendars and reminders are your external brain, clearing the mental clutter and keeping you on track so you can focus on the big things.
7. Pacing Yourself: Slow and Steady Wins the Race (No, For Real!)
One of the greatest gifts of the neurodivergent brain is the ability to hyperfocus. But while riding the hyperfocus wave can be exhilarating, it can also lead to burnout if we’re not careful. If you like being productive, pacing yourself is one of the best ways to ensure you can stay productive.
Why Pacing Matters
Pacing isn’t about working less; it’s about working smart. By building regular breaks into your schedule, you’re creating a sustainable work pace that honors your brain’s need for rest. The Pomodoro Technique, which involves breaking work into 25-minute intervals with short breaks, is one of many ways to help you recharge without losing momentum.
Takeaway: When you pace yourself, you disrupt the “go-go-CRASH” cycle and make it easier to keep your creative energy and productivity alive and sustainable.
In Summary: Your Brain is DOPE — Build Systems That Celebrate It!
With the right systems in place, running your business becomes less about struggling to fit in and more about creating a flow that fits you. Our unique brains can be SO DOPE when we learn to lean into neurodiversity, setting up processes that play to our strengths. True, traditional methods might not work for neurodivergent entrepreneurs, but with a few adjustments and the right tools, you can create a system that’s as dynamic and innovative as you are.
Want to dive deeper into neurodivergent-friendly business systems? Let’s chat! 🎉 I’m offering a free 30-minute discovery call to help you build systems that work with your brain, not against it. You deserve a business that supports your creativity, keeps you productive, and helps you thrive.
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