Hello Brains & Hearts! 

Where, oh where, did this summer go?!?The next few months are jam-packed with filming and book writing, so I’ve been deep into filming, researching, and writing Book #2. Speaking of the book, my team and I have been hard at work shaping our perfect cover. I cannot wait for you to see it!

This month, a fan-favorite guest filmed with me. We had a blast, and I’m happy to report there’s some new motivation content coming soon. Stay tuned for that!!

In the meantime, don’t know how to tell when a system isn’t working for you anymore? Check out the Monthly Infodump topic below!

Signs A System No Longer Works 🚩 

Systems can be helpful to ADHD brains… that is, until they're not anymore.

We can hold on to systems longer than we need to because we worked so hard to build them in the first place. Maybe they used to give us a sense of joy or accomplishment. Maybe they used to work for us, so we assume they’ll eventually become useful again. 

All of this can make it hard to recognize when a system has stopped helping. 

So, what’s a Brain to do? 

We asked the community, and it turns out there are many signs that a system isn’t working anymore. Here are a few signs you may have missed:

The System Stopped Doing Its Job

Let’s start with the obvious one. The system is no longer achieving its intended outcome. It can be surprisingly easy to miss, especially when we blame changing circumstances: It’s not the system–it’s just the situation! The reality is that if the situation is ongoing, or has changed your life in some way, then the system needs to be replaced or updated so that it’s compatible with your current reality… not your old one. 

The System Feels Bad

How you feel can indicate whether a system is more trouble than it’s worth. At the start, systems can often feel shiny, new, and exciting! But over time those feelings might shift towards annoyance, or even anger. Take time to evaluate how you feel and what’s making you feel that way. If it’s the system, there’s a chance it no longer is working or needs adjustment. 

You Are Avoiding Your System

You’ve created a system that you loved… once upon a time. But now you’ll do almost anything to avoid it. Perhaps the system has grown painfully boring, or it’s become overwhelming with its various steps and moving parts. When you start actively avoiding your system, that can be a great time to reassess whether it still serves you, your needs, and your priorities. 

Others Notice It 

If you’re like me, you still might not notice when a system isn’t working… until someone else points it out. That outside perspective can help shine a light on our system, helping us know where we should start reevaluating. For one Brain, they often find themselves thinking that their struggles with a system are only temporary until someone close to them points out the pattern. This has helped them be able to reevaluate and notice that they’ve actually been on a gradual decline for weeks.

The System Creates Barriers & Affects Things Around It 

Systems should make our lives easier to manage, not harder. When a system creates barriers that get in our way, that can be a huge indicator that something needs to be adjusted. One Brain shared a rather poignant example,  “I noticed it's not working when I have to move four baskets of unfolded laundry off the bed just to go to sleep.” Another IT Brain shared, “When checking if a system works, you need to consider the system’s performance and the health of everything else around it.” 

How a Three-Strikes Rule Can Help! 

It’s easy to get stuck readjusting the same system for an eternity. Making a rule can help keep us out of this endless loop. A Brain shared how she uses the Three-Strikes Rule for her systems. If a system fails her three times, despite her best efforts to adjust the system, then it’s not her–it’s the system, and it’s time to try something different! 

Want to read more? Click here to read all the comments!

While I won’t be attending these conferences this year, we thought it’d be helpful to get them on your radar!

Supporting ADHD & LD Across Life Transitions Conference October 17​, 2026 | Calgary, AB, Canada https://ldadhdnetwork.ca/2026-annual-conference/

The Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network is hosting a full day of expert sessions and talks for anyone supporting neurodiverse loved ones or those with learning disabilities. If you’re in Western Canada, check out the topics some of these experts will be presenting – you may see something of interest.

CADDAC's 18th Annual ADHD ConferenceOctober 24–25​, 2026 | Scarborough, ON, Canada https://caddac.ca​

CADDAC's annual conference is officially on the calendar, and its keynote speakers have been announced! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with leading ADHD experts and hundreds of members of Canada's ADHD community. Keep an eye on their website as more details get released!

UKAAN Conference 2026November 9–11, 2026 | London, United Kingdom https://www.ukaan.org/ 

This conference will be hosted by the UK Adult ADHD Network at the Royal College of Physicians. This three-day conference focuses on adult ADHD care, research, and clinical best practices. It's a top-tier gathering for psychiatrists, researchers, and service leaders aiming to improve access and care standards across the UK and Europe.

2026 International Conference on ADHDDecember 3–5, 2026 | Baltimore, Maryland, USAhttps://www.theadhdconference.org/

Co-hosted by CHADD, ADDA, and ACO, this is the world's largest (and longest standing) multidisciplinary gathering on ADHD. It’s intended for adults with ADHD, clinicians, researchers, coaches, and families and is often described as an ADHD Family reunion. 

Ways to Make Planning Worth the Time

Click here to watch this month’s featured video!

5 Lies I Believed About Creativity (As Someone With ADHD)

Click here to watch it!