Episode #28
28. The Secrets To Running a Business with AuDHD with Erica Settino
In this episode I sat down with the incredible Erica Settino, an author, artist, activist, and a late-diagnosed AuDHDer, just like me. We peeled back the layers on what it actually looks like to build a business when you’re neurodivergent! We got real about the absolute exhaustion of trying to navigate traditional workspaces while masking our way through the day, and why so many of us eventually decide to burn it all down and build something for ourselves instead. Why we don’t fit well in traditional workspaces The constant pressure to socialize and engage in small talk is draining and often feels like an exhausting performance. Traditional work environments expect employees to show up at the same level of productivity every day, which ignores the reality of fluctuating health, chronic illness, or varying energy cycles. Standard office environments are full of sensory triggers and stressors, such as bright lights or noisy machinery, that can be overwhelming. How to adapt your businesses to fit our Audhd Move away from strict schedules, time-blocking, or themed days that don't account for natural fluctuations in your energy or interest. Instead, honor your natural energy bursts and work when your capacity is highest. Shift your mindset to recognize that fluctuating capacity does not equate to a lack of ability. Accept that your energy levels will shift and build in rest periods accordingly. Unless a deadline is strictly necessary, avoid rigid, arbitrary deadlines that trigger anxiety. Only use them when they provide helpful, external structure for a specific goal. Use Analog Systems. If digital alerts create unnecessary mental clutter and stress, try using a physical pen and paper to organize tasks. Writing things down can help with retention, and you can simplify this by using color-coding or symbols instead of constantly rewriting lists. Adapt Low Urgency communication methods. Adopt asynchronous communication methods like email or text, allowing you to respond when you have the capacity rather than immediately. This helps set boundaries and reduces the stress of "constant availability." Or Create "Low-Interaction" Roles: If possible, design your business offerings to include work that doesn't require constant, high-energy social performance, allowing you to focus on the work itself while minimizing the drain of masking. Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that the friction you feel is real and valid. Practice giving yourself grace rather than forcing yourself to push through limits, which often harms the quality of your work and your well-being. Get Cozy with Erica Settino Erica Settino is an author, artist, activist, and witch whose work is rooted in creative expression, interconnection, and collective liberation. A late-diagnosed AuDHDer, Erica’s unique perspective is deeply connected to patterns, kinship, and the "living threads" that bind us to one another, all living beings, and the natural world. When she’s not writing, teaching, or caring for animal clients, Erica can be found enjoying bonfires, lounging by the sea, or tending to her creative projects, including her forthcoming book, Autistic Arcana: A Neurodivergent Approach to Tarot Magick. Connect with Erica: Website: erica-settino.com Instagram: @erica_settino
