Here are 5 surprising workspace saboteurs that quietly drain your capacity as an ADHD entrepreneur... and how to flip them into brain-boosting gold. And yes! These are the exact tweaks I use in my office (and that made Grow Disrupt events internationally renowned powerhouses for ADHD-ers).
1. Bad Lighting = Bad Brainpower
I wish this one weren’t true... but it is.
Flickering fluorescents?
Harsh blue lights?
Overhead beams casting shadows?
They all exhaust your brain… even if you don’t consciously notice.
Try this: Switch to diffused light sources (soft lamps or daylight bulbs) and aim for side lighting instead of straight overhead. You’ll feel the difference in 20 minutes.
2. Clutter Clogs Your Visual Cues
You may think you’ve tuned it out, but your brain hasn’t.
That pile of papers? That tangle of cords?
Your ADHD brain is still processing it in the background. That’s silent bandwidth drain.
Try this: Create a “clutter basket” you can toss stuff into under your desk. And try doing a weekly 5-minute desk reset. (Yes, weekly. Your brain deserves that much.)
3. Background Noise Eats Focus
We’re not built for open office chatter, leaf blowers, or refrigerator hums.
Unmanaged noise can quietly erode your ability to focus and follow through.
Try this: Grab earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, paired with low-stimulation muzak or ambient loops designed for ADHD brains. (No, classical music isn’t always the answer.)
4. Ceiling Height Primes Your Brain
This one blew my mind the first time I read the study.
Low ceilings actually prime your brain for focus.
High ceilings prime creativity and big-picture thinking.
Choose your workspace based on the work you need to complete!
(Credit to Dr. Joan Meyers-Levy, 2007. You know I love some science.)
5. Scent = A Trained Focus Trigger
Think Pavlov’s dogs... but for your productivity.
When you use the same scent every time you work, your brain starts to associate that smell with focus-mode.
Try this: Go for citrus or herb-based scents, and use them only when working. Over time, just smelling it will kick your brain into gear.
Set up your environment to support your brain…and your brain will show up for you!
Remember that one small shift, reflected across your business, can multiply your results!
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