Everyone With ADHD needs A Burnout Prevention Plan

Everyone With ADHD needs A Burnout Prevention Plan

How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober? Well, this conversation looks at something closely related – how people with ADHD cope with relentless burnout, especially when life, work and family keep piling on demands. ADHD Focus brings together host Dr. David Pomeroy and coaching psychologist Pippa Simu for a frank chat about why "everyone with ADHD needs a burnout prevention plan".

Pippa, described as "a go-to source for women and girls about all things ADHD", explains how overcommitment, people‑pleasing and societal expectations can quietly push ADHD brains into exhaustion, particularly for women juggling careers, homes and parenting. You’ll hear them talk about the repeating cycle of getting "way overcommitted" and then crashing, and why recognising this pattern is a key step. Pippa shares the idea that "resting is a verb" and challenges the belief that energy is limitless.

She encourages thinking of energy as finite blocks or "spoons" you budget across work, family, relationships and self‑care, instead of just trying harder until you break. The pair swap practical ideas for saying no, setting work–life boundaries (like shutting the laptop at six and protecting evenings), and spotting early warning signs through mood, body sensations and sensory overload.

A standout moment is the line Pomeroy quotes: "the quality of yes is proportional to the quantity of no", neatly capturing the core message of burnout prevention. They also touch on how meaning and purpose in work can either fuel you or drain you, and why ADHD minds often need roles that align with their values and passions rather than "sensible" choices that leave them depleted.

If ADHD, overcommitment and exhaustion feel familiar, this conversation might prompt you to ask: what would a realistic burnout prevention plan look like for your life?