As someone who has dedicated significant time to researching adult ADHD, I find the prevailing narrative in books for women with ADHD highly problematic. These books tend to focus on portraying their heroines as chaotic, distracted, and overwhelmed by clutter. This is indeed the narrative ChatGPT brings home if you search for books about ADHD for womxn. It is an issue that needs addressing because this narrow perspective on executive functioning undermines important stories and missed opportunities.
Instead, we should shift our focus to the prospective elements of executive functioning and explore books that help women with ADHD actualize their inherent high potential. With the advancements in technology, it is now more feasible for highly energetic women with diverse interests and passions to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment. We should recognize women as "multi-potentialites" who possess the ability and preference to excel in multiple fields, becoming valued generalists in the workplace and modern polymaths.
Therefore, both myself and the Shimmer collective propose a strategic and transformative alternative: cultivating a long-term vision for personal development, investing in oneself, and breaking through the barriers known as the "womxn ADHD glass ceiling." This approach emphasizes the importance of focusing on strategic elements that enable envisioning and realizing your future goals, rather than getting excessively caught up in tasks that can be handled by modern household technology and skilled assistance. This is precisely how life coaching for those with ADHD differs from executive functions coaching, both are important and valuable, but the strategic elements of envisioning and enabling your future vision take precedence.
If you are a womxn with ADHD, the books listed below offer valuable insights and practical strategies for developing a long-term vision, adopting effective flourishing strategies, and fostering a positive relationship with your ADHD.
- Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life by Sari Solden:
This one-of-a-kind, empathetic, yet ambitious book delves into the challenges faced by women with ADHD and offers practical guidance for overcoming them. It provides useful frameworks and insights for improving relationships and managing time effectively.
- Who am I? by Alain de Botton and The School of Life Collective:
Discover a hidden treasure of sublime wisdom as this book provides gentle and well-informed insights into self-discovery, improving relationships, advancing careers, and enhancing social lives. It also offers valuable tips for finding calm and maximizing productivity. - How to be everything - a guide for those who (still) don’t know what they want to be when they grow up by Emilie Wapnick:
Despite its title, this book helps readers focus and channel their diverse passions and skills. Based on Emilie Wapnick's popular TED talk, "Why some of us don't have one true calling," it challenges conventional career advice and reintroduces the concept of multipotentiality. - ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction--from Childhood through Adulthood by Halliwell and Ratey:
This modern and practical book presents a wider take on ADHD. Written by esteemed researchers in the field, it addresses the increasing prevalence of executive function weaknesses accelerated by the fast-paced modern lifestyle. - Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein:
Explore the phenomenon of generalists excelling in complex and unpredictable fields. This book reveals that success lies in embracing diverse interests and skills rather than solely focusing on one area. It highlights the creativity, agility, and unique connections that generalists bring to the modern workplace. - The Queen of Distraction: How Women with ADHD Can Conquer Chaos, Find Focus, and Get More Done by Terry Matlen:
If you seek practical advice on self-organization, this book provides valuable strategies for managing ADHD symptoms. It offers tips for improving time management, organization, and communication, empowering women with ADHD to conquer chaos and achieve greater productivity. - When an Adult You Love Has ADHD: Professional Advice for Parents, Partners, and Siblings by Russell A. Barkley:
This hidden gem focuses on a very important mediator of success for those with ADHD: receiving support from family, friends, and peers. It sheds light on the challenges faced by those with ADHD in asking for help and offers valuable advice for fostering understanding and creating a supportive environment. - On Confidence by Alain de Botton and The School of Life Collective:
This highly aesthetic and humorous book addresses the impact of ADHD symptoms on confidence across all aspects of life. It leaves readers energized, hopeful, and ready to overcome any challenge they encounter. - Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills to Strengthen Executive Functioning by Phil Boissiere and Sari Solden:
This practical guide offers strategies for improving executive functioning skills in adults with ADHD. It provides tips for managing time, organizing tasks, and regulating emotions and actions, empowering individuals to thrive in various areas of life. - The Muse is In: An Owner’s Manual to Your Creativity by Jill Badonsky:
Immerse yourself in a delightful and light-hearted book filled with humor and stunning illustrations. Jill Badonsky, a muse to many, shares joyful and imaginative perspectives on everyday life, serving as a source of inspiration and creativity.
Empowerment, self-actualization, and success are within reach for women with ADHD. By embracing their unique strengths and leveraging the strategies shared in these empowering books, women can break free from limitations and unlock their full potential. Let these resources guide you on your journey toward fulfillment, resilience, and a life lived to its utmost potential. Embrace the power of ADHD and redefine what it means to thrive.
