Neuroinclusion: The Human Factor and the Faults in our design
Jan 13, 2025
So, I found myself in a bit of a pickle last week!
Overwhelm crept in as I tried to juggle all the exciting things coming up for IMUK, while also managing the personal and family challenges on my plate. Not to mention the financial fears that come with January, entrepreneurship, and trying to grow a new business!
Classic.
As usual, I went into full-on stress mode: stopped sleeping, skipped meals, didn’t drink enough water, and basically abandoned self-care. I got laser-focused, overworked, overthought everything, became emotional, ran around at a million miles an hour, and pretty much stopped communicating with not only myself and my body but everyone else in my sphere of life too.
Result? Total meltdown.
Naturally, I underdelivered, made mistakes, missed meetings and appointments, neglected basic responsibilities, and generally felt like I was failing at EVERYTHING. #CueTheDramaticMusic
However I’m a lucky lass and owe a Big thank you to the ever suffering husband (of course and as usual), my friends, and unexpectedly some colleagues too! All who spotted the signs waaay before I did. You all deserve a medal.
Plus an extra special shoutout to the brave souls who called me out on it – especially one of my newer colleagues (who wishes to remain anonymous, but you know who you are!). Thank you for calling me out repeatedly – because I honestly don’t always realise when I’m heading into full-on burnout mode or admit it straight away.
So, what happened next?
Well on Thursday, my body finally threw in the towel and basically forced me to STOP at around 6 pm, when I pretty much passed out on the sofa π€
The ever suffering husband, bless him, has seen it all before, so he just got on with it, took care of the mini, and didn’t make a fuss. #Legend #BFF #TopDad
Then the morning after, the hubby left at the ungodly hour of 4 am (joys of shift work), and I was woken by the mini at 7.45 am – late!
Cue the panic as I jumped straight into autopilot mode, did the school drop off, walked the dog, and vaguely wondered where I was going in life.
I then got home, and proceeded to do my weird habit of sitting in my car on my driveway. It’s an avoidance thing, I think!? By not going into the house I avoid having to function or do something else for a little bit longer or It's a decompression thing, or maybe even both. Anyone else do this or just me?
Either way, I sat there in my warm car for a good 20 minutes, thinking about how I ended up here, once again, in a familiar but unwanted state.
After a good amount of internal debate, I came to a decision: it’s time to draw a line and start again.
Therefore, Friday officially became my first day back at work in 2025.
Happy New Year, everyone!
If we’ve interacted at all before today… well, er… π
That wasn’t me!
It must have been someone that just looked like me. (Obviously someone really good looking though, right!?!).
No, seriously, forgive me if I was a bit off in anyway!
But fear not, I’m back in the game now and on my first new and official day back on it, I actually started winning. π₯
Wins of my first day back in 2025:
- Had a shower.
- Got dressed (feels good).
- Did my hair and put on just enough make-up to look human with eyebrows and eyelashes (the tint had worn off, appointment’s today – lol).
- Brushed my teeth (yes, I know it’s gross, but it’s a thing for ADHDers to not do it when things go south).
- Ate a healthy breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.
- Did some breathing exercises.
- Started my new gratitude diary (designed and printed it myself – “F*ck Stress and Stay Blessed!”. Yes, it's got a bit of swearing; I’m a potty mouth, I like it! If anyone thinks they would want one, please do let me know. I might add it to the website).
- Wrote down everything I was anxious about, analysed it, and found a recurring theme. I of course discussed it with trusted peoples, and went on to create a plan of action. Feels better already!
- Ordered my repeat ADHD prescription (only a day late too, but of course, they later went on to decline it – now I need a blood pressure, pulse, height, and weight check. Seriously, why tell me now, when I’m about to run out of meds? But that’s a whole different blog post.)
- Corrected the fact that I forgot to make the mini’s packed lunch and didn’t have a meltdown about it. It did make me late for my initial meeting of the day but hey Family first!
- Emailed the people from said meeting to explain and apologise for my tardiness (Yes, I did admin all by myself!).
- Wrote this blog.
- Planned the next few weeks with a new team member at IMUK (more on them soon – we’re planning an Uber cheesy reel! I’ve learnt from the best – Craig Burgess – short videos and reels are the future. If you don’t follow him, do it now).
- Worked on the IMHub community build.
- Planned and prepped marketing strategies.
- Gave a sneak peek of the IMHub build to two of my people's – to me, it’s a real thing of beauty because it’s so simple and easy to use. The development has been way more complex than expected or how it looks, which I suppose is a testament to the design! But yeah, I’m obsessed with it!
- Sent more emails. Urgh!
- Took breaks.
- Drank water instead of coffee (I was basically peeing like a racehorse all day, but it was worth it).
- Designed resources for upcoming webinars.
- Created cheeky discount codes and sent them out to IMUK subscribers. Big HINT: Sign up to the IMHub waitlist or RSVP to our upcoming launch event now if you haven’t yet to get your own cheeky discount!.
- Left the office at 4 pm and went home to hang out with Team Jackson distraction-free – took the mini to gymnastics, giving the ever suffering husband some much needed peace.
So, why am I telling you all this?
I’m not bragging or looking for sympathy. I’m sharing it because writing helps me process things, and also, as you might already know, because I believe in the power of sharing our stories. You never know who might need to hear it. Plus, I’m all about authenticity. Life isn’t always a bed of roses, no matter how it might seem online.
And as someone who holds all these qualifications (mindset and NLP coach, NLP practitioner, hypnotherapist, teacher, mental health first aider… the list goes on), let’s not forget one thing:
I’m still human!
A human that also happens to be made by ADHD and Dyspraxia. Both of which no doubt will have had a compounding impact on my behaviours, thoughts and feelings.
Yes, while I do have a lot of knowledge, qualifications, and lived experience, the truth is I will still slip into old, unhealthy habits sometimes (More times than I'm sure I will car to admit!).
Why?
Because I’m still human!
Because ADHD and Dyspraxia cannot be cured or educated away. They are a fundamental part of my existence- I am what I am! (Oh no, now I'm singing Gloria Gaynor... I am my own special creation...)
I digress as per, so lets get back to it!
Yes, here is where I wanna be very clear about something though: making mistakes, poor choices, or having big emotional responses to situations is not exclusive to neurodifferent people.
Every single human on this planet makes errors, poor choices, or experiences challenges with their mental health at some point.
#TrueStory
We really do (including me!) have to stop dehumanising ourselves, as well as each other!
We are each going to f*#k up, time and time again! #Facts
No matter who or what we are, it’s an inevitable part of our lives!
#HumanError
In engineering, there’s a concept called human factors, which is built on the simple truth that humans make mistakes.
It’s a whole field with specialists, models, theories, principles, and practices. There’s degrees, masters and even PHD’s dedicated to it. All of which are designed to improve systems, processes, and environments by recognising the limitations, behaviours, and errors of humans!
Human factors are widely recognised and accepted across industries worldwide: human error is inevitable and should be acknowledged!
Rather than avoiding it, in industry they design with it in mind, creating systems that are safer, more efficient, and more user-friendly.
I first encountered this when I started training as an engineer at the tender age of 16.
What amazes me is that, while industries have embraced this approach for decades to improve, we rarely apply it to our own lives!
We've been taught to see our mistakes and imperfections as things to hide rather than opportunities to learn and grow.
But why is that?
It’s fine in industry, but not in everyday life?
I don’t get it. Do you?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve personally taken from my engineering background is this: progress doesn’t come from chasing perfection. It comes from recognising and accepting that there will be flaws, limitations, and mistakes.
By embracing this understanding into every aspect of our lives and not just in industry, we can better design our actions, systems, and ultimately create a safer, kinder, and more inclusive world.
So, why do we keep holding ourselves and others to impossible standards of perfection?
There’s no such thing as a perfect human right?—there never has been, and there never will be.
I believe that true freedom and authentic living starts when we begin accepting our mistakes, learning from them, and supporting each other, along the way, to move forward.
It’s about embracing and loving what makes us human.
Perfection is a myth. Progress is the goal.
And yes, if you read this far and if you can, please try to imagine me saying all of the above with all the dramatic hand gestures and a very animated voice—because thats what I'm doing in my head! π
Now, stepping off my soapbox, here’s the final takeaway: I had a wobble. I noticed it faster than ever before. I accepted it for what it was, took time for myself, leaned on strategies that work for me, and sought support when I needed it. I learned from the experience and designed new ways of thinking and acting to move forward more safely and positively.
That’s progress.
That’s NeuroInclusion.
And that’s what this post is about:
To normalise being human.
To make neuroinclusion the standard, not the exception.
Quick disclaimer: When I mentioned mental health challenges earlier, I was NOT talking about mental illnesses.
To clarify before the trolls come to activate my dark side (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria aka RSD).
There’s a difference.
A mental health challenge is something that can interfere with a person’s well-being but doesn’t necessarily disrupt their ability to function long-term. A mental illness, on the other hand, is a diagnosable condition that significantly impacts how someone lives their life.
To make it clearer:
Mental health challenges
• These can include concerns about emotional, psychological, or social well-being.
• They can affect how someone thinks, feels, or behaves.
• They’re generally considered to be more common and often resolve over time.
Mental illnesses (which sit under the vast umbrella title of neurodifferences)
• These are conditions that impact a person’s thinking, mood, or behaviour.
• They can cause ongoing stress and significantly affect day-to-day functioning.
• Examples include depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia, amongst many others.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, I’ll leave you to it!
See Thee βπΌ
Date: 19th February 2025
Time: 10-3pm
Location: BHF Priority Centre
Ready to ditch stagnation and ignite a revolution?
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Meet Ria Jackson: SHE-EO and Chief - Brew-maker of IMUK
Forget a closet full of clothes, Ria has a hat rack overflowing with experiences!
Engineer, educator, mindset coach, NLP practitioner and coach, specialist study skills tutor for ADHD and Autism, trauma-informed practitioner, senior leader, and the list goes on!
She brings a wealth of experience, shaped by her journey as a neurodifferent woman, veteran, and Mum (her whole family is basically a full neurodiversity ad campaign in itself!)
Ria's life and career have been anything but linear!
Now, as the SHE-EO of IMUK, she brings a wealth of experiences and a unique perspective.
Sick of the same old, same old, and wanting to forge a better future for her neurodifferent daughter, Ria's here to disrupt the system!
With a background as diverse as her passions, she's on a quest to make neuroinclusion the new normal.
She believes in authenticity and leaving a positive impact, as evidenced by her closing quote:
"Always be yourself, cos everyone else is already taken!"
(Oscar Wilde, apparently).
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