Wellbeing-Driven Productivity Through a Neurodivergent Lens

Over the past decade or so, I started to become more aware that I experienced the world differently from other people. I knew I was not alone — especially when I looked to other family members — but I wanted to understand why I was different.

After lots of research and reflection, I began to consider the possibility that I was neurodivergent.

It turned out I was right — I was diagnosed with autism at the age of 43.

This article shares some reflections about wellbeing-driven productivity through the lens of neurodiversity — specifically my personal experience of autism.

Judy Singer (sociologist and fellow autistic) came up with the term “neurodiversity” in the late ’90s to describe conditions including ADHD, autism and dyslexia to shift the focus of discourse about ways of thinking and learning away from the usual litany of deficits, disorders, and impairments (Disabled World, 2014).

Whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, I hope this reflection provides some productivity and wellbeing strategies you can try.

Challenges

According to the National Autistic Society, there is a “gender diagnosis gap” — in other words, more males are diagnosed with autism than females. Several…