5 Ways Neurodivergence Impacts The Online Business Owner

If you're a neurodivergent online business owner, some of these scenarios may sound familiar:

• Despite your best attempt at time blocking for multiple projects, you look up at 10 pm to realize you’ve spent the ENTIRE day on one project.

• Yes, you came up with one hundred sparkly, creative ideas, but you also spent about half of the time falling down questionably relevant rabbit holes.
• The outside world melted away, and you returned to your body, realizing you hadn't eaten the entire day. 

• AND you missed a meeting. You make a note to reschedule. 

• Because you're so stimulated, you can't fall asleep. 

• You wonder if you could stay up a little longer, knowing that this will set you up for exhaustion the next day. Hopefully, you won't oversleep again . . . 

This is what a day in the life of a neurodivergent woman entrepreneur can look like. And if you relate - you should know that I do, too! I’ve been there and I’ve got you. 

While everyone has a few days like this, we can have them most days - week after week, month after month. 

Clearly, this pattern will sabotage our efforts to achieve balance and success in our businesses. 

100%. 

However, if we unpack this less-than-ideal hypothetical day, we can discern neurodivergence's impacts on us and our businesses - and be proactive in managing them. There are five major impacts of neurodivergence, and by the time you’re finished reading, you'll know what they are, how they affect your business, and get ideas for practical management strategies.

The “Big 5” Impacts of Neurodivergence on Women Entrepreneurs

Neurodivergence impacts your overall functioning in five ways:

1. A high aptitude for creativity and innovation, which can produce ideas so divergent or numerous that they're confusing or overwhelming
2. Hyper-focus that can be (paradoxically) distracting
3. Processing around communication, especially online communication, where signals are easily missed or misunderstood
4. Time management and organizational habits
5. Fragile sensory tolerance, which often leads to overload and dysregulation

Let's get more specific about how each of these impacts your business.

Hyper-Creativity

Our brains are wired for exceptional levels of creativity and innovative thinking - and the business world considers this a competitive advantage. 

However, this thinking can also pull you off course, leaving you wondering which idea to pursue or how. Maybe you even become distracted by exciting, "new" business ideas altogether - most of which you don’t have the resources, commitment, or time for!

Neurodivergent brains need to explore and be creative. We can manage this dynamism by allowing for our impulses. 

One way to do this is by setting an intention to branch out - within reason. Pencil it in your schedule and permit yourself to "rabbit-hole" or find ways to get exposure to a diverse network of worlds and thinkers that aren't in your field. To protect your schedule, set a time limit or better yet, use a physical 3-D timer. Personally, I believe every woman entrepreneur should have one!      

Hyper-Focus

Neurodivergent women entrepreneurs possess a superhuman ability to hyperfocus. We often immerse ourselves intensely in a single task - for hours and hours. This has potential downsides, and can easily lead to disruptive things like a burnout cycle or time blindness. Hyper focus is also related to abundant creative ideas. Many use a “swipe” file or other note taking method to capture all their ideas for later review. 

Effectively managing hyperfocus requires setting and enforcing clear boundaries and implementing practical time-management strategies. 

The woman in our "hypothetical day" scenario had a schedule. However, her wiring affected her ability to execute it. To proactively manage this problem, she could use a visual timer (most helpful for neurodivergent brains) to prompt her to stop and take breaks throughout her day. 

She could also use bright paper notes to remind her to protect her schedule, or to stay mindful of daily goals, intentions and big whys. These notes should be placed right in front of her face to counter any issues with object permanence. 

Doing things like this will help harness our strengths without compromising our well-being and productivity.

Communication Challenges

Communication challenges in neurodivergent women are rooted in differences in brain structure and function. These include atypical neural connectivity in brain regions associated with social and communication function, which impact how you process and transmit information. Sensory sensitivities can also affect communication. 

Challenges in executive functioning, such as difficulties in planning and impulse control, can hinder effective communication. Additionally, a neurodivergent woman may struggle with understanding and predicting the thoughts and emotions of others, known as the "theory of mind." This impacts how non-verbal cues and emotional expressions are interpreted. 

Managing communication requires developing clear and structured communication methods that work for you. Using Email templates and organization tools that clarify interactions with clients, partners, or team members can help.

Organization and Time Management

Managing time and organization present unique challenges for neurodivergent women, often related to a phenomenon known as "time blindness." Unlike neurotypical online business owners, we need extra help to accurately gauge the passage of time, and avoid things like missed deadlines or scheduling mishaps. 

However, time management strategies that work for others may be less effective for us. 

Acknowledging and understanding time blindness as a trait rooted in neurodivergence allows us to develop tailored approaches. This may involve setting alarms, using visual schedules, or relying on digital tools like Airtable or Google Docs. 

Resources like these can help women entrepreneurs like us navigate our online businesses more successfully and seamlessly.

Sensory Overload

Unlike our neurotypical counterparts, we're more prone to distractions and discomfort caused by the constant stimuli coming from screens, notifications, and countless other sources. 

In turn, this heightened sensitivity can quickly lead to dysregulation and overwhelm. 

This is why it's vital to implement sensory-protection strategies. Examples would be adjusting screen settings or using a website blocker like Freedom. You could unplug, use noise-canceling headphones, create a no-distraction workspace, practice mindfulness, or take spiritual self-care breaks to reduce sensory stress.

Turning Your Neurodivergence Into an Asset

By learning about how neurodivergence affects online business owners and implementing effective strategies, we can overcome our challenges and leverage our unique wiring, traits, and skills.

Remember, neurodivergence isn't a limitation—it's a unique lens through which to view the world. It’s a powerful asset when embraced and managed effectively. 

My upcoming Systems Balance Program includes a hybrid focus for neurodivergent women. This special focus will improve accountability, body doubling, and systems creation. I have loads of support for you and hope to see you there!

Check Out the Systems Balance Program