🪐 The Orbit Dispatch: Issue #4
We are opening The Messy Minds Club.
Hey you brilliant, beautifully distracted minds — this month, we’re leaning all the way into the chaos (and magic) of ADHD. From hyperfixations to creative explosions, we’re celebrating the wild, winding, wonderful ways ADHD shows up in the creative process. This edition is packed with inspiration, relatable chaos, and a few gold nuggets from ADHD creators doing things their own way. This month, we’re making ADHD the star of the show. We are opening The Messy Minds Club.
📝 Quick Summary:
📰 ADHD Industry Insights: Workplaces & ADHD
🌍 Trend Spotlight: The "Anti-Hustle" Movement Gains Momentum
👱🏼♀️ ADHD Creators on Substack: Must-Follow Writers & Artists
⭐ The Orbit’s Monthly Pick: Tiimo App & Design Calendar
📣 Orbit News: Podcast is out and new things coming
📰 ADHD Industry Insights
ADHD appears to show up more often in creative fields than in the general population. In one study, 38% of people working in marketing said they had ADHD—far above the average. Musicians showed a similar pattern, with around 1 in 5 reporting ADHD symptoms, compared to just 8% of the broader population. These numbers suggest that creative industries may naturally attract neurodivergent thinkers—people who thrive in fast-paced, idea-driven environments where flexibility and originality are key.
ADHD can come with a few surprising strengths—especially in creative work. One of the big ones is hyperfocus. It’s not something you can turn on at will, but when it kicks in, it’s powerful. You can get completely absorbed in a project for hours, especially if it’s something you’re genuinely interested in.
There’s also this kind of fast, idea-sparking creativity that shows up a lot. People with ADHD often think in ways that aren’t linear, which can lead to unexpected, original ideas. Add in high energy, curiosity, and the kind of adaptability you build up just from dealing with ADHD day-to-day, and it makes sense why so many folks with ADHD end up in creative fields. These traits aren’t always easy to manage, but in the right setting, they’re a real advantage.
One thing that really helps people with ADHD is having some flexibility in how and when they work. Being able to lean into their own focus rhythms—like tackling deep work during a hyperfocus window—can make a big difference.
Workspace setup matters, too. Having a quiet space to work—or just throwing on a pair of noise-canceling headphones—can go a long way in cutting down distractions.
When it comes to staying organized, tools like task lists or time-blocking apps can really help. They won’t solve everything, but they can give things a bit more structure, which makes a big difference when your brain’s juggling ten things at once.
Sometimes, just having instructions written down clearly can make all the difference—especially when something feels big or confusing. It’s way easier to focus when you can take it step by step instead of trying to figure everything out at once.
It also helps to check in regularly with someone you trust at work. Not in a micromanage-y way, but just to talk things through, get feedback, or figure out what’s getting in the way.
And for people who are really struggling to keep things organized, getting a bit of support—like coaching around time management or learning some new tools—can be super useful. What works for one person might not work for another, so it’s really about figuring out what actually sticks.
More and more, experts are pointing out how neurodiversity—ADHD included—can actually drive innovation, especially in creative work.
There’s also been a noticeable shift in how ADHD is viewed. It’s not as stigmatized as it once was, and that’s starting to show up in workplaces too. Job postings are beginning to include neurodiversity-related language, which is a small but encouraging step toward more inclusive hiring.
On the support side, tech is playing a bigger role—especially AI tools that can help with organization, focus, and task management.
And maybe most importantly, there’s a shift in mindset. Instead of focusing on what people with ADHD struggle with, more workplaces are starting to recognize and build on what they do best.
🌍 Orbit Trend Spotlight: The "Anti-Hustle" Movement Gains Momentum
For years, we’ve been fed the same story: Work harder. Grind more. Sleep less. But creatives and entrepreneurs are finally calling BS on the hustle-for-hustle’s-sake mentality.
✨ Welcome to the rise of the "Anti-Hustle" movement. A growing wave of professionals—especially neurodivergent ones—are realizing that overworking doesn’t equal success. Instead, they’re prioritizing sustainable productivity, deep work, and energy management over burnout-fueled late nights.
Here’s how things are shifting:
💡 Focus over frenzy. Instead of glorifying being "busy," more people are optimizing for intentional work—batching tasks, using time-blocking techniques, and designing work schedules around their natural energy rhythms.
🚀 Slow growth > quick burnout. Creators and entrepreneurs are rejecting the pressure to go viral overnight. Instead, they’re leaning into steady, strategic progress—focusing on high-quality work and long-term impact instead of constant content churn.
🔋 Rest is becoming a strategy. Burnout recovery isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Companies (and solo workers) are embracing "work sprints + recharge periods"—integrating scheduled rest days, shorter workweeks, and even nap breaks to improve creative output.
🛑 Saying "no" is the new power move. Whether it’s declining unnecessary meetings or cutting non-essential or even unpaid projects, the most successful creatives are protecting their time like never before. The goal? More deep work, fewer distractions.
Marta, Team Captain at The Orbit, recently wrote Part 1/2 of The Client Who 'Pays in Exposure' - A Horror Story for Modern Times—this one's a must-read and really made me rethink how I value my time and energy in the creative world.
What’s the takeaway? Success isn’t about working yourself into exhaustion—it’s about working smarter. The Anti-Hustle movement isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing what actually matters.
👱🏼♀️ ADHD Creators on Substack: Must-Follow Writers & Artists
Creativity often thrives in minds that work differently—and Substack is full of creators whose ADHD fuels their art and writing. These super talented folks openly share stories, illustrations, tips, and the messy, really genuine parts of their everyday lives. If you have ADHD yourself or just love connecting with authentic, relatable voices, you’ll definitely want to check out this list. Here’s my hand-picked selection of standout writers and artists who are well worth adding to your inbox.
ADHD International is an awesome newsletter that dives into what ADHD looks like around the world, beyond the usual stories we see from the West. It covers different cultures, communities, and countries, sharing real-life experiences, fresh research, and personal stories that help start a global conversation. We’re big fans of Josh’s articles and notes—they’re fun to read, easy to follow, and packed with insights. Josh has a knack for breaking down complicated stuff into friendly, relatable advice.
Extra Focus is Jesse J. Anderson’s weekly newsletter—he’s an author, speaker, and ADHD advocate who genuinely gets it. Each week, Jesse shares realistic tips and useful strategies designed specifically for people living with ADHD. The content is intentionally short, easy to read, and practical, making it perfect for ADHD brains. If you’re looking for something helpful without the fluff, Extra Focus hits the spot.
Meredith Carder’s Substack explores life through the lens of ADHD, offering personal stories, reflections, and insights on navigating neurodivergence. It’s an honest and engaging space for those seeking relatable experiences and practical advice.
Adulting with ADHD is a newsletter that dives into the ups and downs of navigating adulthood with ADHD, blending personal experiences, insights, and practical strategies. It’s a space for neurodivergent folks to feel seen, understood, and empowered.
⭐ The Orbit’s Monthly Pick
Design Calendar (designcalendar.io) is a curated platform that collects and organizes design events from around the world in one convenient location. This valuable resource helps designers, creative professionals, and design enthusiasts discover conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and webinars relevant to their interests.
Tiimo is a beautifully designed planning app created with neurodivergent brains in mind. It helps users stay on top of routines, tasks, and daily structure with visual schedules, gentle reminders, and easy-to-use customization. Perfect for creatives with ADHD or anyone who benefits from extra support staying focused and organized—Tiimo turns time management into something that actually works with your brain, not against it.
📣 What’s New:
🎙️ Our Podcast: You can now stream it monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and right here on Substack. We’re really proud of this—it’s a huge milestone for our small (but mighty) team at The Orbit. Our first episode features a great conversation with filmmaker Martin Monk. Big shoutout to our amazing Sandra for making it all happen!
🏦 We’re Building a Notion Vault for You: We’re putting together a Notion hub filled with handpicked websites, resource lists, and tool recommendations—all in one place. It’s designed to make your creative life easier, faster, and more fun. First version’s landing soon, exclusively for Orbit subscribers.
🔦 Creative Spotlight Is Coming Soon: We’re kicking off a new series where we highlight inspiring creatives from around the world and showcase their work, stories, and creative life. If you know someone doing something cool—or are someone doing something cool—we want to hear about it. Hit reply or slide into our messages. Let’s put a little more light on the people who deserve it.
👋🏼 Final Words:
Thanks for orbiting with us. However your brain moves—fast, nonlinear, or somewhere in between—we’re glad you’re here. If you’re living with ADHD, finding your rhythm creatively, or simply trying to manage the day-to-day, know that you’re not alone in this space. We are all together in this Messy Minds Club.
Got thoughts, ideas, or half-finished projects you’re excited about? Hit reply. We’d love to hear what’s on your mind (even if it changes every five minutes).
Catch you next time,
The Orbit Crew
If you’d like to support our creative work, you can buy us a coffee (or a monster drink) at buymeacoffee.com/itstheorbit. 💫☕️
As a person with ADHD I really love and appreciate this content ❤️