Dani Donovan: How to get stuff done when you don’t feel like it

Episode 210 with Dani Donovan

“I either get 30 minutes worth of work done in 8 hours or 8 hours worth of work done in 30 minutes — those are the only two options.”

Dani is an ADHD content creator, speaker, and the celebrated author of “The Anti-Planner: How to Get Sh*t Done When You Don't Feel Like It.”

Dani became an overnight sensation when a flowchart she drew mapping out her winding, ADHD storytelling style went viral on Twitter. Since then, she has built a massive community by bringing radical vulnerability, humor, and data visualization to the neurodivergent experience. She’s spoken at major companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Adobe, and she is the founder of The Anti-Boring Project.

We dive deep into misconceptions about ADHD, including being told you are “too smart to have ADHD.” Dani shares her story of growing up with teachers who dismissed her mother's ADHD inquiries because she was getting good grades.

We also explore the magic behind visual storytelling for ADHD brains, why traditional productivity systems tend to fail us, and how the “Anti-Planner” organizes strategies based on your current emotional resistance — such as feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unmotivated.

Plus, Dani shares some exclusive details about an exciting new app she is prototyping!

Key topics discussed:

How teachers dismissed her ADHD symptoms because she was "too smart"The therapist who recognized Dani’s ADHD through her communication styleGrowing up questioning authority and fighting unfairnessWhy ADHD brains connect with infographics and memesHow a workplace joke became a career-defining momentFinding people with matching scars and shared experiencesThe Anti-Planner origins: From business field guide to revolutionary productivity systemThe five categories of executive dysfunction (stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, disorganized, discouraged)Perfectionism vs. Experimentation: Permission to keep quitting and trying new approachesExclusive preview of Dani’s upcoming ADHD productivity app

Website: anti-planner.com

Instagram: @danidonovan

Tiktok: @danidonovan