Podcast Summary: “Why I drove 1600 miles to relax my ADHD brain”

Podcast: Overcoming Distractions – Thriving with ADHD, ADD
Host: David A Greenwood (often addressed as “Dave”)
Episode: Why I drove 1600 miles to relax my ADHD brain
Date: September 5, 2025

Overview

In this solo episode, Dave Greenwood—ADHD entrepreneur, author, and coach—discusses the pivotal role of slowing down and seeking quiet time as an essential tool for managing ADHD, especially for busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and those with demanding careers. Using his own annual 1,600-mile solo road trip as a case study, Dave explores why creating intentional “off-grid” time can be transformative for emotional regulation, productivity, decision making, and creativity. He shares the mental benefits of extended solitude, offers practical alternatives, and encourages listeners to find their own ways to reset their minds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Value of Pausing and Quiet Time for the ADHD Brain

• ADHD and Constant Activity: Dave explains that ADHD brains are wired for rapid movement—jumping from task to task, meeting to meeting, rarely pausing to process.
• The False Belief of ‘No Time’: Many professionals with ADHD feel they don’t have time to slow down, but this mindset actually feeds stress, panic, and burnout (03:05).
• Slowing Down Is Essential: Dave argues intentionally taking time away “can be an enormous game changer for those of us with those busy brains” (03:57).

The 1,600-Mile Road Trip: Why and How

• Purposeful Long Drive: He describes the annual Boston-to-Michigan drive to visit a client, preferring it over a quick flight because it offers dedicated “windshield time”—solitude and reflection (04:40).
• Opportunity for Reflection: On the road, Dave alternates between listening to audiobooks and driving in complete silence, letting thoughts percolate and gaining new clarity (06:46).
  • Quote: “I could put on the radio, I could put on books, audio books... but a lot of time I just sat there driving... looking at the cornfields with nothing on at all. And it really just gave me an opportunity to kind of sort things out and give me some clarity.” (06:46)
• Other Personal Quiet Spaces: Walks around a lakeside loop near his home and even sitting in a deserted parking garage before networking events (08:10).
  • Quote: “I would drive down to the bottom floor of the parking garage, and I would sit there for, like, a half hour by myself... Dead silence.” (07:52)

Key Benefits of Slowing Down for ADHD Professionals

1. Reduces Mental Overload

• Slowing down helps ease the “constant motion” of ADHD and clear the “mental traffic jam” that builds up:
  • Quote: “I think just taking a few minutes to stop or even longer chunks of time... helps us kind of clear out that... ‘mental traffic jam’” (10:36)

2. Boosts Clarity and Focus

• Extended quiet leads to intentional thinking instead of reactive firefighting; clarity helps distinguish what matters from noise.
  • Quote: “When we live in reactive mode, over and over again... that’s fuel for getting to burnout. And we don’t want to get there.” (12:33)
• Quiet blocks allow for breakthroughs, pattern spotting, and “aha” moments that are hard to access in daily chaos.

3. Encourages Creative Problem-Solving

• Time in nature or solitude (like lakeside walks) consistently leads to problem resolution and new ideas:
  • Quote: “If things were bugging me or I had a challenge in my business... by the time I got back to my car, I always solved a problem.” (13:35)
• The ADHD brain needs space for creativity to “blossom and emerge,” connecting dots in ways that only downtime allows.

4. Supports Emotional Regulation and Builds Resilience

• Distance from challenges enables more measured reactions and healthier stress responses.
  • Quote: “Taking time away, it creates that kind of distance right from the challenges and allows you to react, I think, in a different way.” (15:21)
• Regular reflection fosters resilience and helps mitigate burnout.

5. Strengthens Self-Trust and Recognizes Achievements

• Regular, solo quiet time allows appreciation of progress and achievement—critical for ADHDers who tend to focus on problems.
  • Quote: “When I work with people... we always spend even a few minutes just talking about what were your wins.” (16:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People thought I was nuts, but I go out to see them probably once a year. And I drive… out from Boston to Michigan and back is easily 1600 miles. And I’ve only flown once—I hated it.” (04:30)
• “You got to find your own spot, you got to find your own road trip, you got to find your own parking gar[age].” (09:37)
• “Creativity and innovation… those big ideas just rarely happen in the middle of those back to back meetings, right? They emerge [in] that quiet space where your brain is just free to wander and chill out.” (17:56)
• “It also encourages creative problem-solving.... The ADHD brain needs that space to like, blossom and emerge.” (13:32)
• “Time alone can actually be a good thing—as long as you don’t lock yourself in your bedroom for six months.” (17:25)
• “If you can’t do [a big road trip], at least find somewhere to chill out and slow your brain down in nature.” (18:45)

Actionable Advice

• Find Your Quiet Zone: Whether it’s a long drive, a walk in nature, or secluded parking garages, identify your own sanctuary for uninterrupted reflection.
• BreaktheReactiveCycle: Use long blocks of solitude to move from panic-firefighting to strategic, long-term thinking.
• Make It a Habit: Dave recommends at least an annual “reset trip” but emphasizes the value of regular, even brief, quiet experiences.
• Track Your Successes: Use downtime to recognize personal and professional wins, not just focus on fixing problems.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Notes/Quotes | |------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 01:04 | Introduction to episode theme | Why Dave took a 3-week break for a road trip | | 04:19 | Motivation for annual Michigan drive | “Windshield time” as brain-reset | | 06:46 | Road trip reflections and routines | “Driving down the highway, looking at cornfields...” | | 08:10 | Other personal quiet spaces | Lake walks, parking garage solitude | | 09:37 | Encouragement to find your own quiet time | “Find your own spot, your own road trip…” | | 10:36 | Benefits: mental overload and decision fatigue| “Mental traffic jam” analogy | | 12:33 | Benefits: clarity, focus, and burnout | Dangers of living in reactive mode | | 13:32 | Benefits: creativity and problem-solving | “The ADHD brain needs that space…” | | 15:21 | Benefits: emotional regulation and resilience | “Distance… allows you to react in a different way” | | 16:05 | Benefits: self-trust and achievement | “What were your wins?” | | 17:15 | Recap: self-alone time vs. family vacations | “Time alone can actually be a good thing…” | | 17:56 | Final encouragement and practical takeaways | “Big ideas rarely happen in… back-to-back meetings.” | | 18:45 | Practical advice for listeners | Road trip or find time in nature |

Summary Tone and Communicative Style

Dave’s delivery is candid, practical, and relatable, marked by a conversational, “let’s have a coffee together” warmth. He mixes humor and self-deprecation ("People thought I was nuts..."), and grounds all advice in personal experience, emphasizing experimentation and authenticity over perfectionism.

Useful for Listeners Who:

• Are ADHD professionals, small business owners, or entrepreneurs struggling with overload or lack of clarity.
• Want practical strategies (not just theory) for recharging mentally.
• Are seeking permission—and creative ideas—for pausing in the midst of hectic routines.

Bottom Line:
If you’re an adult with ADHD—or just a busy brain—deliberate, extended pauses and periodic retreats into quiet, solitary time aren’t luxuries; they’re key strategies for focus, innovation, and thriving amidst distraction. Find your own “road trip,” honor your need for space, and you’ll return better equipped for the challenges ahead.