The Distracted Mind: Focus, Neurodiversity and the Power of Inclusive Workplaces
At PSR, we’re proud to share the voices of colleagues who are passionate about inclusion, wellbeing and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. This month, I’m pleased to introduce an insight from Samantha Graham, as the Social Value Advisor for PSR and parent of a neurodivergent child. Sam attended a session during Neurodiversity Celebration Week called “The Distracted Mind: Mastering Focus and Attention”, led by Dominika Pikul, Managing Partner at Brain Architects and here we explore her reflections, how it’s helped her personally, and why it matters for employers who want to build more inclusive and neurodiverse workplaces.
Sam Graham: What I Learned About Focus (and Myself)
When I joined the session “The Distracted Mind: Mastering Focus and Attention” during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I didn’t expect it to resonate so deeply. But as a parent of a neurodivergent child, it struck a chord and gave me tools I didn’t know I needed.
At AMS, we’re fortunate to have a wealth of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)—including the Disability & Neurodiversity ERG, where experts like Dominika share insights that benefit us all.
As someone who often feels like their own mind is juggling too many things, I found this session incredibly grounding. Dominika shared science backed insights into how our brains manage (or struggle with) attention, and how we can work with our brains instead of against them. One idea that stood out to me was that Your attention is a product and it’s constantly being bought, sold, and distracted.
Why Is This Important For Employers
Despite growing awareness, only 31% of neurodivergent people in the UK are in employment (Source: Gov.UK). That’s a huge untapped pool of talent and a clear call to action for employers to rethink how we recruit, support, and empower neurodivergent colleagues.
The Healthy Brain Platter
Dominika introduced the Healthy Brain Platter, a simple but powerful framework that outlines seven types of activity to support brain health and focus. It’s certainly helped me rethink how I structure my time.
- Focus Time – Deep work on challenging tasks
- Play Time – Creative or spontaneous activities
- Physical Time – Movement to boost mood and cognition
- Connect Time – Social interaction and bonding
- Down Time – Letting the mind wander and relax
- Sleep Time – Restorative rest to recharge
- Insight Time – Reflecting on thoughts and feelings
Learning about this made me reflect on how I spend my time, and I realised I’d been neglecting downtime and insight time. Making space for these has helped me feel more balanced and sharpened my ability to focus.
What’s Helped Me Most
Research shows that nearly 6 in 10 people struggle to focus for even 30 minutes without getting sidetracked, and 79% get distracted within just an hour. It’s a reminder that distraction is a shared challenge and one we can learn to manage better.
Here are a few small but powerful changes that have made a big difference for me:
- Turning my phone upside down – simple, but game changing
- Using rituals like headphones to signal “focus mode”
- Letting go of guilt around downtime – it’s not laziness, it’s brain maintenance!
- Recognising that menopause, stress, and sleep all impact focus – and that’s ok
Tips for Employers: Building Neuroinclusive Workplaces
If you’re an employer or hiring manager, here are a few practical ways to support neurodivergent talent, drawn from experts like Auticon and CIPD:
- Rethink recruitment: Use structured interviews and clear job descriptions to reduce bias
- Offer flexibility: Allow for different working styles, environments and communication preferences
- Create psychological safety: Foster a culture where people feel safe to disclose and ask for support
- Focus on strengths: Neurodivergent individuals often bring unique skills in problem solving, creativity and pattern recognition
- Provide tools and training: Platforms like Unmind (which PSR offer to contingent workers) can support mental wellbeing for all
Want to Learn More?
- Neurodiversity in the Workplace – Auticon
- Neuroinclusion at Work – CIPD Guide
- The Distracted Mind – Book by Adam Gazzaley & Larry Rosen
Sharing this during Disability Pride Month feels especially meaningful. It’s a reminder that neurodiversity isn’t a shortfall, it’s a different operating system. And with the right tools, we can all learn to work with our distracted minds, not against them.
