3Spoonies On Creating a Flexible Schedule that Works: Community Questions

3Spoonies Episode Number 49.5, 26th february 2026 With Karen Duncan , Jo O’Neil and Claire Napper    In this community questions episode of 3Spoonies, we’re answering real listener questions about creating a flexible schedule that actually works in real life — especially when you’re disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, or living with fluctuating energy. Flexible scheduling is often talked about as a productivity hack, but for many of us it’s about survival, sustainability, and protecting our health. In this episode, we unpack what flexibility really looks like when your capacity changes day to day — and why rigid “perfect routines” often make things worse, not better. This episode is gentle, practical, and grounded in lived experience — no hustle culture, no toxic productivity, and no pretending that flexibility means “doing everything whenever you want.” If you’ve ever felt like scheduling advice wasn’t made for your body or brain, this one’s for you.   Feel free to come and join us on any of our socials  Website - www.3spoonies.co.uk Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/3Spoonies Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/3spooniespodcast/  Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/3spoonies.bsky.social  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3spoonies  Newsletter Sign Up - Get the weekly episode straight to your inbox: https://subscribepage.io/Spoonieletter      If you’d like to find out more about our hosts; Jo O’Neil Website: https://bright-cat.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-oneil/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightCatBusiness    Claire Napper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-napper Website: www.blackveilstationery.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/Blackveilstationery   Karen Duncan Website: http://www.ponyponypony.co.uk  LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/PonyPonyPony  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PonyPonyPonyCourses    Sponsors A HUGE thank to our main episode sponsor:   Outside the Box: Neurodiverse Coaching and Mentoring® Supporting neurodivergent adults to finally thrive in a world that sees their brilliance Website: https://amandamckay.com/  Support Needs Wheel download: https://amandajharman.com/supportneedswheel/ Book a discovery call with AJ: https://calendar.app.google/DoCLrD9DhaFv3w7B8   Would you like to buy us a coffee? Check our Ko-Fi at Ko-fi.com/3spoonies   _____ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:28 Late Diagnosis and Self-Understanding 02:32 Recognising Neurodivergent Traits 03:46 Adjusting Expectations of Yourself 05:05 Working Differently, Not Wrong 06:28 Communicating Your Needs 07:49 Finding What Works for You 09:02 Letting Go of Internalised Pressure 10:35 Outro _____