Livia Farkas, Author at Weirdly Successful

In her free time, she enjoys stickers & planners, crochet & roller skates, and running around with her pet bunny Rumi.

Building Weirdly Successful’s Knowledge Systems

Livia is the architect behind Weirdly Successful’s knowledge infrastructure — creating the systems that help late-identified neurodivergent adults make sense of their experiences and find language for what they’ve always felt.

She created The Neurodivergent Glossary, an ever-growing encyclopaedia of neurodivergence-related terms designed to help people find answers using everyday words for their experiences—not medical jargon they haven’t yet learned. She also designed the content architecture that powers the entire website: a system that organises content by what someone is experiencing (focus, hearing, time), where they are in their journey (exploring, seeking diagnosis, recently diagnosed), and what they need to know (definitions, validation, practical strategies).

Currently, Livia is building the Weirdly Successful Learning Community: a custom-built peer support platform designed from the ground up for neurodivergent brains. Every element, from the onboarding process to the reaction buttons, has been designed to balance ADHD and Autistic accessibility needs.

Specialist Subjects

Neurodivergent adaptations for life and work · Dismantling harmful self-beliefs
Promoting self-compassion
Creating a life without the hustle

Background: 15 Years in Adult Education

Livia’s neurodivergent-focused work builds on 15 years as a productivity and lifestyle educator in Hungary, where she developed the frameworks, techniques, and teaching approach she now adapts for English-speaking neurodivergent audiences.

Book

That Traffic Light’s Not Getting Any Greener! (XXI. Század Kiadó, 2013; ISBN: 9786155373022) — National bestseller in Hungary, shortlisted for the Libri Golden Book Awards.

Publications

Éva Magazin (2014–2020), HVG Psychology (2019), Glamour (2019), Forbes Hungary (2017), Marie Claire Hungary (2013), Elle Hungary (2013), Cosmopolitan Hungary (2013)

TV & Radio

Livia has appeared as a productivity and lifestyle expert on Hungarian national television, including recurring segments on RTL Klub’s morning programme and appearances on TV2 and Duna World. She has been interviewed on Kossuth Rádió (Hungarian public radio), Klubrádió, and Jazzy.

Talks & Appearances

Livia has spoken at universities including the University of Debrecen, ELTE, Corvinus University, and the Balassi Institute; at professional conferences including the Mfor Marketing Conference, Digital Divas Conference, and Evolution Social Media Conference; and at a Google Ground roundtable on women in business. Her 2013 book tour included venues across Hungary and a reader meetup in London.

Awards

HVG GoldenBlog, Audience Award for urban:eve blog (2011, won)
Cosmopolitan Digital Divas, “Best Blog Design” (2012, won)
Glamour Women of The Year Hungary, “Blogger of the Year” (2014, nominated)

Latest from Livia

References

1↑ Dalton-Smith, S. (2017). Sacred rest: Recover your life, renew your energy, restore your sanity. FaithWords.

2↑ Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., Garbella, E., Menicucci, D., Neri, B., & Gemignani, A. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353

3↑ Asselmann, E., Rückert, F., Kische, H., Zenker, M., Pieper, L., & Beesdo-Baum, K. (2024). Cognitive, behavioral, and affective mechanisms underlying the efficacy of applied relaxation in reducing psychopathological symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, 6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjmad.2024.100055

4↑ Pruessner, L., Timm, C., Kalmar, J., Bents, H., Barnow, S., & Mander, J. (2024). Emotion regulation as a mechanism of mindfulness in individual cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9081139

5↑ Khir, S. M., Yunus, W. M. A. W. M., Mahmud, N., Wang, R., Panatik, S., Sukor, M. S. M., & Nordin, N. (2024). Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation in adults for stress, anxiety, and depression: A systematic review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 17, 345–365. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s437277

6↑ Hamdani, S. U., Huma, Z.-E., Zafar, S. W., Suleman, N., Baneen, U., Waqas, A., & Rahman, A. (2022). Effectiveness of relaxation techniques 'as an active ingredient of psychological interventions' to reduce distress, anxiety and depression in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-022-00541-y

7↑ Bradley, L., Shaw, R., Baron-Cohen, S., & Cassidy, S. A. (2021). Autistic adults' experiences of camouflaging and its perceived impact on mental health. Autism in Adulthood, 3(4), 320–329. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0071

8↑ Field, S. L., Williams, M. O., Jones, C. R. G., & Fox, J. R. E. (2024). A meta-ethnography of autistic people's experiences of social camouflaging and its relationship with mental health. Autism, 28(6), 1328–1343. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231223036

10↑ Rebours, C., Kostrubiec, V., & Kruck, J. (2026). Understanding social camouflaging in autistic adults: Integrating cognitive and psychosocial predictors. Autism, 30(6), 1452–1464. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261433985

11↑ Cage, E., & Troxell-Whitman, Z. (2019). Understanding the reasons, contexts and costs of camouflaging for autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 1899–1911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-03878-x

12↑ Isaac, V., López, V., & Escobar, M. J. (2024). Arousal dysregulation and executive dysfunction in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1336040

13↑ Strauss, M., Ulke, C., Paucke, M., Huang, J., Mauche, N., Sander, C., Stark, T., & Hegerl, U. (2018). Brain arousal regulation in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Psychiatry Research, 261, 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.043

15↑ Morris, S. S. J., Timmons, A. C., & Musser, E. (2023). An individualized, data-driven biological approach to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) heterogeneity. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 51, 1565–1579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01104-6

16↑ Du Rietz, E., James, S.-N., Banaschewski, T., Brandeis, D., Asherson, P., & Kuntsi, J. (2019). Autonomic arousal profiles in adolescents and young adults with ADHD as a function of recording context. Psychiatry Research, 275, 212–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.039

17↑ Crane, L., Goddard, L., & Pring, L. (2009). Sensory processing in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 13(3), 215–228. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361309103794

18↑ MacLennan, K., O'Brien, S., & Tavassoli, T. (2021). In our own words: The complex sensory experiences of autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52, 3061–3075. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3

19↑ Charlton, R., Entecott, T., Belova, E., & Nwaordu, G. (2021). "It feels like holding back something you need to say": Autistic and non-autistic adults' accounts of sensory experiences and stimming. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101864

20↑ Collis, E., Dark, E., Russell, A., & Brosnan, M. (2024). Self-report of restricted repetitive behaviors in autistic adults: A systematic review. Autism in Adulthood, 8, 47–67. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2023.0111

21↑ McCabe, C., Newbutt, N., Hutchinson, A., & Loetscher, T. (2025). Insights into sensory and relaxation preferences to inform the design of calming spaces and sensory rooms for autistic adults. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0088

22↑ Nwaordu, G., & Charlton, R. (2023). Repetitive behaviours in autistic and non-autistic adults: Associations with sensory sensitivity and impact on self-efficacy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54, 4081–4090. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06133-0

24↑ Trevisan, D. A., Parker, T., & McPartland, J. (2021). First-hand accounts of interoceptive difficulties in autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 3483–3491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04811-x

26↑ Fiene, L., Ireland, M. J., & Brownlow, C. (2018). The Interoception Sensory Questionnaire (ISQ): A scale to measure interoceptive challenges in adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48, 3354–3366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3600-3

27↑ Williams, Z., Suzman, E., Bordman, S. L., Markfeld, J., Kaiser, S., Dunham, K., Zoltowski, A. R., Failla, M. D., Cascio, C., & Woynaroski, T. G. (2022). Characterizing interoceptive differences in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 947–962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05656-2

28↑ Adams, K. L., Catmur, C., & Bird, G. (2026). Associations between autism and self-reported dimensions of interoception. Autism, 30, 1465–1477. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261434431

29↑ Hatfield, T., Brown, R., Giummarra, M., & Lenggenhager, B. (2019). Autism spectrum disorder and interoception: Abnormalities in global integration? Autism, 23, 212–222. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317738392

30↑ Soler-Gutiérrez, A.-M., Pérez-González, J., & Mayas, J. (2023). Evidence of emotion dysregulation as a core symptom of adult ADHD: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280131

31↑ LeDoyen, G., Hahs-Vaughn, D., Brink, C., & Garcia, J. M. (2025). The relationships among habitual exercise, emotion regulation, and quality of life in college students with ADHD: A mixed-methods study. Journal of American College Health, 73, 3660–3670. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2439863

32↑ Ogrodnik, M., Karsan, S., Malamis, B., Kwan, M. Y. W., Fenesi, B., & Heisz, J. (2023). Exploring barriers and facilitators to physical activity in adults with ADHD: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-023-09908-6

33↑ Yang, Y., Wu, C., Sun, L., & Luo, J. (2024). The impact of physical activity on inhibitory control of adult ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health, 15. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.15.04025

34↑ Sbarra, D., & Hazan, C. (2008). Coregulation, dysregulation, self-regulation: An integrative analysis and empirical agenda for understanding adult attachment, separation, loss, and recovery. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 12, 141–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868308315702

35↑ Azhari, A., Rai, A., & Chua, Y. H. V. (2025). A systematic review of inter-brain synchrony and psychological conditions: Stress, anxiety, depression, autism and other disorders. Brain Sciences, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15101113

36↑ Asher, M., Hochner, H., Bar-Shalita, T., & Agmon, M. (2026). Difficulties in emotion regulation mediate the association between sensory over-responsiveness and motor coordination symptoms in community-dwelling midlife adults: A cross-sectional analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1779854

37↑ Van Den Boogert, F., Klein, K., Spaan, P., Sizoo, B., Bouman, Y., Hoogendijk, W., & Roza, S. (2022). Sensory processing difficulties in psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 151, 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.020

38↑ Sharfi, K., Rosenblum, S., & Meyer, S. (2022). Relationships between executive functions and sensory patterns among adults with specific learning disabilities as reflected in their daily functioning. PLOS ONE, 17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266385

40↑ Nagai, Y., Cavanna, A., & Critchley, H. (2009). Influence of sympathetic autonomic arousal on tics: Implications for a therapeutic behavioral intervention for Tourette syndrome. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 67(6), 599–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.06.004

41↑ Drury, H., Wilkinson, V. J., Robertson, M., & Channon, S. (2016). Self-reported emotion regulation in adults with Tourette's syndrome. Psychiatry Research, 245, 157–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.026

Glossary Entry

decompressing

Decompressing refers to engaging in activities or behaviours that allow a person to relax, unwind, and alleviate stress or sensory overload.

This term is particularly significant in the neurodivergent community as we often experience heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli, leading to increased stress and anxiety levels.

Making sure to have time to decompress after especially taxing …

Glossary Entry

transitions

Transitioning, in the context of neurodiversity, refers to the process of moving from one state, activity, or place to another. It involves a shift in attention, focus, and cognitive resources.

For neurodivergent individuals, it may require additional time, support, and strategies to manage effectively.

Transitioning can encompass a wide range of changes, from minor daily shifts like moving …

Glossary Entry

context switching

Context switching refers to the cognitive process of shifting attention between different tasks or mental states. It involves disengaging from one task and engaging in another, requiring the brain to change its focus, rules, and objectives.

This process can be mentally taxing due to the cognitive load involved in stopping one task and starting another, shifting gears to focus on the new task, and …

Article

The Weird Winter Holiday Workbook – a neurodivergent-friendly Christmas-ish planner

There are lots of winter holiday planners out there. Not a lot of them are particularly ADHD, Autism or neurodivergence-friendly, though! So we created this one to reduce holiday stress, hassle and overwhelm so you can: Waiting for you on the pages ahead is a combination of guided self-care and planning pages to help you …

Glossary Entry

ADHD tax

ADHD tax is a casual term used to describe the additional costs, both tangible and intangible, that ADHD individuals often face due to their neurodivergence, especially struggles due to executive dysfunction.

Glossary Entry

penguin pebbling

In a neurodivergent context, the expression is used to describe a common neurodivergent behaviour of people collecting and giving loved items to others - "this made me think of you, I think you'll like this, I thought this was pretty and I want you to have it".

Glossary Entry

info dumping

Info dumping is the casual name referring to the act of sharing an extensive amount of information, usually about a subject or topic the person is extremely passionate about.

Glossary Entry

double empathy

The double empathy problem is a concept in neurodiversity studies that suggests a mutual misunderstanding between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals.

Glossary Entry

deep pressure

Deep pressure is a natural sensory need where firm, consistent pressure (like heavy blankets or tight hugs) helps tension melt away from your body. Many people naturally seek this through things like snug clothing or curling up under blankets - it's your nervous system's way of finding calm and comfort.

Glossary Entry

ARFID

ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It is characterized by highly selective eating habits, often to the point of nutritional deficiency. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body image or weight. Instead, it's typically related to sensory sensitivity, fear of adverse consequences (like choking or vomiting), or a lack of interest in eating.

Glossary Entry

ADHD paralysis

ADHD paralysis is a form of executive dysfunction.

It refers to the difficulty in initiating, continuing, or completing tasks, even when the person understands the urgency and importance, and also has the ability to do the task. ADHD paralysis can be triggered by various factors, including overwhelm, anxiety, or the perceived complexity of a task.

Article

I didn’t think I was neurodivergent – until I learned what it really means

"How did no one ever notice??"

The amount of times this sentence is heard in our house, along with the dramatically exaggerated waving of arms, would definitely qualify for a sitcom catchphrase.

You see, reader, I'm what they call "late-diagnosed".

"Late" is relative, of course. For ADHD, "late diagnosis" can mean anything from above 60 for those above 60 to 25 for those who are 25. For Autism, …