Himal Mandalia
@himal.bsky.social
Digital government capability and systems change | Founder @ADHDPathfinding.org.uk | Former GOV.UK Head of Technology
himalmandalia.medium.com
himalmandalia.medium.com
How I look on the outside isn’t who I am on the inside.
January 4, 2026 at 3:59 PM
How I look on the outside isn’t who I am on the inside.
I took a little break from ADHD meds and it reminded me: they make it easier to do things but not everything is about doing.
January 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM
I took a little break from ADHD meds and it reminded me: they make it easier to do things but not everything is about doing.
Okay I’ve got used to this quiet period. At first I was restless but then I got into my groove with reading, writing, little walks, sleeps and much eating. It’s a cosy bubble and next week it gets popped because All The Things.
Sure I’m not the only one. Hold onto a little bubble is all I can say.
Sure I’m not the only one. Hold onto a little bubble is all I can say.
January 2, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Okay I’ve got used to this quiet period. At first I was restless but then I got into my groove with reading, writing, little walks, sleeps and much eating. It’s a cosy bubble and next week it gets popped because All The Things.
Sure I’m not the only one. Hold onto a little bubble is all I can say.
Sure I’m not the only one. Hold onto a little bubble is all I can say.
Three years ago when I started my travels in New Zealand, I got linked up with a runner by a mutual friend. We never managed to go for a run. But we have followed each other on Strava since. I’ll be back there in a month. I should try to make it happen.
January 2, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Three years ago when I started my travels in New Zealand, I got linked up with a runner by a mutual friend. We never managed to go for a run. But we have followed each other on Strava since. I’ll be back there in a month. I should try to make it happen.
Ordered myself a lovely fair isle jumper in the sales. First piece of clothing I’ve bought in over three years aside from socks and underwear. Need t-shirts too.
January 2, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Ordered myself a lovely fair isle jumper in the sales. First piece of clothing I’ve bought in over three years aside from socks and underwear. Need t-shirts too.
Over three years since these have been out. A dozen pairs of high quality shoes and boots and I’ve only unboxed half since settling into my place last May. Good footwear is the gift that keeps on giving.
January 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Over three years since these have been out. A dozen pairs of high quality shoes and boots and I’ve only unboxed half since settling into my place last May. Good footwear is the gift that keeps on giving.
Actually ended up re-reading this and it’s reminded me there are small joys to be found from leaning into the short, cold days. Soups. Being cosy. Extra sleeping. Reflecting.
Got couple of weeks and then it’s all change for a month as I’m down under.
Got couple of weeks and then it’s all change for a month as I’m down under.
January 1, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Actually ended up re-reading this and it’s reminded me there are small joys to be found from leaning into the short, cold days. Soups. Being cosy. Extra sleeping. Reflecting.
Got couple of weeks and then it’s all change for a month as I’m down under.
Got couple of weeks and then it’s all change for a month as I’m down under.
Happy new year! I lasted until 1130 but then dropped, even with fireworks going off. Opened window to crisp morning and breathing in 2026. First run of the year in a bit.
January 1, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Happy new year! I lasted until 1130 but then dropped, even with fireworks going off. Opened window to crisp morning and breathing in 2026. First run of the year in a bit.
2025 in photos Part 1.
December 31, 2025 at 10:37 PM
2025 in photos Part 1.
If you’d told me at the start of the year that a minister in a foreign government was going to be fast tracking my recommendations, verbatim, for a start small approach to digital transformation and cross government standards… I’d have peed my pants. But here we are. I done good.
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
If you’d told me at the start of the year that a minister in a foreign government was going to be fast tracking my recommendations, verbatim, for a start small approach to digital transformation and cross government standards… I’d have peed my pants. But here we are. I done good.
Spending NYE messaging with a friend I made in Wellington almost 3 years ago at the site of the “get off the road” scene from LotR.
“So I think I might be autistic…”
We’re still exchanging LotR memes 3 years later. Of course you are.
“So I think I might be autistic…”
We’re still exchanging LotR memes 3 years later. Of course you are.
December 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Spending NYE messaging with a friend I made in Wellington almost 3 years ago at the site of the “get off the road” scene from LotR.
“So I think I might be autistic…”
We’re still exchanging LotR memes 3 years later. Of course you are.
“So I think I might be autistic…”
We’re still exchanging LotR memes 3 years later. Of course you are.
One of the things I learned this year: much of transformation and change work is actually about managing anxiety. Yours and other people’s.
It needs emotional intelligence. But without emotional regulation there is no emotional intelligence.
That’s where I struggled in the past.
It needs emotional intelligence. But without emotional regulation there is no emotional intelligence.
That’s where I struggled in the past.
December 31, 2025 at 8:32 PM
One of the things I learned this year: much of transformation and change work is actually about managing anxiety. Yours and other people’s.
It needs emotional intelligence. But without emotional regulation there is no emotional intelligence.
That’s where I struggled in the past.
It needs emotional intelligence. But without emotional regulation there is no emotional intelligence.
That’s where I struggled in the past.
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Over the last six months we’ve been in discovery.
We’ve listened, published in the open and convened across the system to understand how ADHD care actually works, and where it doesn’t.
This post looks back on that first phase, and why we’re now ready to move from discovery into delivery in 2026.
We’ve listened, published in the open and convened across the system to understand how ADHD care actually works, and where it doesn’t.
This post looks back on that first phase, and why we’re now ready to move from discovery into delivery in 2026.
ADHD Pathfinding: From Discovery to Delivery
What we’ve learned from a year of listening, publishing, and convening, and why we’re moving into delivery next
medium.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Over the last six months we’ve been in discovery.
We’ve listened, published in the open and convened across the system to understand how ADHD care actually works, and where it doesn’t.
This post looks back on that first phase, and why we’re now ready to move from discovery into delivery in 2026.
We’ve listened, published in the open and convened across the system to understand how ADHD care actually works, and where it doesn’t.
This post looks back on that first phase, and why we’re now ready to move from discovery into delivery in 2026.
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Collecting together end of year reflections and some links.
A Year of Integration
Reflections on neurodivergence, systems, and returning to work on different terms
himalmandalia.medium.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Collecting together end of year reflections and some links.
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Wrote this to pull together all the processing, acceptance and integration that happened this year. Did so much of it in the open right here. Then it slowed down.
This feels like closing the loop.
This feels like closing the loop.
Retconning My Life After an ADHD Diagnosis
How processing in the open helped me learn, regulate, and integrate
medium.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Wrote this to pull together all the processing, acceptance and integration that happened this year. Did so much of it in the open right here. Then it slowed down.
This feels like closing the loop.
This feels like closing the loop.
It wasn’t.
What a difference a year makes.
What a difference a year makes.
I’m sure my executive functioning is in one of these boxes.
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 AM
It wasn’t.
What a difference a year makes.
What a difference a year makes.
This all worked out.
New Year’s resolutions (carrying over from this year):
- Find somewhere to live
- Find work
- Find somewhere to live
- Find work
December 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
This all worked out.
I just got paid! First income since April 2022. It feels kind of nice.
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I just got paid! First income since April 2022. It feels kind of nice.
Love this period between Christmas and new year. So liminal. Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Look ahead. Many possible futures peacefully coexisting.
Mulling over ideas for talk next May and realising so many of the pieces are already there. Australia will be a good break to sharpen. And my book… yes.
Mulling over ideas for talk next May and realising so many of the pieces are already there. Australia will be a good break to sharpen. And my book… yes.
December 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Love this period between Christmas and new year. So liminal. Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Look ahead. Many possible futures peacefully coexisting.
Mulling over ideas for talk next May and realising so many of the pieces are already there. Australia will be a good break to sharpen. And my book… yes.
Mulling over ideas for talk next May and realising so many of the pieces are already there. Australia will be a good break to sharpen. And my book… yes.
Being offered some other work out of the blue. A good opportunity to use my "how I work" post, especially the section on the conditions I need to do my best work. It isn't just a blog post, it's a decision making framework.
himalmandalia.medium.com/how-i-work-c...
himalmandalia.medium.com/how-i-work-c...
December 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Being offered some other work out of the blue. A good opportunity to use my "how I work" post, especially the section on the conditions I need to do my best work. It isn't just a blog post, it's a decision making framework.
himalmandalia.medium.com/how-i-work-c...
himalmandalia.medium.com/how-i-work-c...
Flying to Australia/NZ for a month in couple of weeks and still not booked anything beyond first two weeks. And I'm totally fine with that. Going to take it very easy.
December 29, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Flying to Australia/NZ for a month in couple of weeks and still not booked anything beyond first two weeks. And I'm totally fine with that. Going to take it very easy.
Collecting together end of year reflections and some links.
A Year of Integration
Reflections on neurodivergence, systems, and returning to work on different terms
himalmandalia.medium.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Collecting together end of year reflections and some links.
Haven’t worn my jeans since Tuesday. They’ve somehow shrunk around the waist.
December 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Haven’t worn my jeans since Tuesday. They’ve somehow shrunk around the waist.
Never thought I’d say this but I can’t eat any more cheese.
December 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Never thought I’d say this but I can’t eat any more cheese.