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
Hadn’t seen @jessbuildstech.bsky.social in years. Turns out they’re moving to Melbourne and just arrived last night. Small world!
January 24, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Hadn’t seen @jessbuildstech.bsky.social in years. Turns out they’re moving to Melbourne and just arrived last night. Small world!
Australia has its issues with race, but the fact that I don’t get dirty looks or people’s threat detection flaring up just for having a brown face and beard is refreshing. Reminds me of what the UK, even London used to be like.
It’s pretty bad back home lately. I don’t take it personally.
It’s pretty bad back home lately. I don’t take it personally.
January 23, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Australia has its issues with race, but the fact that I don’t get dirty looks or people’s threat detection flaring up just for having a brown face and beard is refreshing. Reminds me of what the UK, even London used to be like.
It’s pretty bad back home lately. I don’t take it personally.
It’s pretty bad back home lately. I don’t take it personally.
This is the trip. I catch up with people but otherwise I sit, think, write, wander and eat nice things. Very occasional calls for work stuff but with clear boundaries.
Weather and environment make such a difference.
Weather and environment make such a difference.
January 23, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This is the trip. I catch up with people but otherwise I sit, think, write, wander and eat nice things. Very occasional calls for work stuff but with clear boundaries.
Weather and environment make such a difference.
Weather and environment make such a difference.
Love riding Melbourne trams.
January 23, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Love riding Melbourne trams.
When leaders struggle to step back systems become anxious.
Care without restraint can unintentionally get in the way. People optimise for approval, heroics get normalised, and autonomy disappears.
Sometimes the most supportive thing a leader can do is create space and let others step forward.
Care without restraint can unintentionally get in the way. People optimise for approval, heroics get normalised, and autonomy disappears.
Sometimes the most supportive thing a leader can do is create space and let others step forward.
Regulation Before Rescue
Why restraint, not heroics or rescue, sets the ceiling for sustainable change
himalmandalia.medium.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:44 AM
When leaders struggle to step back systems become anxious.
Care without restraint can unintentionally get in the way. People optimise for approval, heroics get normalised, and autonomy disappears.
Sometimes the most supportive thing a leader can do is create space and let others step forward.
Care without restraint can unintentionally get in the way. People optimise for approval, heroics get normalised, and autonomy disappears.
Sometimes the most supportive thing a leader can do is create space and let others step forward.
Everything I started last year but taking a step or two back. That’s this year. Restraint.
Do I need it more than it needs me? Am I in the way?
Just because I have capacity doesn’t mean it should get filled up. I need to leave space. For my life to happen. Otherwise what’s the point?
Do I need it more than it needs me? Am I in the way?
Just because I have capacity doesn’t mean it should get filled up. I need to leave space. For my life to happen. Otherwise what’s the point?
January 20, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Everything I started last year but taking a step or two back. That’s this year. Restraint.
Do I need it more than it needs me? Am I in the way?
Just because I have capacity doesn’t mean it should get filled up. I need to leave space. For my life to happen. Otherwise what’s the point?
Do I need it more than it needs me? Am I in the way?
Just because I have capacity doesn’t mean it should get filled up. I need to leave space. For my life to happen. Otherwise what’s the point?
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Could this be you folks?
Come hang out with me, and a load of other lovely ADHD-ers who are working towards our vision of a society where ADHD is understood, supported, and never a barrier to thriving. 🤩
Come hang out with me, and a load of other lovely ADHD-ers who are working towards our vision of a society where ADHD is understood, supported, and never a barrier to thriving. 🤩
We're looking for two part-time volunteers with lived experience of ADHD: a Content Designer and Graphic Designer.
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Could this be you folks?
Come hang out with me, and a load of other lovely ADHD-ers who are working towards our vision of a society where ADHD is understood, supported, and never a barrier to thriving. 🤩
Come hang out with me, and a load of other lovely ADHD-ers who are working towards our vision of a society where ADHD is understood, supported, and never a barrier to thriving. 🤩
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
We're looking for two part-time volunteers with lived experience of ADHD: a Content Designer and Graphic Designer.
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:56 AM
We're looking for two part-time volunteers with lived experience of ADHD: a Content Designer and Graphic Designer.
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
Both roles are flexible (4–6 hours/week).
Want to help us prototype a guidance service and build our new website and visual identity? Email: adhdpathfinding@googlegroups.com
Last few times I was in Sydney I dismissed it as “not a serious place.” All everyone wants to do is go to the beach or the pub. So shallow etc.
That says more about my dysregulated mindset than the place. Really it’s just a place designed to reduce friction so people can enjoy their lives.
I am.
That says more about my dysregulated mindset than the place. Really it’s just a place designed to reduce friction so people can enjoy their lives.
I am.
January 19, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Last few times I was in Sydney I dismissed it as “not a serious place.” All everyone wants to do is go to the beach or the pub. So shallow etc.
That says more about my dysregulated mindset than the place. Really it’s just a place designed to reduce friction so people can enjoy their lives.
I am.
That says more about my dysregulated mindset than the place. Really it’s just a place designed to reduce friction so people can enjoy their lives.
I am.
Off to Kangaroo Valley for a wedding and then tomorrow night Melbourne! But first I might have just enough time for a quick run across Sydney harbour bridge.
January 19, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Off to Kangaroo Valley for a wedding and then tomorrow night Melbourne! But first I might have just enough time for a quick run across Sydney harbour bridge.
There’s something about boundaries I realised not that long ago. Seems obvious now:
it’s not about conserving energy for the things you’re doing. It’s about leaving enough space for what might happen or what you’d miss otherwise.
Increased capacity isn’t there just to be filled up.
it’s not about conserving energy for the things you’re doing. It’s about leaving enough space for what might happen or what you’d miss otherwise.
Increased capacity isn’t there just to be filled up.
January 18, 2026 at 10:50 PM
There’s something about boundaries I realised not that long ago. Seems obvious now:
it’s not about conserving energy for the things you’re doing. It’s about leaving enough space for what might happen or what you’d miss otherwise.
Increased capacity isn’t there just to be filled up.
it’s not about conserving energy for the things you’re doing. It’s about leaving enough space for what might happen or what you’d miss otherwise.
Increased capacity isn’t there just to be filled up.
There’s a quiet and healthy grief in growing emotionally beyond where some people can join you.
There’s empowerment in setting boundaries that protect energy for what you want.
And choosing environments where you can thrive, without regulating simply to exist, is absolutely non-negotiable.
There’s empowerment in setting boundaries that protect energy for what you want.
And choosing environments where you can thrive, without regulating simply to exist, is absolutely non-negotiable.
January 18, 2026 at 1:42 AM
There’s a quiet and healthy grief in growing emotionally beyond where some people can join you.
There’s empowerment in setting boundaries that protect energy for what you want.
And choosing environments where you can thrive, without regulating simply to exist, is absolutely non-negotiable.
There’s empowerment in setting boundaries that protect energy for what you want.
And choosing environments where you can thrive, without regulating simply to exist, is absolutely non-negotiable.
A wet run around Sydney. Actually better than searing heat.
January 18, 2026 at 12:01 AM
A wet run around Sydney. Actually better than searing heat.
Another day in Sydney. It’s rainy but I quite like it.
Run. Brunch. Read. Maybe write. Chill. No socials today.
Run. Brunch. Read. Maybe write. Chill. No socials today.
January 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Another day in Sydney. It’s rainy but I quite like it.
Run. Brunch. Read. Maybe write. Chill. No socials today.
Run. Brunch. Read. Maybe write. Chill. No socials today.
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Writing a lot about systems and change lately.
It started when I almost fell back into a bad habit: doing an org design no one asked for, with no authority to drive it.
I caught myself and flipped it: what do good conditions look like? That led to a few posts. A body of work seems to be emerging.
It started when I almost fell back into a bad habit: doing an org design no one asked for, with no authority to drive it.
I caught myself and flipped it: what do good conditions look like? That led to a few posts. A body of work seems to be emerging.
January 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Writing a lot about systems and change lately.
It started when I almost fell back into a bad habit: doing an org design no one asked for, with no authority to drive it.
I caught myself and flipped it: what do good conditions look like? That led to a few posts. A body of work seems to be emerging.
It started when I almost fell back into a bad habit: doing an org design no one asked for, with no authority to drive it.
I caught myself and flipped it: what do good conditions look like? That led to a few posts. A body of work seems to be emerging.
In systems under pressure, people labelled “disruptive” or “perfectionists” are often early warning signals. And often the ones most likely to burn out.
When psychological safety and cognitive capacity are low, effort replaces capacity, heroics
become infrastructure and burnout becomes normalised.
When psychological safety and cognitive capacity are low, effort replaces capacity, heroics
become infrastructure and burnout becomes normalised.
The Cost of Noticing First
Why regulation determines whether early signals become insight or burnout
himalmandalia.medium.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:58 AM
In systems under pressure, people labelled “disruptive” or “perfectionists” are often early warning signals. And often the ones most likely to burn out.
When psychological safety and cognitive capacity are low, effort replaces capacity, heroics
become infrastructure and burnout becomes normalised.
When psychological safety and cognitive capacity are low, effort replaces capacity, heroics
become infrastructure and burnout becomes normalised.
Reposted by Himal Mandalia
Something I’ve learned the hard way about change work:
Revealing everything at once can overwhelm people when the cognitive capacity or authority to hold ideas doesn’t exist yet.
Transformation is as much about pacing and regulation as it is about ideas.
Revealing everything at once can overwhelm people when the cognitive capacity or authority to hold ideas doesn’t exist yet.
Transformation is as much about pacing and regulation as it is about ideas.
Progressive Disclosure Is Leadership
Why timing, safety, and restraint matter more than brilliance
himalmandalia.medium.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Something I’ve learned the hard way about change work:
Revealing everything at once can overwhelm people when the cognitive capacity or authority to hold ideas doesn’t exist yet.
Transformation is as much about pacing and regulation as it is about ideas.
Revealing everything at once can overwhelm people when the cognitive capacity or authority to hold ideas doesn’t exist yet.
Transformation is as much about pacing and regulation as it is about ideas.
Lovely Sydney brunch spot recommended by friend but so noisy. Sat at bar, quickly realised it was overwhelming. Couldn’t think or write. Said I’d have to leave but they found me a quiet table outside.
In the past:
1. My own head would’ve been too noisy to notice.
2. I wouldn’t have said anything.
In the past:
1. My own head would’ve been too noisy to notice.
2. I wouldn’t have said anything.
January 16, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Lovely Sydney brunch spot recommended by friend but so noisy. Sat at bar, quickly realised it was overwhelming. Couldn’t think or write. Said I’d have to leave but they found me a quiet table outside.
In the past:
1. My own head would’ve been too noisy to notice.
2. I wouldn’t have said anything.
In the past:
1. My own head would’ve been too noisy to notice.
2. I wouldn’t have said anything.
I wrote a blog post last year reflecting on my career break, burnout and learning to slow down. Business Insider picked it up and reached out to interview me for a broader piece.
Himal Mandalia was worried about explaining his career break on his resume, but it helped him deal with emotional baggage, accept himself, and finally start to slow down.
I took a career break to travel in my 40s, but even that exhausted me. I reparented myself — and finally learned to slow down.
Himal Mandalia was worried about explaining his career break on his resume, but it helped him deal with emotional baggage, accept himself, and finally start to slow down.
www.businessinsider.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I wrote a blog post last year reflecting on my career break, burnout and learning to slow down. Business Insider picked it up and reached out to interview me for a broader piece.
I decided to take a one hour nap at 1400 and now it’s 0200. Oops. Forgot to set alarm. Okay phone down, carry on snoozing.
January 15, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I decided to take a one hour nap at 1400 and now it’s 0200. Oops. Forgot to set alarm. Okay phone down, carry on snoozing.
I’ve been travelling for over 24 hours but now in Sydney and very glad to be here.
January 15, 2026 at 12:11 AM
I’ve been travelling for over 24 hours but now in Sydney and very glad to be here.