Tools I recommend
The tools Eefje Gilbert uses daily in her practice or recommends to clients, grouped by stimulus regulation, focus and recovery. Not a webshop, not a sponsored selection: just things that work. They don't replace coaching, but they make daily life a little more bearable.
These are products I use daily in my practice and in my own life, or that I recommend to clients. Not a full webshop, not a sponsored selection. Just things that work.
I work as a horse-assisted coach and trauma specialist with neurodivergent adults. Most of the clients who come to me are high-masking women with ADHD, autism or a combination. Outwardly they function perfectly well. But their nervous system pays the bill.
These tools are no substitute for coaching or therapy. They make daily life a little more bearable. Sometimes that's enough to create room for the real work.
Stimulus regulation
Overstimulation isn't a matter of “just dialling it down”. Your nervous system responds to sound, light, touch and busyness, often faster and more intensely than you consciously notice. The products below help regulate the input without shutting you off from the world.
Loop Quiet earplugs (~€25) The earplugs I recommend most often. They dampen ambient noise by 27 dB without making everything sound muffled. Suitable for the office, the supermarket, public transport, or simply when you need quiet. Reusable, discreet and comfortable. I use them daily myself.
Loop Engage earplugs (~€35) For moments when you do want to hear what is being said, but want to dampen the background noise. Conversations, meetings, social situations. Especially welcome if you notice you're exhausted after group conversations.
Noise-cancelling headphones (~€250–350) A good pair of over-ear headphones is an investment that pays for itself. For focused work, travel, or when you need a stimulus-free cocoon.
Focus and structure
Neurodivergent brains often struggle with sense of time, task switching and holding on to structure. Not through lack of discipline, but because the brain experiences time differently. These tools make time visible and tasks manageable.
Time Timer MOD (~€35) A visual timer that shows you how much time is left, through a red disc that shrinks. Simple and effective. I use several: on my desk, in the coaching room, and in the kitchen. For clients with ADHD this is often a breakthrough.
Time Timer WASH (~€15) The small version, meant for routines. Handy for morning and evening routines, or for anyone who loses track of time the moment water is involved.
Fidget tools for adults Fidgeting isn't a distraction, it's regulation. It keeps your hands busy so your brain can focus better. Choose something silent that suits what you need: movement (ONO Roller), tactile (Tangle) or magnetic (Stimagz). There are always a few lying around in my practice.
Recovery and calming
Your nervous system needs recovery time. Not only sleep, but also moments of deep pressure, darkness or weight. From polyvagal theory we know that this kind of input activates the parasympathetic nervous system. In plain language: it helps your body come out of alarm mode.
Weighted blanket (~€50–120) A weighted blanket (5–10% of your body weight) activates deep pressure receptors and stimulates the release of oxytocin. The effect is comparable to being held firmly. Many of my clients report better sleep and less night-time restlessness.
Weighted lap pad (~€25–40) The same effect as a blanket, but for your lap. Handy at your desk, on the sofa, or in the car. Less conspicuous than a blanket, just as effective.
Blackout sleep mask (~€15–30) For light-sensitive sleepers. Look for one that puts no pressure on your eyes (a cup shape) and blacks out well. Small difference, big effect on sleep quality.
Are you a coach or support worker?
If you work with neurodivergent clients, you can also use these tools in your own practice. In my Train-the-Trainer programme we devote a whole module to practical adaptations for neurodivergent coachees.
This page contains affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission if you buy something through these links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use myself or know from my practice. My recommendations are not influenced by the commission.
