Life is joyful, stressful, chaotic, and never seems to slow down. Between the laundry, emails, deadlines, and all the things you want to make time for (like rest, hobbies, or time with your people), it’s no wonder your brain feels maxed out. In this episode, I’m diving into the messy reality of overwhelm, why it shows up, how it snowballs, and what you can do when it feels like too much.

I’ll share gentle mindset shifts, questions to reflect on, and real-life examples (including my own) to help you process your overwhelm with a little more self-compassion.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why overwhelm hits differently when you have ADHD or executive functioning challenges
• The “something goes up, something has to go down” mindset shift
• How to spot (and stop) the habit of comparing yourself to a past version of you
• Questions to ask when you're in survival mode and need to re-center
• Reframes and reminders to support yourself when overwhelm takes over

Resources Mentioned:

• Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the Blog here

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Have you ever tried to take the most efficient route… only to end up creating more work for yourself? In this episode, I’m sharing a very real (and very soggy) story about how my attempt to save time ended with me falling into a lake. We’ll talk about why your brain chases efficiency, how it can actually drain your executive functioning, and how to create systems that help both current and future you.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why chasing efficiency can backfire (especially with ADHD)
• The difference between actual efficiency and avoiding discomfort
• 5 reflection questions to ask before taking a “shortcut”
• How to be more efficient with time without overwhelming yourself

Whether you're folding laundry, writing emails, or building a business, this episode will help you work more efficiently with ADHD by prioritizing sustainability over speed.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Private Podcast: The ADHD Action Plan
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version here

Connect with Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach:

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

Feeling stuck because you don’t know where to start? You’re not alone—and it’s not a motivation problem. In this episode, I’m diving into why uncertainty often leads to inaction (especially for ADHD brains that experience analysis paralysis) and sharing simple, ADHD-friendly executive functioning strategies to help you move forward when everything feels foggy or overwhelming.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why uncertainty leads to ADHD paralysis and procrastination
• How to take action when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unclear
• How executive functioning challenges make getting started harder (especially when there is uncertainty)
• 3 actionable strategies to navigate analysis paralysis, create clarity, and build momentum
• How to figure out what “done” actually looks like—so you can work backward

If tasks keep getting pushed off your to-do list because they feel too big or unclear, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free training: Creating a Formula to Overcome Procrastination and Get Unstuck
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version here

Connect with Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach:

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background