If you’ve ever sat down to work and suddenly felt the urge to do literally anything else, you’re not lazy, your nervous system might be trying to protect you.

In this episode, I’m sharing why nervous system regulation is one of the most overlooked systems in executive functioning. Because even the best ADHD productivity tools, planners, or time management strategies won’t work if your brain doesn’t feel safe enough to use them.

We’ll talk about the connection between ADHD, executive functioning, and the nervous system, why emails and to-do lists can trigger fight, flight, or freeze, and simple nervous system regulation strategies you can use to get out of overwhelm and take action.

If you’ve ever experienced ADHD task paralysis, avoidance, or shutdown, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your brain and what you can do about it.

1. Why nervous system regulation is a foundational system for executive functioning
2. How fight, flight, and freeze responses show up in everyday ADHD situations like emails, to-do lists, and work tasks
3. Simple nervous system regulation strategies to help you move out of anxiety or shutdown
4. Why practicing ADHD coping tools before you need them makes it easier to use them when you’re overwhelmed

Resources:

1. Stop Doomscrolling & autopiloting to your phone with Brick -get 10% off when you purchase with this link!
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Website: Executive Functioning First
2. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I’m kicking off a new series all about creating simple systems for ADHD brains. If you’ve ever tried to start a new routine, productivity tool, or planning system and it didn’t work for you - it probably wasn’t the right system for you (and that’s okay!). I’ll walk you through how to rethink systems, why the wrong systems create frustration for ADHD and neurodivergent brains, and how to start experimenting with simple, flexible systems that support your executive functioning.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Why you already have systems in your life—even if you feel like you don’t
2. How the wrong systems (not your brain) often cause ADHD overwhelm and frustration
3. A simple way to think about executive function systems in everyday life
4. Why ADHD brains need a balance of structure and flexibility to make systems sustainable
5. Reflection questions to help you identify systems that are working—and where you might want to experiment with something new

Resources:

1. Stop Doomscrolling & autopiloting to your phone with Brick -get 10% off when you purchase with this link!
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Website: Executive Functioning First
2. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Do you ever feel stuck in that in-between where you’re not getting anything done—but you’re not actually resting either? I call this limbo, and it’s often driven by overthinking, decision fatigue, and overwhelm. In this episode, I walk you through why this happens and how to gently get yourself out of that stuck state without adding more pressure.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. What “limbo” actually is (and how to recognize it in your daily life)
2. How overthinking, decision fatigue, and overwhelm keep you stuck and feeling like you’re “wasting time”
3. The most common reasons you end up in limbo (including lack of structure and unclear plans)
4. A simple check-in question to help you decide between rest vs. action
5. How to take the smallest, most realistic step forward to build momentum without burnout

Resources:

1. Stop Doomscrolling & autopiloting to your phone with Brick -get 10% off when you purchase with this link!
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Website: Executive Functioning First
2. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

ADHD overwhelm can feel incredibly isolating—like everyone else has life figured out and you’re the only one struggling to keep up. In this episode, I’m joined by Ammaar Khan and Esteban Perez from ADHD Weasel for a thoughtful conversation about why ADHD overwhelm feels so heavy, why validation matters so much, and how feeling truly understood can change everything.

We talk about the power of community and gentle strategies that actually work in real life. If you’ve ever thought “is it just me?”—this conversation is for you.

1. Why ADHD overwhelm often comes with shame and a sense of feeling alone
2. How feeling seen and understood can reduce ADHD overwhelm before any strategy is applied
3. Why validation is a crucial (and often missing) part of ADHD support
4. How ADHD Weasel helps adults with ADHD move from overwhelm to clarity with actionable strategies
5. A gentler way to navigate ADHD overwhelm without trying to overhaul your entire life

About ADHD Weasel:

The ADHD Weasel is a newsletter for adults who spent decades thinking they were broken. Started by two ADHDers, Ammaar Khan and Esteban Perez, ADHD Weasel delivers validation and helpful strategies to over 19,000 subscribers. With signature "Apply It" worksheets that turn insight into action, The ADHD Weasel bridges the gap between clinical diagnosis and daily life. Subscribe today at www.adhdweasel.com/subscribe

Connect with ADHD Weasel:

Website: https://www.adhdweasel.com/

Threads: @theadhdweasel

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
2. Website: Executive Functioning First
3. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners - We Start March 2nd, 2026! Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to apply!

Have you ever finished a full workday feeling busy but wondering where your time actually went? In this episode, I’m breaking down the hidden ways women business owners — especially those with ADHD or overwhelmed brains — lose hours every week, and why it’s not a willpower or discipline problem. If you want more ease, energy, and realistic time management for women business owners, this episode will help you start seeing your time differently.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. The 5 most common “time leaks” impacting time management for women business owners
2. Why decision fatigue, perfectionism, and overthinking quietly drain your time and energy
3. How ADHD brains experience task switching and why it can cost you hours each week
4. How to create realistic, brain-friendly systems that actually work for a women business owner lifestyle
5. Simple ways to start reclaiming time without working harder or pushing yourself toward burnout

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Apply for Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
3. Website: Executive Functioning First
4. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners - We Start March 2nd, 2026! Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to apply!

If you’re a woman business owner with ADHD who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in procrastination, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down why so many women entrepreneurs wait for the “perfect time” to take action and why it’s rarely just perfectionism. We’ll talk about executive functioning, burnout, and how to move forward in a way that actually feels supportive and sustainable in your business.

1. Why women business owners with ADHD procrastinate—even when they’re motivated and excited
2. How self-talk, fear of failure or success, and past burnout keep you stuck
3. The executive functioning challenges (like time blindness and prioritizing) that make starting feel so hard
4. Why “someday goals” are especially tricky for ADHD entrepreneurs
5. Practical strategies to take aligned action in your business without burning out

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Apply for Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
3. Website: Executive Functioning First
4. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners

Do you have something in your business that you want to do, but you just can’t get yourself to start? It keeps popping into your head — “I should do that thing” — and yet you feel completely paralyzed. That’s not procrastinating. You’re stuck.

This episode will help you understand why you get stuck. By the end of this episode you’ll have a simple formula you can use to build a toolbox of strategies that will help you take action in your business in a way that feels supportive, realistic, and sustainable.

You built your business because you love what you do and you’re really good at it. You deserve systems & tools that fit your brain & your business.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Why women business owners with ADHD get stuck, even when they care deeply about their work and have strong motivation
2. How executive dysfunction keeps you stuck in your business
3. Simple ways to figure out why you’re stuck and feeling overwhelmed
4. ADHD-friendly strategies to stop procrastinating in your business and get unstuck without burning out or forcing yourself
5. How to take action in your business in a way that works with your ADHD brain
6. What it really means to get unstuck as an ADHD woman business owner and why it doesn’t require more discipline or motivation

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Apply for Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
3. Website: Executive Functioning First
4. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners

Prioritizing is one of the hardest executive function skills, especially for women business owners juggling clients, projects, and personal life. In this episode, I break down why prioritizing is so challenging and share five practical questions you can use to coach yourself through overwhelm, get started, and make meaningful progress in your business.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Why prioritizing feels impossible, even when you care deeply about your business and your clients.
2. How energy, excitement, and decision fatigue impact time management for women business owners.
3. A practical, flexible approach to choosing what to work on as a woman business owner without getting stuck in “shoulds.”
4. 5 actionable questions to help you prioritize as a woman business owner and take action today
5. How setting boundaries and saying no can give you space for the priorities that truly move your business forward.

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Apply for Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners
2. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
3. Website: Executive Functioning First
4. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners

Have you ever finally had some free time… only to feel totally overwhelmed and not sure how to use it? In this episode, I’m talking about why open time can feel surprisingly stressful especially if you’re a woman business owner and how to make your free time feel more supportive instead of overwhelming. If time management feels harder when you’re in charge of your own schedule, this one’s for you.

1. Why free time often leads to overwhelm, indecision, and analysis paralysis
2. How executive functioning challenges impact time management for women business owners
3. Why uncertainty leads to inaction (and how to create clarity for yourself)
4. Simple, realistic strategies to decide what to do with free time and actually get started
5. How to balance structure and flexibility so your schedule supports your energy, not drains it

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
2. Website: Executive Functioning First
3. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learn more about Ideas to Action: A 12-Week Executive Function Group Coaching Program for Women Business Owners

This episode kicks off a 5-part series all about entrepreneurship, executive functioning, and building a sustainable business without burning yourself out: “Be A Better Boss To Yourself”

January 2026 marks my 12th year as an executive function coach and my fourth year as a business owner! In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of how I accidentally started my business, the executive functioning challenges that surprised me the most, and what I’ve learned about being a better boss to myself along the way.

If you’re a woman business owner, this series is for you. And even if you’re not self-employed, you’ll still walk away with insights you can apply to your work, your time, and your life.

1. Why unstructured time can feel so overwhelming—and why it caught me off guard when I became self-employed
2. How hustle, perfectionism, and “I should be able to figure this out” thinking quietly lead to burnout
3. The three pillars of my Get Unstuck Formula (self-talk, systems, and support) and how they show up in my real life as a woman entrepreneur
4. Why being a “good boss to yourself” requires strong executive function skills, mindset shifts, and boundary setting
5. How and why my business has shifted into a more sustainable, life-first business

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Connect with Sarah Lovell:

1. Get your Free ADHD Action Plan
2. Website: Executive Functioning First
3. Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

I use affiliate links for my fave products that I use and trust. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.