From Stuck to Started: Executive Function & ADHD Coaching to Take Action

Do you have personal finance goals, but you’re not sure where to start? Does the idea of creating a budget feel overwhelming? Managing finances requires all of your executive function skills & special expertise, so we have a neurodivergent money coach joining us on the podcast today!

I had so much fun talking with Stephanie Berman - she makes budgeting less intimidating, normalizes impulse spending, and shares realistic strategies you can start using today to feel more confident managing your money. 

About the guest Stephanie Berman: 

Stephanie is a money coach who equips fellow neurodivergents with skills needed to achieve financial freedom.  She specializes in budgeting basics and leading clients from overwhelm to “Oh! I get it!”  She draws wisdom from lessons learned the hard way, her journey from minimum wage to debt free living,  and her financial coach master training.  Recently diagnosed with ADHD & autism, she understands the neurodivergent tendencies toward overwhelm & impulsive buying.  Since she began her coaching career in 2018, her clients have paid off over a half million dollars in debt.  

• ADHD-friendly budgeting strategies that actually work
• How to manage money without shame or overwhelm
• Simple ways to track spending
• Tools and tips for reducing impulse buying
• How to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
• Why traditional budgets fail—and what to do instead
• How to use YNAB (You Need a Budget) for neurodivergent brains
• How to get Step-by-step support for building realistic money habits

Connect with Stephanie Berman: 

• Website & Free 7 Day ADHD Money Transformation Challenge: https://www.bermanbudgeting.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bermanbudgeting/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourneurodivergentmoneycoach/

About the host Sarah Lovell: 

Sarah is an executive function and ADHD coach who helps college students, professionals, and perfectionists get unstuck and take action in a way that works with their brains—not against them. With 11 years of experience and a background in social work, she combines practical tools with compassionate support so her clients can stop burning out, start making progress, and feel good doing it.

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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Do you have something you want to do, but you just can't start? In this episode, I share my own personal story of being stuck and the exact step-by-step formula I use (and teach clients!) to take action in a way that feels good. This episode will help you understand what’s really getting in the way (it may not be what you think)—and how to gently shift your mindset and choose tools that actually work for your brain. 

Want even more support getting unstuck? 

🎧Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast

Includes 5 short episodes + email support with tools, summaries, and checklists so you can take action and get unstuck

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between procrastination and stuckness
• How self-talk can sabotage your ability to get started
• Why perfectionism and “someday goals” keep us paralyzed
• A simple shift to turn a vague goal into an action plan

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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Does it feel like it's impossible to do anything “extra” because your day is so jam packed? In this episode, we’re talking about how tiny, intentional choices can create more ease in your daily life. From quick mindset shifts to simple habits, you’ll learn how to set future you up for success—without adding more stress to your plate.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How small decisions can reduce future stress
• The power of the Two-Second Rule and how to use it
• Why protecting your time isn’t selfish—it’s necessary (and simple ways to start protecting your time)
• How to start making small changes today that will pay off later

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version here: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/027

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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If your never-ending to-do list is stressing you out, it might be time for a new approach. Instead of constantly adding to a list that never seems to get shorter, what if you had a system that actually worked for your brain? In this episode, I’m sharing a fresh way to track everything you need to do—without the overwhelm.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why traditional to-do lists don’t always work (especially for ADHD brains)

✅ A new system to keep track of everything without feeling scattered

✅ How to work with your energy

✅ The power of visual organization and flexible planning

✅ Simple tweaks that make getting started on tasks easier 

Want support creating your own Bucket/Menu System? Join Stuck to Started and attend the “How to Keep Track of Everything on your Plate” Workshop on April 23rd

Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Get your Free ADHD Action Plan 
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version here: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/026

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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If you’ve ever stared at your never-ending to-do list, felt completely paralyzed, or ended the day feeling guilty about everything you didn’t finish, you’re not alone. 

To-do lists are supposed to help you stay organized, but what if they’re actually holding you back? 

In this episode, I’m breaking down why traditional to-do lists might not work for you. You’ll learn how to stop feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list and start using strategies that work with your brain, not against it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

✅ Why traditional to-do lists don’t work for many people 

✅ How vague tasks and unrealistic expectations create an overwhelming to-do list

 ✅ The real reason you struggle to prioritize and take action

 ✅ Simple strategies to make your to-do list actually work for you

 ✅ How to stop ending your day feeling guilty about what you didn’t finish

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version here: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/025

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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Do you ever end your day feeling like you didn’t get enough done, no matter how much you actually accomplished? 

In this episode, we’re diving into the reasons behind this all-too-common feeling, from impossible expectations to executive functioning challenges like time blindness and prioritization struggles. 

I share 5 practical strategies to help you shift your mindset, plan more effectively, and finally start giving yourself the credit you deserve.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why our brains focus on what we didn’t do rather than what we did
• How perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking contribute to overwhelm
• 5 actionable strategies to help you reality-check your to-do list and feel more accomplished

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog Version of the Podcast
• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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Have you ever spent hours researching the perfect planner, rewriting an email 10 times before hitting send, or waiting for the right time to start a project? You might think it’s perfectionism, but what if it’s actually executive dysfunction?

In this episode, I break down how perfectionism and executive dysfunction overlap, why both can keep you stuck, and how to recognize what’s really holding you back. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to identify whether it’s perfectionism, executive dysfunction, or both—and what to do next.

✅ How perfectionism and executive dysfunction create a cycle of avoidance

✅ The difference between procrastination, perfectionism, and task paralysis

✅ How time blindness makes perfectionists wait for the perfect time

✅ Why searching for the “best” system can actually be procrastination

✅ A practical way to recognize what’s really keeping you stuck

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version of this episode here: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/023

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

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Is perfectionism keeping you from doing the things you WANT to do? I’m breaking down how perfectionism sneaks into your hobbies, creativity, and daily life, keeping you from experiencing full joy. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to recognize where perfectionism is stealing your joy—and how to take back control with small, simple shifts. 

✅ The sneaky ways perfectionism holds you back from things that bring you joy

✅ Why perfectionists struggle with hobbies, creativity, and trying new things

✅ The difference between healthy standards vs. perfectionistic fear

✅ How to shift your mindset and stop waiting for the “perfect” time

✅ A simple challenge to help you start doing things just for fun

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Sign up for the FREE ADHD Action Plan Private Podcast
• Join the ADHD Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version of this episode here: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/022

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

Perfectionism isn’t just about high standards; it’s about fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of not being good enough. I break down why our brains avoid discomfort and, more importantly, how we can retrain our thinking to push through. By the end of this episode, you’ll have actionable strategies to move past avoidance and take that first step—whether it’s asking for help, tackling a big project, or simply getting started.

✅ The hidden connection between perfectionism, ADHD, and procrastination

✅ Why avoiding discomfort keeps you stuck in task paralysis

✅ How to reframe discomfort as part of growth, not something to fear

✅ The difference between being stuck vs. procrastinating (and why it matters!)

✅ A mindset shift that makes starting tasks easier and less overwhelming

Host: Sarah Lovell, Executive Function & ADHD Coach

Resources Mentioned:

• Free training: Creating a Formula to Overcome Procrastination and Get Unstuck 
• Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version of this episode: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/021

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background

If you find yourself overthinking, overdoing, or avoiding things because of perfectionism - this episode is for you. I dive into what’s really hiding underneath perfectionism, how it leads to overthinking, avoidance, and burnout, and most importantly—how to shift your thinking. I also share a story about a circus unit in my middle school gym class that has stuck with me to this day. 

✔️ The hidden fears underneath perfectionism (and why they hold you back)

✔️ Why perfectionism and executive dysfunction create a cycle of overwhelm

✔️ The difference between striving for excellence vs. being trapped by perfectionism

✔️ How to adjust expectations without feeling like you’re "lowering your standards"

✔️ A simple mindset shift to stop overthinking and take action

Resources Mentioned:

• Free training: Creating a Formula to Overcome Procrastination and Get Unstuck 
• Coaching Membership: Stuck to Started
• Read the blog version of this episode: https://www.executivefunctioningfirst.com/podcast/020

Connect with Sarah Lovell: 

• Website: Executive Functioning First
• Instagram: @executivefunctioningfirst

Music by: AudioCoffee, Inspirational Background