Why you freeze when it’s time to start (and how to finally get unstuck).

Today I'm unpacking the difference between procrastination and paralysis -- and what’s really going on in your ADHD brain when you can’t make yourself begin.

I’ll take you inside a real coaching session where we:

🔥 unpacked what was really going on beneath that frozen, “I just can’t start”  moment

🔥 uncovered small shifts that helped my client (and could help you) get moving again without the guilt or shame.

If you’ve ever sat down to write progress reports, opened your laptop, and just stared at the screen, frozen, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn

• The real difference between procrastination and paralysis and why it matters.
• How to spot when your executive functioning (task initiation, emotional regulation, response inhibition, etc) is the real culprit.
• Why “just start” is the least helpful advice for ADHD brains — and what actually helps instead.
• How I coached my client “Beth” through a documentation spiral (and how you can use the same process).
• A few small but powerful ways to pause, regulate, and move forward — even when your brain wants to bail.

If This Resonates…

If this hit home, I’d love to help you work through your own version of “I just can’t start.”

🗓 Book a free 1:1 consult — we’ll figure out what’s really keeping you stuck and how to work with your brain, not against it.
 

Resources & Links

📌 Book a free 1:1 consult → https://cutt.ly/ywVWsPy5

🎧 Related Episodes:
Ep. 45 - Conquering Procrastination: Strategies for SLPs
Ep. 62 - Overcome Procrastination With This Simple Strategy
Ep. 120 - Executive Functioning and Productivity: What Every SLP Needs to Know
Ep. 121 - Why Documentation Feels Impossible (and What to Do About It)
Ep. 122 - The ADHD Burnout Cycle (and How to Break It)

👥 Join the FB group → SLP Support Group

📝 Download the ADHD-friendly handout that goes with this episode 

Keywords

ADHD paralysis, procrastination vs paralysis, overwhelmed SLP, executive dysfunction, ADHD documentation tips, time management for SLPs, ADHD productivity coaching, neurodiversity and work

Progress over perfection, always.

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Have you ever pushed yourself to the limit -- skipping sleep, meals, or anything that doesn’t feel “urgent” -- in order to crush your To-Do List… and then crashed for days? You’re not alone. It’s ADHD Awareness Month, and in the third episode of this four-part series, we’re unpacking the Overdrive-to-Burnout Cycle—why it happens (even if you don’t have ADHD) and how to finally step out of it without losing your drive.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the go-go-go-then-crash pattern isn’t a time management issue (and what it really is instead).
• How dopamine, interest-based nervous systems, and executive functioning shape this burnout cycle.
• The role of interoception (aka, your ability to notice what your body’s telling you) in preventing burnout.
• How to spot early warning signs before your body forces you to stop.
• Realistic ways to interrupt the pattern—without losing your drive or productivity.

Progress over perfection, always.

If This Resonates…
If you’re ready to stop swinging between overdrive and shutdown, I’d love to help. Book a free consult and we’ll map out how to build sustainable productivity that actually works for your brain. You’ll leave with a clear plan and real next steps.

📌 Book a free 1:1 consult → https://cutt.ly/ywVWsPy5

🎧 Related Episodes:
Ep. 53 - Navigating Burnout: Should You Leave Your SLP Job?
Ep. 97 - This is What They Didn't Teach Us About Being an SLP
Ep. 103 - Burnout or Bad Fit? The Question That Could Change Your Career
Ep. 109 - Is Your Relationship With Time Fueling Your Burnout?
Ep. 115 - Crushing It or Just Masking? The Hidden Burnout Plaguing SLPs

👥 Join the FB group → SLP Support Group

Keywords: ADHD burnout cycle, executive dysfunction, ADHD productivity, overwhelmed SLP, neurodivergent time management, ADHD rest, ADHD energy regulation, productivity coaching for SLPs

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

If the word documentation makes your eye twitch, you’re not alone.
In this episode, I unpack why staying caught up on notes, IEPs, and reports feels so hard—especially for those of us with ADHD—and what you can actually do about it. This isn’t about shame or hustle; it’s about understanding your brain, working with it, and ditching the “perfect system” that never lasts longer than a week.

What You’ll Learn

• Why documentation drains your energy (it’s not just about time).
• How executive functioning skills like initiation and prioritization impact your ability to get started.
• The sneaky trap of “productive procrastination” and how to spot it.
• ADHD-friendly strategies to make documentation simpler, faster, and more forgiving.
• The mindset shift that turns documentation from a stressor into a manageable routine.

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Executive functioning (EF) isn’t just something you teach your students or talk about in CEUs—it’s the invisible set of skills running your day. When those skills aren’t supported, everything feels harder: tasks pile up, priorities blur, and energy tanks fast. The good news? These skills can be strengthened, and small shifts can make a big difference in both work and home life.

What You’ll Learn

• 10 essential executive functioning skills (plus one bonus) and how they actually show up in daily life
• Real-world examples of how weak spots in EF skills impact productivity, energy, and focus
• Simple ways to identify where to start if everything feels overwhelming

If This Resonates…

Executive functioning challenges don’t mean you’re lazy or broken—they mean your brain needs support. That’s what coaching is for. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and finally feel more in control of your days, book a free consult. No pressure, just clarity.

📌 Book a free 1:1 consult → https://cutt.ly/ywVWsPy5
 👥 Join the FB group → Time Management for the Busy SLP

Progress over perfection, always.

Keywords:

executive functioning skills, ADHD and SLPs, overwhelmed SLP, productivity coaching, ADHD time management, work-life balance, emotional regulation, task initiation

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

You know that “Oh crap, the year's almost over” feeling? The pressure to squeeze twelve months of progress into three? If you're a human, chances are you've had some version of that pressure at some point in your life. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually possible to accomplish in 90 days…and what’s not worth stressing over. Spoiler: it’s not about magically curing burnout or rewriting your entire identity. It’s about momentum, self-trust, and setting up rhythms that actually stick.

Whether you’re closing out the year or just craving a reset, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to reframe the pressure of the “final 90 days” so it works for you, not against you
• The difference between unrealistic overhaul vs. realistic, sustainable shifts
• My 3-step process to make the most out of your 90 days
• Why building momentum (not perfection) is the smartest goal you can set
• The surprising mindset shift that makes the last stretch of the year feel lighter

If This Resonates…

If this hit home, I’d love to help you map out your own 90-day plan—one that doesn’t involve burnout, judgment, or chasing every shiny object. Book a free consult, hop into the FB group, and let’s keep this conversation going.

Resources & Links

📌 Book a free virtual consult → Schedule now
🎧 Related Episodes:
35. Want to Hit a Goal Faster? Try This
50. Plan Your Week With Me! 
54. Reflecting on the First Half of 2024: Journal Questions for SLPs

 👥 Join the FB group → SLP Support Group

Keywords:
90-day plan, ADHD productivity, overwhelmed SLP, executive dysfunction, end of year reset, sustainable routines, work-life balance, realistic goals

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Ever find yourself scrolling, watching, or listening to colleagues and thinking, “Why am I not there yet?”  You're not alone.  But here’s the thing: comparison doesn’t tell you anything about you. In this episode, I’m unpacking why our brains default to “compare and despair,” how it sometimes helps, and mostly how it gets in our way. If you’ve been questioning your progress against everyone else’s highlight reel, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn

• Why your brain is wired to compare—and why that’s not a character flaw
• The difference between productive and harmful comparison (and how to spot which one you’re doing)
• Coaching questions you can use to reframe the trap in the moment
• How to know if what you’re noticing is actually aligned with your goals, or just another shiny object
• A practical way to shift focus back to your own vision so you stop spiraling

Progress over perfection, always.

If this hit home, I’d love to help you quiet the noise and build a week that actually works for you. Book a free 1:1 consult and let’s figure out what balance looks like in your real life.

📌 Book a free 1:1 consult here
👥 Join the FB group here

Keywords
comparison trap, overwhelmed SLP, ADHD productivity, executive functioning, work-life balance, private practice stress, productivity coaching, stop comparing yourself

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Some days it feels like I’m living a double life. I’m in work mode -- teaching grad students or coaching SLPs -- and at the same time my brain is screaming about school picture day forms, dinner plans, or how to get the kids to practice on time. If you’ve ever felt like you’re straddling two boats (bad visual, but you get it), this episode is for you.

Today I’m talking about the mental gymnastics of switching between roles -- SLP, mom, partner, caregiver, all of it. And more importantly, why it feels so hard (spoiler: your brain isn’t broken, it’s human) and what we can actually do about it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why context switching drains your energy (especially for ADHD brains)
• How unrealistic expectations create guilt — and what to do instead
• 3 strategies to make the juggle feel less like chaos
• Mindset shifts that actually make strategies stick

If This Resonates…

If this hit home, I’d love to help you untangle the work-life blend in a way that actually works for you. Book a free consult—we’ll figure it out together.

📌 Book a free 1:1 consult here
👥 Join the free FB group here

Keywords:

work-life balance SLP, context switching ADHD, overwhelmed speech pathologist, executive functioning challenges, productivity for SLPs, ADHD time management, juggling work and family, strategies for balance

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Tired of setting up “perfect” systems that fizzle out by week two? You’re not broken...your systems just don't match your brain's way of thinking. In this episode, I walk you through three coaching lenses I use with clients to design ADHD-aware systems that actually stick. You’ll get simple questions to guide your setup and one killer tip that saves your future self time (and sanity).

What You’ll Learn:

• Why past systems fell apart (hint: misalignment, not laziness)
• The three coaching lenses that make systems brain-friendly:
  1. Access: Where would you naturally look for this later?
  2. Recognition: How should it be labeled so your brain identifies it fast?
  3. Organization: Do you work better with one hub or smaller, separate parts?

Quick Coaching Prompts (save these)

• Access: “What’s the first place I’d go to find this?”
• Recognition: “How can I label/save this so I know what it is instantly?”
• Organization: “Do I want one master doc or many small docs—and which is easier on a low-energy day?”

Killer Tip (the one that changes everything)

As you build your system, keep a notepad or blank doc open and jot each step while you do it. Don’t worry about perfect order or wording—treat it as a working document you’ll refine over time. Momentum over memory.

Resources Mentioned

• Free virtual body-doubling on Tuesdays at 12pm ET (Zoom) — sign up here 
• Facebook Group: Time Management for the Busy SLP
• Book a free consult: https://cutt.ly/ywVWsPy5
  
  

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

From the outside, you look fine. Maybe you’re the SLP who’s always polished, always on time, always hitting deadlines. Or maybe you’re the one quietly behind — reports late, notes piled up, emails unanswered — but still working hard to appear as if you’ve got it together.

Either way? It’s exhausting. And it’s what we call masking.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the hidden burnout so many SLPs are carrying — whether you’re overachieving to keep up appearances or working overtime just to look like you’re keeping up.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Two of the most common faces of masking for SLPs (and why both are unsustainable)
• Why masking feels safer in the moment, but silently drains your energy and confidence
• The overlap between ADHD, executive dysfunction, and masking in professional life
• How to recognize the gap between what people see and what you’re actually experiencing
• Practical ways to loosen the mask and reclaim authenticity — without shame and without burning everything down

If you’ve ever thought things like, “They think I’m doing great… but if they only knew...” or "How is it that everyone else can keep up and I'm over here drowning..." this episode is for you. You are not alone, and you don’t have to keep pushing through silently.

📌 Resources & Links:

• 💬 Book a free 1:1 consult → If you’re tired of keeping up appearances while struggling behind the scenes, I can help. Let’s talk about how coaching can support you.
• 🎧 Related Episodes:
  • Ep. 112: ADHD, Self-Trust, & the Follow-Through Problem No One Talks About
  • Ep. 113: Why ADHD Makes You Freeze -- and How to Finally Get Unstuck
• 👥 Join the free FB group → Time Management for the Busy SLP

Keywords: SLP burnout, ADHD masking, productivity for speech pathologists, executive dysfunction, work-life balance for SLPs, overwhelmed SLPs

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

You love your kids. You love summer. But right about now? You’ve had enough. The lack of structure, the endless snacks, the back-to-school forms piling up—it’s a lot. And if you’re feeling scattered, behind, or just plain wiped, you’re not failing. You’re human.

In this episode (pulled from a Facebook Live), I’m talking about what this season actually feels like for SLPs, why it’s so tricky for ADHD brains, and the mindset + systems shifts that can keep you afloat until routines return.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why this season feels so hard (hint: it’s not just you)
• The power of naming what’s happening out loud to defuse shame
• What it really means to be gentle with yourself—and how to build up to it
• My go-to strategy for B- work: the Minimum Viable Product approach
• Practical cues, reminders, and supports that actually help when life is chaos
• A quick mindset reframe that puts you back in the driver’s seat

Whether you’re trying to keep up with eval reports, school paperwork, or just laundry and snacks on repeat, this episode will help you feel less alone—and remind you that you do have options (none of which involve being perfect).

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.