I'm Busy Being Awesome - Sustainable Productivity for ADHD

Paula Engebretson - ADHD Productivity Coach
  • 4.9 (189)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

How do I increase my productivity and decrease distractions? Is it possible to reclaim my time? How can I get more organized? And can I do it all with ADHD? Welcome to the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast, where we dive into each of these questions and so much more. Every week, life coach and ADHDer Paula Engebretson brings you her best strategies to boost your productivity, manage your time, get organized, and follow through on your goals. Whether you're a fellow ADHDer, you identify with ADHD tendencies, or you simply want to take your productivity to the next level, this podcast is for you. Are you busy being awesome?

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 355: Low Motivation With ADHD? Consider This.

    ✨ Join the free training here ow motivation and procrastination are some of the most common ADHD challenges, but what's actually driving (or blocking) your motivation goes much deeper than you think. In this episode, ADHD coach Paula Engebretson breaks down the real mechanics of motivation, procrastination, and ADHD, and gives you a practical tool to take back control. Every action we take (or avoid) is driven by one of two directions: moving toward a feeling we want, or moving away from a feeling we don't want. For ADHD brains, the "away from" direction runs the show more often than we realize, and once you can see it, everything starts to shift. In this episode, you'll discover: The two directions of motivation we all navigate, and which one is most likely running your behavior right now How to identify the specific emotion underneath your motivation so you can stop spinning and start moving forward with intention A 4-step check-in tool to shift your thinking, generate the feeling you actually want, and take one small step forward, even on your hardest days Work With Me: Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Learn more about private coaching here Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains More ADHD Resources: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Discover my favorite ADHD resources Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline: 00:00 Relief And Motivation 01:54 Toward Vs Away Drives 03:14 Same Action Different Fuel 05:50 ADHD And Urgency 08:03 Name The Emotion 08:44 Overwhelm Example 09:57 Thoughts Create Feelings 11:59 Shift Thoughts Gently 14:39 Chasing Relief Trap 18:04 Four Step Check In 20:09 Try It This Week 21:03 Free Training 22:04 Wrap Up And Resources

    23 min

  2. MAY 11

    Episode 354: Forgetfulness and ADHD: Do This To Remember What Works

    ✨ Join the free training here We find something that works for our ADHD brains, and it feels like a win. Then we forget to use it. In episode 354 of the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast, we walk through five reasons ADHD brains lose track of strategies that genuinely help, plus one simple, low-effort system to help you build a bridge back to what works with more ease. The five real reasons ADHD brains "forget to remember" How to create a personalized Tool Card What "drift signals" are and how to use them to re-engage with what works Work With Me: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Learn more about private coaching here Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Forgetting to Remember 02:09 Welcome and Goal 02:45 The ADHD Strategy Cycle 05:14 Five Reasons We Forget 10:16 Stop the Shame Story 11:00 Build Your Tool Card 12:01 Choose One Focus 15:01 Give It a Reliable Home 16:07 Find Your Drift Signals 21:27 Try It This Week 22:41 Free Training 24:02 Wrap Up and Resources

    25 min

  3. MAY 7 ·  BONUS

    A Flexible Summer Strategy Your ADHD Brain Will Love

    ✨ Grab your free Intentional Summer Workbook + join the free workshop Summer has a way of slipping by before we even notice, especially for ADHD brains. In this bonus episode, we slow down and design your summer around how you actually want to feel, then build four types of flexible planning anchors to help you return to that feeling all season long. Plus, there's a free workshop and workbook to take it even further. Grab them here! In the Bonus Summer Episode, You Will Discover: How to identify two or three feeling words that will anchor your whole summer A step-by-step guide to get clear on what a truly good summer looks and feels like for you Four types of anchors to return to your ideal summer experience, no matter what your energy or schedule looks like Work With Me: Learn more about private coaching here Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Resources From This Episode: Free Intentional Summer Workbook + Workshop (May 21st) More ADHD Resources: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Discover my favorite ADHD resources Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Stay focused with brain.fm and get a 30-day free trial* This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Why Summer Feels Hard 00:20 The Plan  01:41 When Summer Slips Away 02:59 Sisters Summer Inspiration 04:50 Choose Your Summer Feelings 06:20 Free Workshop Invite 07:32 Spot Your Default Patterns 1 0:42 Visualization For Clarity 13:05 Pick Your Emotion Words 14:38 Build Flexible Anchors 15:58 Four Anchor Types 19:42 Anchor Example Connected 20:47 Your Next Steps 22:06 Wrap Up And Share

    23 min

  4. MAY 4

    Episode 353: ADHD Imposter Syndrome: Owning the Process That Works for You

    There's a sneaky version of imposter syndrome that lives specifically in the ADHD brain… and it has nothing to do with your results. Your process works. Your output is solid. So why does part of you still brace for the moment someone finds out how you actually get things done? In Episode 353, You Will Discover: The specific flavor of ADHD imposter syndrome that drains your energy before you even start — and why it shows up even when your results are strong The difference between workhorse and thoroughbred energy patterns, and how understanding your natural rhythm changes everything about how you work Four reflection questions to identify what you're hiding, what it's costing you, and how to build genuine permission to work your way — without apology Work With Me: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Learn more about private coaching here Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Resources From This Episode: Ep. 140: ADHD Imposter Syndrome – The 5 Competence Types & How to Challenge Them Ep. 287: ADHD Energy Levels – Workhorse vs. Thoroughbred More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Fear Your Process 02:05 Coaching Call Theme 03:54 Workhorse vs Thoroughbred 07:15 Unconventional Wins 08:34 Process Imposter Syndrome 10:57 Workhorse World Conditioning 11:41 Sprints and Recovery 14:52 Part Time Worry 17:42 When Process Needs Help 18:23 Webinar Block Example 18:46 Verbal Processing Breakthrough 19:50 Voice Actor Deadline Stress 21:20 Target Dates Not Deadlines 22:25 Stop Performing Productivity 23:07 Belief Mindset Emotional Trio 24:27 Spotting Imposter Thoughts 25:52 Owning Your Night Owl Flow 29:49 Why Belief Work Needs Support 31:05 Group Coaching Invitation 32:12 Questions To Claim Your Process 34:16 Wrap Up Quiz And Subscribe

    35 min

  5. APR 27

    Episode 352: Always Starting Over with ADHD? The Spiral Staircase of Growth

    Have you ever looked at a pattern you thought you'd "fixed" — maybe you fell back into all-or-nothing thinking, or perfectionism returned, or you found yourself avoiding the very thing you spent weeks building a habit around — and your ADHD brain quietly offers this thought: "Here we go again. After all this. I'm right back where I started." This episode has your name on it. Real ADHD growth rarely moves in a straight line, and understanding why changes everything. In Episode 352, You Will Discover: Why ADHD brains feel like they keep returning to the same patterns (and why you're not actually back at square one) The Spiral Staircase Model of growth and what it really means for your ADHD journey Three reflection questions to help you recognize and learn from the progress you've made Work With Me: Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Learn more about private coaching here Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Here We Go Again 02:03 Growth Is Not Linear 04:20 Spiral Staircase Model 07:11 Catching Old Patterns 08:56 Client All Or Nothing 11:51 Noticing Quiet Progress 13:48 Reflection Questions 17:02 How To Take Action 19:09 Reframing The Moment 20:08 Wrap Up And Next Steps

    21 min

  6. APR 20

    Episode 351: The Hidden Reason You Can't Turn Off | ADHD & Burnout

    Do you find yourself trying to rest, but your ADHD brain is mentally sprinting through your entire to-do list? There's a belief running quietly underneath every productivity system you've ever tried, and it's the real reason your ADHD brain can't relax. It's time to learn how to rest with ADHD. In episode 351, you'll discover: Where the "rest must be earned" belief actually comes from, and why it made complete sense at the time The four hidden costs of this belief and its connection to ADHD burnout Five concrete moves to loosen its grip so you can finally be present in the life you've built Work With Me: Learn more about private coaching here Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Resources From This Episode: Episode 310: The Work is Never Done + How To Accept Unfinished Work Episode 334: ADHD Relaxation: Why Traditional Rest Doesn't Work & What Does More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Why Rest Feels Impossible 01:40 The No Rest Rule 03:41 Roadmap to Rest Episodes 05:11 Name the Belief 08:19 Where It Comes From 13:00 Guilt Lazy Worth Layers 16:25 The Hidden Costs 22:53 Coaching 24:23 Notice the Water 28:32 Five Practices to Shift 36:18 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    40 min

  7. APR 13

    Episode 350: The ADHD Productivity Framework: The One Thing Your ADHD Brain Needs to Get Unstuck

    👉 Download the free Podcast Roadmap: https://imbusybeingawesome.com/map You've tried every planner, every productivity hack, every "just write it down" system — and none of them stuck. This is because most productivity systems weren't built for the ADHD brain. After 350 episodes and thousands of hours coaching, this is the framework I come back to again and again: Plan, Act, Complete. It's the ADHD productivity system that's both effective and sustainable. In this episode, you'll discover: The 3 stages where ADHD brains get stuck — and the specific traps at each one (time blindness, task initiation, the dreaded "last 5%") Simple supports to move through overwhelm and burnout without white-knuckling it How to honor your energy to ensure sustainable change without ADHD burnout Work With Me: Learn more about private coaching here Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Resources From This Episode: Episode 146: 10 Prioritization Traps That Keep The ADHD Brain Stuck Episode 219: What Is The ADHD Burnout Cycle? 6 Different Stages Episode 220: 7 Steps To Recover From ADHD Burnout Using 'Low Power Mode' Episode 319: 5 Ways To Stay Motivated After The Dopamine Drop Episode 327: ADHD Mental Fatigue or Resistance? How to Know Which One You're Experiencing Episode 338: I Never Finish Anything! ADHD & The Last 5% Episode 341: The Zeigarnik Effect & ADHD: How to Stop Spinning on Unfinished Tasks Episode 344: Why "Just Start" Never Works: ADHD Task Initiation Explained More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Framework Overview 05:31 Overwhelm And Burnout 09:25 Map The Stuck Point 12:17 Stage One Plan 21:44 Stage Two Act 28:18 Stage Three Complete 33:11 Coaching Invite 35:00 Energy Rhythms Recovery 40:11 Iteration Mindset 41:19 Wrap Up Next Steps

    44 min

  8. APR 6

    Episode 349: The 20 Second Rule Your ADHD Brain Will Love

    Get the Newly Updated Podcast Roadmap Here! You know that frustrating feeling where you know exactly what to do, but your ADHD brain just won't let you start? SAME. If you've ever had a habit you wanted to keep but somehow couldn't, or found yourself doing something on autopilot that you'd really like to stop, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about the 20-Second Rule: a deceptively simple framework for making good habits easier to start and unwanted habits just a little bit harder to access. The secret is in the friction. In this episode, you'll learn: What the 20-Second Rule is and why it works so well for ADHD brains How to identify the "friction" that's quietly derailing your best intentions Real-life examples of removing friction (and adding it) that actually work How to do a Friction Audit on your own habits — right now This is one of my favorite frameworks to use with coaching clients, and I think once you see it, you'll start spotting friction everywhere. Work With Me: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Learn more about private coaching here Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Resources From This Episode: The Happiness Advantage - Shawn Achor Episode 192: How Tiny Habits Create Lasting Change (Big doors swing on little hinges) More ADHD Resources: Discover my favorite ADHD resources Learn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD Brain Access the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning System Get the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast Roadmap Free course: ADHD Routine Revamp This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here. Leave IBBA A Rating & Review! If you enjoy the podcast, would you be a rockstar and leave a review? Doing so helps others find the show and spreads these tools to even more people. Go to Apple Podcasts Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews. Simply tap five stars; that's it! Bonus points if you're willing to leave a few sentences sharing what you enjoy about the podcast or a key takeaway from the episode you just heard. Thanks, friend! Chapter Outline 00:00 Tiny Glitch Big Habit 01:29 Why Friction Matters 02:05 Starting Small Explained 04:25 The 20 Second Rule  07:24 ADHD Friendly Reframe 10:09 Friction and Podcast Roadmap 12:03 What Friction Looks Like 14:28 Real Life Friction Fixes 19:26 Run Your Friction Audit 20:37 Key Takeaways and Next Steps 21:55 Wrap Up and Resources

    23 min
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How do I increase my productivity and decrease distractions? Is it possible to reclaim my time? How can I get more organized? And can I do it all with ADHD? Welcome to the I'm Busy Being Awesome Podcast, where we dive into each of these questions and so much more. Every week, life coach and ADHDer Paula Engebretson brings you her best strategies to boost your productivity, manage your time, get organized, and follow through on your goals. Whether you're a fellow ADHDer, you identify with ADHD tendencies, or you simply want to take your productivity to the next level, this podcast is for you. Are you busy being awesome?

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