The Efficiency Advantage

Juli Shulem
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Business

In this podcast of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem shares the heart behind her 40+ years of helping people get more done with less stress and more joy. Juli explains why productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters with clarity and purpose. She also reveals why she started this podcast, what you can expect each week, and how simple tools, mindset shifts, and practical strategies can transform overwhelm into confidence and control. If you want a calmer, more intentional, and more productive life, this episode sets the foundation for your journey. 

  1. 1d ago

    Organize NOW for More Relaxing Holidays LATER

    Send us Fan Mail The holidays arrive at the same time every year—so why do they still seem to catch us unprepared? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explains how a little organization now can reduce last-minute decisions, unnecessary searching, and holiday stress later. This isn’t about organizing your entire home or creating a picture-perfect holiday. It’s about identifying the areas that will have the greatest effect on your experience—whether that means preparing the kitchen, clearing the guest room, gathering gift-wrapping supplies, or organizing your calendar before it becomes overloaded. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why organization is about supporting the life you want to live • How clutter creates unnecessary decisions and drains your attention • Why trying to organize everything at once can lead to avoidance • How to choose the one area that will make the greatest difference • Why organizing your schedule may be more valuable than organizing a closet • How to turn intentions into plans by reserving time on your calendar • Practical strategies for people with ADHD or executive-function challenges • How preparing now can protect time for rest, family, and enjoyment later Your challenge is to choose one area that would genuinely improve your holiday experience if it were better organized. Then schedule a specific time to work on it. Don’t simply write it on a to-do list. Make room for it on your calendar. The goal isn’t to fit more into the holiday season. It’s to reduce the scrambling so you have more time and energy to enjoy it. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem: https://coachjuli.com/ Explore The Efficiency Advantage: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ Watch the video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJuliShulem If this episode helped you prepare for a calmer holiday season, subscribe and share it with someone who always finds themselves scrambling at the last minute. #HolidayOrganization #HolidayStress #GetOrganized #HolidayPlanning #TimeManagement #ProductivityTips #ExecutiveFunction #ADHDOrganization #DeclutteringTips #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  2. Oct 27

    The Emotional Cost of Living With ADHD with our guest Christina DeBernad

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when years of being called lazy, disorganized, irresponsible, or too sensitive become part of how you see yourself? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem welcomes back Christina DiBernardo, founder of Expressive Connections Mental Health Counseling and a board-certified biofeedback specialist. Juli and Christina explore an often-overlooked part of living with ADHD: its emotional cost. They discuss how repeated criticism can turn a behavior—such as missing a deadline—into a painful belief about someone’s identity, including thoughts such as “I’m unreliable” or “Something is wrong with me.” Christina also explains why receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life can bring both relief and grief. Finally having an explanation can be validating, but it may also raise difficult questions about missed support, past criticism, and what life might have looked like with an earlier diagnosis. In this episode, you’ll discover: • How repeated criticism can shape an adult’s self-concept • Why a late ADHD diagnosis may bring relief, grief, anger, or disappointment • The difference between understanding ADHD as a reason and using it as an excuse • Why emotional dysregulation is an important but frequently overlooked part of ADHD • How frustration or criticism can feel intensely threatening • Why high achievers with ADHD may still struggle with anxiety and burnout • How nervous-system regulation supports organization and executive functioning • Why recognizing your body’s early stress signals matters • How self-compassion creates room for meaningful change • How therapists and ADHD coaches can provide different forms of support If you recognize yourself in this conversation, begin with curiosity instead of criticism. Pay attention to how your body responds to stress. Do sounds seem louder? Does your heart rate increase? Are you holding your breath or clenching your muscles? Recognizing those early signals may help you respond before stress turns into overwhelm or emotional overload. Self-compassion does not mean avoiding responsibility or letting yourself off the hook. It means replacing “What is wrong with me?” with “What is happening, and what support would help?” About Christina DiBernardo: Christina DiBernardo is the founder and executive director of Expressive Connections Mental Health Counseling, a group practice serving clients throughout New York State. Her work focuses on nervous-system regulation, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, burnout, and the challenges experienced by high-achieving adults. Connect with Christina: Website: https://expressiveconnectionsmhc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-dibernardo Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem: https://coachjuli.com/ Explore The Efficiency Advantage: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ Watch the video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJuliShulem If this conversation helped you better understand the emotional experience of ADHD, subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with someone who may need the reminder that a challenge is not a character flaw. #AdultADHD #ADHDInAdults #EmotionalDysregulation #LateDiagnosedADHD #ADHDAwareness #ADHDMentalHealth #ADHDBurnout #ExecutiveDysfunction #NervousSystemRegulation #SelfCompassion #ADHDCoaching #MentalHealthAwareness #ChristinaDiBernardo #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  3. Oct 20

    “But You Did It Yesterday!” — Why ADHD Performance Can Be So Inconsistent

    Send us Fan Mail Why can someone complete a task perfectly one day—then struggle with that same task the next? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explains why inconsistent performance is common among adults with ADHD. The issue is often not a lack of knowledge, ability, or effort. It may be difficulty accessing the executive-function skills needed under changing conditions. Sleep, stress, interruptions, urgency, task clarity, competing priorities, and the work environment can all influence performance. That is why asking, “Why can’t you just do what you did last time?” is rarely helpful. A better question is: “What was different last time?” In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why possessing a skill and accessing it consistently are not the same • How changing conditions can affect ADHD performance • Why interest, novelty, challenge, and urgency influence attention • The hidden costs of relying on last-minute pressure • Why inconsistent performance should not be treated as a character flaw • How studying successful days can reveal useful patterns • Ways managers can support employees without lowering expectations • How clearer deadlines and benchmark check-ins improve follow-through • Why time tracking can help you plan more accurately • How awareness becomes useful when it leads to strategy Instead of focusing only on what went wrong, examine what helped when things went well. Did you work earlier in the day? Have fewer interruptions? Receive clearer instructions? Work alongside someone? Have a shorter deadline or more accountability? Your challenge this week is to choose one task you sometimes complete easily and sometimes struggle to finish. Compare the conditions surrounding your successful and difficult attempts. Look for patterns involving your environment, energy, stress, clarity, urgency, and accountability. You may not be able to control every condition, but you can often control more than you realize. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem: https://coachjuli.com/ Explore The Efficiency Advantage: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ Watch the video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJuliShulem If this episode helped you understand ADHD-related inconsistency differently, subscribe to the podcast and share it with a manager, colleague, educator, parent, or adult with ADHD who may benefit from this perspective. #AdultADHD #ADHDProductivity #ADHDAtWork #ADHDPerformance #ExecutiveFunction #ExecutiveDysfunction #ADHDAwareness #NeurodiversityAtWork #WorkplaceProductivity #TaskInitiation #TimeManagement #ProductivityStrategies #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  4. Oct 14

    I Know What to Do. Why Can’t I Do It?” — The ADHD Intention–Action Gap

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever known exactly what needed to be done but still couldn’t make yourself begin? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explores the ADHD intention–action gap—the frustrating space between knowing what to do and being able to initiate the actions required to do it. What appears to be a simple task may require remembering it, recognizing the right time to begin, stopping another activity, gathering materials, making decisions, initiating the first step, sustaining attention, and returning after interruptions. That is a considerable amount of executive functioning hiding beneath the advice to “just do it.” In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why knowing what to do is not always enough to begin • How executive-function challenges contribute to feeling stuck • Why a five-minute task may actually be a multi-step project • The difference between a task and a project • How to identify the real barrier preventing you from starting • Why “break it down” can still feel too vague • How one small physical action can reduce resistance • Why a ten-minute commitment can create meaningful progress • How to externalize information instead of holding everything in your head • Why deadlines and schedules serve different purposes • How transition cues can help you move between activities • Why self-criticism makes the intention–action gap more difficult Instead of asking, “Why am I procrastinating?” Juli recommends asking, “What exactly is preventing me from starting?” The answer may involve an unclear first step, missing information, insufficient time, fear, boredom, a decision you aren’t ready to make, or a lack of mental bandwidth. The right solution depends on the actual barrier. Juli also explains why tasks with three or more associated steps should be treated as projects. Something as simple as making a phone call may require locating documents, reviewing information, finding the correct contact, preparing questions, and deciding what to say before you ever dial the number. Once you understand the real scope of the work, you can create a more realistic plan. This week, choose one thing you have been telling yourself you “should” have completed already. Don’t focus on finishing it yet. Ask yourself what is preventing you from beginning, identify the smallest visible action you can take, and schedule that action on your calendar. Open the file. Write the title. Send the email. Place the papers on your desk. Be specific about what you will physically do and when you will do it. A deadline tells you when something must be finished; a schedule tells you when you are going to work on it. The intention–action gap is not solved through shame or generic advice. Understanding where the breakdown occurs and creating support at that exact point is not making excuses—it is productive problem-solving. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem: https://coachjuli.com/ Learn more about The Efficiency Advantage: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJuliShulem If this episode gave you one practical way to make life with ADHD easier, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who may also be struggling to turn intention into action. #AdultADHD #ADHDExecutiveFunction #TaskInitiation #ADHDProductivity #IntentionActionGap #OvercomingProcrastination #ExecutiveDysfunction #TimeManagement #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  5. Oct 6

    What ADHD Actually Looks Like in Adulthood — It May Not Be What You Think

    Send us Fan Mail When you hear “ADHD,” do you picture someone who is constantly distracted, restless, forgetful, or running late? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explores what ADHD can actually look like in adulthood—and why it is often misunderstood, overlooked, or hidden behind years of coping strategies. ADHD is not simply an inability to pay attention. Many adults with ADHD can focus intensely when something is interesting, challenging, novel, or urgent. The difficulty is often regulating and directing that attention consistently when it is needed. Juli explains how executive-function challenges can affect planning, prioritizing, starting tasks, remembering information, estimating time, managing emotions, shifting between activities, and following work through to completion. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why ADHD is about more than distraction • How hyperfocus can coexist with difficulty directing attention • The role executive functioning plays in everyday productivity • Why knowing what to do doesn’t guarantee consistent execution • How capable adults may unknowingly compensate for ADHD • Why increased responsibilities can make old coping strategies stop working • How task-initiation difficulties can resemble procrastination • Why one “simple task” may actually be a multi-step project • How working-memory challenges can affect important responsibilities • Why ADHD can create overwhelm and inconsistent performance • How curiosity can replace harmful assumptions about behavior What looks like laziness may be difficulty initiating a task. What appears to be carelessness may involve working memory. Poor time management may reflect difficulty perceiving and estimating time. Inconsistency may mean someone cannot reliably access the same level of performance under different circumstances. Understanding ADHD does not eliminate accountability. Deadlines, commitments, and responsibilities still matter. Understanding the reason behind a difficulty gives someone a better opportunity to develop strategies and systems that actually work. It is also important to remember that occasional distraction, procrastination, forgetfulness, or overwhelm does not automatically mean someone has ADHD. ADHD involves a persistent pattern of symptoms that interferes with daily functioning, and proper evaluation and diagnosis should come from a qualified healthcare professional. During ADHD Awareness Month, Juli encourages us to look beyond visible behavior. Instead of asking, “Why can’t you just do it?” try asking, “What is making this difficult, and what support or system could help?” Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem and The Efficiency Advantage: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachJuliShulem If this episode helped you understand adult ADHD differently, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who may benefit from greater awareness, understanding, and practical support. #AdultADHD #ADHDAwarenessMonth #ExecutiveFunction #ADHDInAdults #ADHDProductivity #TaskInitiation #TimeManagement #Neurodiversity #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  6. Sep 29

    Don’t Wait Until December to Rescue your January Goals

    Send us Fan Mail Do you remember the goals you set in January—and do you know where you currently stand with them? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explains why reviewing your goals before the fourth quarter begins can be one of the most productive decisions you make all year. Many goals don’t disappear because they stopped mattering. They disappear because everyday responsibilities push them out of sight. When a goal isn’t part of your weekly decisions or calendar, urgent tasks can easily replace the work that matters most. The good news is that the year isn’t over. Twelve or thirteen weeks can be enough time to complete an important project, establish a healthier routine, strengthen a relationship, or make meaningful progress toward a larger objective. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why important goals quietly fall into the background • How to turn a general intention into an actionable plan • Why September is an ideal time to evaluate your progress • How to decide whether a goal still matters • Why progress shouldn’t be measured only by completion • How to identify what has prevented you from moving forward • Why “trying harder” isn’t always the solution • How to choose realistic priorities for the final quarter • How to work backward from December 31 • Why every goal needs protected time on your calendar • How a short weekly review keeps your goals visible • Why removing a goal can sometimes be the most productive choice Juli shares a practical five-step process for finishing the year intentionally: Revisit the goals you originally wanted to accomplish.Identify what still matters and assess your progress honestly.Choose a small number of realistic priorities for the final quarter.Define what success will look like by December 31 and break it into monthly and weekly milestones.Decide what you will reduce, delegate, eliminate, or postpone to create the necessary time and capacity.If you want to accomplish something, you must make time for it. Leaving an important goal off your calendar means leaving its completion to chance—and chance is not a reliable productivity strategy. This week, set aside uninterrupted time to review your goals. Choose one meaningful priority for the final quarter, identify your next action, and schedule when you will complete it. You don’t have to wait until December to discover how your year turned out. Use the final quarter intentionally and give yourself something meaningful to celebrate when the year ends. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem and The Efficiency Advantage at: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ If this episode encouraged you to revisit your goals, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who wants to finish the year with greater clarity, purpose, and momentum. #GoalSetting #JanuaryGoals #FourthQuarterPlanning #FinishTheYearStrong #GoalProgress #ProductivityTips #TimeManagement #IntentionalPlanning #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  7. Sep 22

    Your Schedule Used to Work. What Happened?

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why a routine that once worked perfectly suddenly feels impossible to maintain? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explains why your schedule must evolve as your life, responsibilities, energy, and priorities change. A schedule that worked during the summer may no longer fit once school begins, business becomes busier, daylight shifts, or holiday obligations appear. That doesn’t mean you have lost your discipline. It may simply mean your routine was designed for a different season. Juli introduces her philosophy that “scheduling is life’s rubric.” Your calendar is more than a record of appointments—it reflects how you allocate your limited time, energy, and attention. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why there is no single perfect routine for every season • How consistency can include adaptation • Why changing your method doesn’t mean abandoning your priorities • How work, family, travel, daylight, and energy affect your schedule • Why your calendar should reflect the reality of your current life • How to conduct a seasonal schedule audit • Why every hour is not equally productive • How to match demanding work with your highest-energy periods • Why adding commitments without removing others creates overwhelm • How buffer time prepares you for unexpected demands • Why a full calendar is not necessarily an effective calendar Juli also explains how to prepare for predictable seasonal changes. Instead of waiting until your calendar becomes unmanageable, look ahead at work deadlines, travel, school schedules, holidays, family events, and other responsibilities. Then decide which priorities you want to protect and where they will realistically fit. For this week’s challenge, review the next three months of your calendar: Identify your fixed commitments and deadlines.Choose the priorities you want to protect.Decide when those priorities will happen.Remove, reduce, move, or delegate commitments that no longer fit.Add buffer time for transitions, delays, and unexpected demands.You are allowed to change your schedule. A routine that served you six months ago does not need to control the life you are living today. Consistency doesn’t always mean doing the same thing at the same time. It can mean continuing to honor what matters while adapting how you make room for it. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem and The Efficiency Advantage at: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ If this episode helped you rethink your schedule, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who may be trying to force an old routine into a new season. #ProductivityTips #TimeManagement #SchedulePlanning #SeasonalPlanning #RoutineReset #CalendarManagement #WorkLifeBalance #IntentionalLiving #CoachJuliShulem #TheEfficiencyAdvantage

  8. Sep 15

    What happens if you hire the wrong support?

    Send us Fan Mail Do you need a coach, consultant, trainer, or mentor—and how can you tell which one will actually help? In this episode of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem explains the differences between four common types of professional support and why choosing the right one matters. Hiring a skilled professional won’t necessarily solve your problem if their service doesn’t match what you actually need. You might hire someone to teach you a skill when you already possess the knowledge but struggle to apply it. You might hire a coach to explore a technical problem that requires a specialized consultant. Juli breaks down the primary purpose of each role: • A trainer teaches you specific knowledge or skills • A consultant diagnoses problems and recommends expert solutions • A mentor shares experience and perspective from a path they have already traveled • A coach helps you clarify your goals, uncover obstacles, develop strategies, and turn insight into action In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why professional support is not one-size-fits-all • When training is the best solution for a knowledge or skill gap • How consultants help solve specific organizational or technical problems • What mentors can offer through experience and perspective • How coaching helps transform existing knowledge into meaningful action • Why complex challenges may require more than one type of support • What to consider before hiring any professional • Why coaching and therapy have different purposes and responsibilities • How clearly defining your desired outcome helps you choose wisely Before hiring someone, define the problem as specifically as possible. Then ask yourself what is missing: knowledge, specialized expertise, relevant experience, or help applying what you already know. Also consider the professional’s qualifications, approach, experience with similar challenges, and what the engagement includes. A productive working relationship should provide clarity around its purpose, process, expected outcome, and each person’s responsibilities. Seeking support is not a sign that you are incapable. Sometimes, the most efficient decision you can make is to stop trying to solve the same problem alone and find the right person to help you move forward. This week, identify one challenge that continues to frustrate you. Clearly define what you want to change, determine what kind of support is missing, and consider whether a trainer, consultant, mentor, coach, or combination could help. Learn more about Coach Juli Shulem and The Efficiency Advantage at: https://theefficiencyadvantage.com/ If this episode helped you understand what kind of professional support you need, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who may be trying to solve the right problem with the wrong kind of help.

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About

In this podcast of The Efficiency Advantage, Coach Juli Shulem shares the heart behind her 40+ years of helping people get more done with less stress and more joy. Juli explains why productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters with clarity and purpose. She also reveals why she started this podcast, what you can expect each week, and how simple tools, mindset shifts, and practical strategies can transform overwhelm into confidence and control. If you want a calmer, more intentional, and more productive life, this episode sets the foundation for your journey. 

Information

  • Creator
    Juli Shulem
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Efficiency Advantage
  • Show Website
    The Efficiency Advantage