I'm Busy Being Awesome - Sustainable Productivity for ADHD

Want to SEE what I'm talking about? Check out the YouTube version here! https://youtu.be/SZSXcVJcdnQ If time ever seems to disappear for your ADHD brain, this episode might resonate. I'm sharing my honest experience using Bravestorming, a magnetic tile-based planning system that turns your schedule into something that makes time tangible, flexible, and finally... real. In Episode 359, You Will Discover: Why your ADHD brain benefits from seeing time as a physical object, and how tile-based planning solves time blindness in a way digital tools simply can't Why "thinking in tiles" can help ADHD brains build a more tangible relationship with time A walkthrough of the full Bravestorming system (Thinker Board, MoveNote, MoverBook, MoverPad, and Tri-fold) and how I use each one in my actual weekly ADHD planning routine The one key principle that matters more than any specific tool: how to give different lengths of time a consistent, recognizable visual form so your brain starts to internalize it 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: Use code AWESOME20 for 20% off your entire first purchase Bravestorming — the full product lineup Thinker Board — easel-style board for brainstorming and mind mapping MoveNote — A4 folio for weekly planning (no tiles included) MoverBook — compact planning folio with tiles included MoverPad — daily planning pad with a priority grid on the flip side, with tiles Tri-fold — four-months-at-a-glance planning overview Mover Tiles — additional tile set to expand your system Try Todoist for task management here (get two months of pro plan free) 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 Magnetic Tiles Breakthrough 01:27 Visual Episode Disclaimer 02:18 What Is Bravestorming 03:26 Why It Feels Different 05:14 Affiliate Note and Plan 06:35 Thinker Board Overview 07:26 Move Note and Move Book 08:57 Trifold and Custom Templates 10:13 How I Use It Weekly 14:19 Tiles Make Time Real 20:27 Flexibility and Overflow Time 23:44 Avoiding Planner Hype 26:47 Who This System Fits 32:51 Links Code and Wrap Up 34:15 Final Thanks and Next Steps

If your planner, routine, or fresh system starts to feel weirdly heavy the moment you sit down with it, you're not alone. So many of us with ADHD brains quietly carry a performance frame over our follow-through built on a "pass fail" mindset, where every slip up turns into evidence of failure. In this episode, we explore a simple reframe that helps make sticking with our habits and routines feel lighter, more doable, and more in line with how our brains actually work. In Episode 357, You Will Discover: The sneaky way the performance frame turns planning, routines, and new systems into high-stakes situations for ADHD brains The one-word shift that helps follow-through feel lighter and builds real self-trust over time Why a rough day becomes useful information instead of evidence that something's wrong with you Three reflection questions to help you find the places where a practice frame might bring more freedom this week 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 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 Planning Feels Heavy 02:41 Performing vs Practicing 05:26 All or Nothing Trap 06:59 Inside the Performance Frame 10:25 Avoidance and Perfectionism 12:02 What Practice Really Means 15:03 Reps Build Self Trust 17:48 Real Life Practice Examples 22:50 Questions to Apply This 27:06 Community and Next Steps 28:15 Wrap Up and Resources

✨ 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

Does your weekly planning routine usually fall apart by Monday afternoon? If you have a graveyard of half-filled planners and abandoned Notion dashboards, please hear me: it's not YOU. You just haven't found a system that works with your ADHD brain If you've tried every app, color-coded calendar, and 27-step workflow out there but still feel overwhelmed, this video is for you. Today, we're exploring the Alastair Weekly Log: a ridiculously simple, flexible planning method that uses just one piece of paper (or a notebook page) to give you a clear snapshot of your week. This isn't about rigid time-blocking or forecasting every minute of your day. Instead, it's a simple approach that helps you visualize your capacity, manage your energy, and start scheduling a reasonable amount for a human (not a robot) In this episode, you will discover: Why complex planning systems often fail our ADHD Brains The simple "split page" setup you can do in under 5 minutes How to use the "dot method" to handle tasks when life inevitably goes off the rails Why this visual approach helps curb over-scheduling 5 specific reasons this method is a game-changer for ADHD brains Work With Me: 👉 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) 👉 Learn more about private coaching here 👉 Join us in Overwhelm to Action here Resources From This Episode: Get the Alastair Weekly Template Here My favorite Grid Notebook Check out the YouTube video here 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 Introduction: Simplifying ADHD Planning 00:46 Introducing the Alistair Weekly Log 04:17 How to Set Up Your Weekly Log 07:51 Five Reasons to Love the Alistair Weekly Log 17:15 Weekly Review and Additional Tips 19:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

In Episode 340 You Will Discover: How ADHD low energy is biological, not a discipline problem Ways to identify which low-energy phase you're in right now Simple, compassionate tools that match your actual capacity Work With Me: 👉 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) 👉 Learn more about private coaching here 👉 Join us in Overwhelm to Action here Resources From This Episode: Learn about the Dopamine Menu here Episode 251: Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, Sleep Hygiene and ADHD Episode 327: ADHD Mental Fatigue or Resistance? Episode 284: Signs of ADHD Burnout + Tips to Rethink How You Work https://imbusybeingawesome.com/signs-adhd-burnout/ Find A Helpline (international crisis and support directory) https://findahelpline.com/ Favorite tools and products mentioned Heated blanket → https://amzn.to/4q2CYs7 Weighted blanket → https://amzn.to/3YJvsX0 Weighted eye mask → https://amzn.to/3LiglAK Brown noise machine → https://amzn.to/4axE5va Daylight lamp (10,000 lux) → https://amzn.to/3KLyiHV Research mentioned Research done in the Netherlands (ADHD and seasonal mood swings) → https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16458365/ Vitamin D information (NCCIH) → https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/seasonal-affective-disorder Weighted blankets / deep pressure research → https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7970589/ 2019 bright light therapy study → https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6746555/ Additional Netherlands study reference (via Additude) → [https://www.additudemag.com/winter-depression-adhd-sad-sleep-mood/](https://www.additudemag.com/winter-depression-adhd-sad-sleep-mood/](https://www.additudemag.com/winter-depression-adhd-sad-sleep-mood/](https://www.additudemag.com/winter-depression-adhd-sad-sleep-mood/) 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 Understanding Winter Energy Slumps 01:55 The Impact of Circadian Rhythms on ADHD 04:49 Strategies for Low Energy Phases 08:23 Phase One: 0% Effort Required 14:38 Phase Two: 5% Effort Required 21:30 Phase Three: Low Capacity, Some Functionality 26:11 Conclusion and Additional Resources

👉 Join We're Busy Being Awesome (group coaching) Do you want a do-over on the New Year's energy this year? If you found that January somehow got away from you, and your intentions to map out your goals derailed... SAME. I'm right there with you. Here is the truth: Transitions are incredibly hard for the ADHD brain. Moving from the chaos of the holidays into a high-pressure "New Year" is a massive transition that we often underestimate. So, I've decided that January was simply my "transition month." In this bonus episode you will discover: Why January feels so hard for ADHD brains The "Q1 = 2/1" mindset shift that gives you a fresh start How to use the "Word of the Year" as a decision-making anchor The "Good, Better, Best" goal framework to keep momentum without perfectionism One Tiny First Step: If the whole year feels too big right now, just ask yourself: What is one quality I want to cultivate in February? That's it. Start there. Ready for more support? If you want the accountability to actually stick with your plans this time, I'd love to have you in the January cohort of We're Busy Being Awesome. We kick off right at the start of our new Q1 (Jan 29th)! https://imbusybeingawesome.com/group Other Ways To Work With Paula: Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz! Enroll in Overwhelm to Action - step by step course for ADHD Brains Learn more about private coaching here Join us in Overwhelm to Action here Resources From This Episode: Get your word of the year workbook here 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 Introduction and New Year's Reset 00:44 Reflecting on January's Challenges 03:14 Understanding ADHD and Transitions 04:24 Starting Fresh 05:49 Three Ways to Reset 09:13 Why Traditional Systems Fail ADHD Brains 10:05 Support and Coaching 15:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts