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

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

Sarah Lovell - Executive Function & ADHD Coach 88 Episodes Aug 12, 2026

From Stuck to Started is a podcast for ambitious ADHDers, perfectionists, and over-thinkers who want to achieve their goals without burning out. Host Sarah Lovell, an executive function and ADHD coach, shares strategies to understand your brain, break down big tasks, and build systems that work. Each episode offers actionable tips and real-life inspiration to help you tackle hard things and make progress that feels good.

Episodes

087: 5 Systems Every College Student with ADHD Needs to Succeed
087: 5 Systems Every College Student with ADHD Needs to Succeed Aug 12, 2026 25:08 Last episode I talked about why smart, capable college students get stuck. Today I'm sharing the good news: there are five concrete systems I build with students that help them navigate college with more confidence, ease, and self-compassion. These aren't one-size-fits-all fixes, they're tools we design together to fit each student's unique brain.Apply for 1:1 Coaching: Learn more & let's sche
086: Why Bright College Students with ADHD Struggle (and How Executive Function Coaching can Support them)
086: Why Bright College Students with ADHD Struggle (and How Executive Function Coaching can Support them) Aug 5, 2026 19:05 If your bright, capable college student is procrastinating, missing deadlines, or avoiding their inbox altogether, I want you to know something first: it's not laziness. In this episode, I'm breaking down why the strategies that worked in high school often fall apart in college, and what's really happening in your student's brain when they get stuck. This is the conversation I have with parents al
085: What Is Executive Function Coaching (And How to Find the Right Executive Function Coach for You)
085: What Is Executive Function Coaching (And How to Find the Right Executive Function Coach for You) Jul 29, 2026 27:14 If you've ever wondered what actually happens in an executive function coaching session — or whether it's even the right fit for you — this episode is for you. I'm answering the questions I get asked most on discovery calls, from what coaching looks like week to week to how long it actually takes to see change. Apply for 1:1 Coaching: Learn more & let's schedule a free 45-minute discovery call
084: 9 Mindset Shifts an Executive Function Coach Can Help You Make
084: 9 Mindset Shifts an Executive Function Coach Can Help You Make Jul 22, 2026 25:47 Want to Explore if Executive Function Coaching is Right for you? Apply for 1:1 Coaching: Learn more & let's schedule a free 45-minute discovery callIf you've ever wondered whether other people struggle with the same things you do: getting started on tasks, keeping up with laundry, remembering what you said you'd do in that meeting last week — this episode is for you. As an executive function c
083: 4 Mindset Shifts to Feel Less Guilty about Unfinished Tasks from an Executive Function Coach
083: 4 Mindset Shifts to Feel Less Guilty about Unfinished Tasks from an Executive Function Coach Jul 8, 2026 20:34 "I didn’t get as much done as I wanted to." If you've said this to yourself more times than you can count, you're not alone. It's one of the most common things I hear from my executive function coaching clients.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why your brain fixates on unfinished tasks (and what "open loops" have to do with it)How all-or-nothing thinking convinces you that nothing you did today c
082: 6 Reasons Delegating Feels Impossible with ADHD (And How to Make It Easier)
082: 6 Reasons Delegating Feels Impossible with ADHD (And How to Make It Easier) Jul 1, 2026 27:25 Delegating sounds simple; just hand something off and check it off your list, right? But if you have ADHD, executive functioning challenges, or a touch of perfectionism, it’s rarely that straightforward. In this episode, I’m breaking down why delegating can feel so complicated, sharing a few real-life examples, and giving you practical strategies to make it a little easier. What you’ll learn in th
081: 3 Mindset Shifts to Manage Overwhelm: How to Be Kinder to Your ADHD Brain When Life Won't Slow Down
081: 3 Mindset Shifts to Manage Overwhelm: How to Be Kinder to Your ADHD Brain When Life Won't Slow Down Jun 24, 2026 28:46 Life is joyful, stressful, chaotic, and never seems to slow down. Between the laundry, emails, deadlines, and all the things you want to make time for (like rest, hobbies, or time with your people), it’s no wonder your brain feels maxed out. In this episode, I’m diving into the messy reality of overwhelm, why it shows up, how it snowballs, and what you can do when it feels like too much.I’ll share
080: The Efficiency Trap: How Chasing Shortcuts Drains Your Executive Function + 5 Questions to Break the Cycle
080: The Efficiency Trap: How Chasing Shortcuts Drains Your Executive Function + 5 Questions to Break the Cycle Jun 17, 2026 25:52 Have you ever tried to take the most efficient route… only to end up creating more work for yourself? In this episode, I’m sharing a very real (and very soggy) story about how my attempt to save time ended with me falling into a lake. We’ll talk about why your brain chases efficiency, how it can actually drain your executive functioning, and how to create systems that help both current and future
079: Stop Beating Yourself Up for Being Inconsistent: How to Restart Without Starting Over
079: Stop Beating Yourself Up for Being Inconsistent: How to Restart Without Starting Over Jun 10, 2026 29:00 “How can I be more consistent?” If you’ve asked yourself that question lately, you’re not alone. As an executive function and ADHD coach, I hear this all the time. But here’s the twist: today’s episode is all about why it's okay not to be 100% consistent and how redefining consistency can actually help you stick with your habits, routines, and systems more sustainably.What you’ll learn in this epi
078: Too Overwhelmed to Start? Body Doubling Is the Simple Executive Function Tool You're Missing
078: Too Overwhelmed to Start? Body Doubling Is the Simple Executive Function Tool You're Missing Jun 3, 2026 25:50 What is body doubling and why does it work so well for ADHD brains? In this episode, I'm breaking down one of my favorite (and most underrated) executive function strategies: body doubling. Whether you've been doing it your whole life without a name for it, or you've never heard of it before, this episode will help you understand why it works and give you a whole menu of ways to try it.What you'll
077: Why You Wait Until the Last Minute to Get Started: ADHD-Friendly Strategies for Getting Started Earlier
077: Why You Wait Until the Last Minute to Get Started: ADHD-Friendly Strategies for Getting Started Earlier May 27, 2026 26:19 Why Do I Always Wait Until the Last Minute? (And What to Actually Do About It)If you've ever found yourself scrambling to finish something right before the deadline — telling yourself next time will be different — this episode is for you. I'm digging into why your brain is wired to lean on urgency as a motivator, and I want you to walk away feeling understood.In this episode, you'll learn:Why wait
076: ADHD Motivation: 5 Simple Strategies to Get Started on Tasks (without relying just on Urgency)
076: ADHD Motivation: 5 Simple Strategies to Get Started on Tasks (without relying just on Urgency) May 20, 2026 24:39 If you've ever stared at your to-do list knowing exactly what needs to get done and still couldn't make yourself start this episode is for you. I'm breaking down why motivation works differently for ADHD and neurodivergent brains, and sharing a simple 5-part framework called PINCH (designed by Dr. William Dodson) that helps you create your own motivation, even when you don’t have a deadline approa

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