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I'm Busy Being Awesome - Sustainable Productivity for ADHD

I'm Busy Being Awesome - Sustainable Productivity for ADHD

By: Paula Engebretson - ADHD Productivity Coach
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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?Paula Engebretson 2020 Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Episode 360: 5 Retreats Later - What I've Learned About ADHD Planning & Reflection

    Episode 360: 5 Retreats Later - What I've Learned About ADHD Planning & Reflection
    Jun 22 2026

    👉 Download the free quarterly retreat guide here.

    Do you ever feel like you've been going non-stop all day, then you get to the end of it and think, "Wait, what did all that busyness add up to?"

    This episode is about the practice that changed that for me: the quarterly personal retreat.

    I've been doing it for nearly a year and a half, and in Episode 360, I share my exact process, what I've learned from five retreats, and the small tweak that made the whole thing feel worth it from start to finish.

    In Episode 360, You Will Discover:
    • How to structure a quarterly personal retreat from start to finish, including the exact reflection questions I use for relationships, work, and personal life
    • Why your retreat can be a morning at the library just as much as a weekend away, and how to define what "done" looks like for your version
    • Why ADHD brains tend to feel like they did the retreat "wrong," and the two-sentence practice that finally fixed it
    • What five retreats over a year and a half have taught me about big-picture planning with ADHD
    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:
    • Download the step-by-step quarterly retreat guide
    • Episode 243: The Four Quarters Method: Tailored for ADHD
    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.

    1. Go to Apple Podcasts
    2. Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast
    3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews.
    4. Simply tap five stars; that's it!
    5. 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

    Busy But Unfulfilled: 0:00

    Why Quarterly Retreats: 1:27

    What A Retreat Is: 2:43

    Origin Story And First Try: 4:20

    Make It Work For You: 8:26

    Three Part Retreat Plan: 11:37

    Reflection Questions: 12:19

    Pick Next Quarter Priorities: 14:20

    Rest And Play Time: 16:04

    Inner Critic After Retreats: 18:13

    Supports That Made It Click: 21:53

    Coaching Invitation: 26:22

    Big Themes And Results: 27:43

    Your Retreat Checklist: 34:53

    Wrap Up And Next Steps: 36:29
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Episode 359: Time Blocking for ADHD: Why Tiles Work Better Than Apps

    Episode 359: Time Blocking for ADHD: Why Tiles Work Better Than Apps
    Jun 15 2026
    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'tWhy "thinking in tiles" can help ADHD brains build a more tangible relationship with timeA 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 routineThe 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 hereJoin 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 systemTry 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 RoadmapFree course: ADHD Routine RevampLearn my Top 10 Tips to Work With Your ADHD BrainDiscover my favorite ADHD resourcesAccess the I'm Busy Being Awesome Planning SystemStay 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 PodcastsClick on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcastScroll 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
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Episode 358: Cognitive Overload and ADHD: 4 Tips To Handle Overwhelm

    Episode 358: Cognitive Overload and ADHD: 4 Tips To Handle Overwhelm
    Jun 8 2026

    Summer is supposed to feel lighter… but for many ADHD brains, it often brings unexpected overwhelm. If your mental tabs are overflowing and you're already spinning in indecision about plans, commitments, and scheduling, this episode is your permission slip to do summer differently.

    Tune into Episode 358 and discover:

    • Why summer creates unexpected cognitive overload for ADHD brains
    • The four-container method that gets everything out of your head and into a clear, calm action plan. You can finally stop carrying it all alone.
    • A non-negotiable ADHD scheduling support, and exactly how to protect it on your calendar
    • A Decision making approach that breaks through the decision spin cycle
    • Real scripts for saying no so you can save your energy for your full-body-yes moments

    🎧 Get the full transcript here

    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
    Resources From This Episode:
    • Discover Your ADHD Overwhelm Type - Free Quiz!
    • Try out Wispr Flow (affiliate link)
    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
    • 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.

    1. Go to Apple Podcasts
    2. Click on the I'm Busy Being Awesome podcast
    3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you see the reviews.
    4. Simply tap five stars; that's it!
    5. 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 Summer Overwhelm Signs

    02:43 Why Summer Hits Hard

    05:23 Tip One Brain Dump

    10:06 Four Containers Method

    14:10 Tip Two Protect Buffers

    17:07 Tip Three One Decision

    22:35 Tip Four Opt Out

    26:16 Recap Start Small

    27:48 Wrap Up And Quiz
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
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