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Why Can’t I Focus? The Science of Sustained Attention
Today, we’re answering the most common question I’m asked as an executive function coach: Why can’t I focus?
Eric Kaufmann
Jul 1610 min read
Executive Function and Planning: Why Big Projects Feel Overwhelming (And How to Plan Them)
Planning is a complex executive function skill. It requires working memory, cognitive flexibility, prioritization, estimating time, task initiation, and sustained attention. That’s why planning can feel overwhelming for many neurodivergent adults, especially those with ADHD or autism.
Eric Kaufmann
Jul 109 min read
Mid-Year Reflection for Neurodivergent Adults: A Simple Reset for Your Goals
A mid-year reflection matters because when we pause to look back, we find out what’s working, what isn’t, and uncover the small wins we overlooked while moving from one task to the next.
Eric Kaufmann
Jul 34 min read
Why You Can’t Get Motivated (And What to Do About It)
One of the biggest mistakes I see neurodivergent adults make is trying to create motivation instead of understanding it.
Eric Kaufmann
Jun 197 min read
Nutrition and Executive Function: Why Neurodivergent Adults Struggle to Eat Healthy
Nutrition plays a huge role in brain health. And because executive function skills rely heavily on the prefrontal cortex, what we eat can impact our ability to think clearly, make decisions, and follow through.
Eric Kaufmann
Jun 128 min read
How Exercise Improves Executive Function Skills in Adults
If you’ve ever felt like your brain was stuck in a fog, struggling to prioritize or focus, movement might be the missing piece.
Eric Kaufmann
Jun 49 min read
Why Do Neurodivergent Adults Struggle With Sleep? (And How It Affects Executive Function)
Poor sleep weakens executive function skills like planning, time management, emotional regulation, and inhibitory control. But weak executive functions also make it harder to sleep well in the first place. It becomes a cycle.
Eric Kaufmann
May 239 min read
Why Do I Never Achieve My Goals?
Each week, no matter how hard you work, you continue thinking about how far you have to go. It’s exhausting.
This is where the SPARK Method shines. There’s an entire step dedicated to creating a powerful, recurring reflection with questions that align your thoughts with your gains, all in under 3 minutes.
Eric Kaufmann
Apr 246 min read
A Better Way to Set Goals for Neurodivergent Adults
Most goal-setting frameworks help you decide what “accomplished” looks like, but they don’t help you create a realistic plan for getting there. Then, we fall off after a week or so. The SPARK Method is designed for people like you. People who deeply desire meaningful change, but operate a little differently than most.
Eric Kaufmann
Apr 174 min read
How to Set Goals That Stick (A Guide for Neurodivergent Brains)
I used to think the solution was SMART goals. I learned about them in graduate school. Talked about them in sessions. I used them myself! It seemed like the most evidence-based way to write goals. Turns out, they aren't designed for neurodivergent brains, like mine.
Eric Kaufmann
Apr 1010 min read
The 3 Common Signs of Executive Dysfunction in Neurodivergent Adults
The Cleveland Clinic defines executive dysfunction as “a behavioral symptom that disrupts a person’s ability to manage their thoughts, emotions, and actions.”
Eric Kaufmann
Apr 36 min read
The #1 Habit to Improve Executive Function and Stop Doomscrolling
Charging my phone outside of my bedroom is unquestionably the best habit I’ve ever formed.
Eric Kaufmann
Mar 202 min read
Feeling Overworked? Reduce Overwhelm With This Executive Function Exercise for Entrepreneurs
But when we release ourselves from tasks that take us away from our Queen Bee Role, the sense of peace I described before settles in. Our executive function has fewer competing demands. We feel lighter. More focused. More curious. More playful.
Eric Kaufmann
Mar 148 min read
A Simple Strategy to Improve Your Follow-Through as a Neurodivergent Adult
Many adults with ADHD, who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent, struggle with executive function skills like task initiation, planning, and cognitive flexibility.
These executive function gaps amount to a common frustration: follow-through.
Eric Kaufmann
Feb 276 min read
The Secret to Working From Home as a Neurodivergent Professional
Working from home sounds like a dream. But more often than not, my clients tell me it turns into a productivity disaster.
Eric Kaufmann
Feb 193 min read
How to Stop Overplanning
Many neurodivergent adults, like those of us with ADHD or who are autistic, find themselves planning instead of doing. At its core, this is a safety behavior.
Eric Kaufmann
Feb 136 min read
7 AI Prompts to Improve Adult Executive Function Skills
When used intentionally, AI can reduce cognitive load, ease decision fatigue, and help us get unstuck. This is especially true for neurodivergent adults with ADHD or autism, whose executive function skills are already working overtime.
Eric Kaufmann
Feb 65 min read
How to Organize Your Home When You’re a Busy Neurodivergent Adult
Landing zones take a different approach. They are the simplest way to organize your home as a neurodivergent adult. Your landing zones are areas in your home where you store similar items for tasks or activities you do often. They make the things you use most often easy to grab.
Eric Kaufmann
Jan 297 min read
My Favorite AI Tool to Beat Procrastination
One small action is enough. It's enough to begin. Enough to celebrate. And, enough to build momentum.
Eric Kaufmann
Jan 155 min read
The One Morning Habit That Wrecks Executive Function in Adults
The way you start your morning can quietly sabotage your executive function skills. This post explains why charging your phone outside the bedroom improves focus, emotional regulation, and time management, especially for adults with ADHD or autism.
Eric Kaufmann
Jan 147 min read