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Hot Take: “Just get organized” is ableist advice.
In reality, many of us are not dealing with a lack of motivation—we’re dealing with a lack of clarity.

When people struggle with executive function, ADHD, or the everyday overwhelm of modern life, the answer isn’t more shame. It’s more strategy—and support.

Coaching is not about someone telling you what to do.
It’s about helping you figure out what’s truly getting in the way—then building systems, habits, and mindsets that actually work for your brain.

Let’s break that down with a few real-world examples.

👩‍👧‍👦 The Busy Parent in Survival Mode

You’re the calendar keeper, meal planner, appointment booker, emotional buffer, and last-minute errand runner. Your work inbox pings as your child reminds you they forgot a permission slip. The fridge is empty again, and you can’t remember if you already rescheduled that dentist appointment—or just meant to.

The script of your life is constantly changing, and you’re the one rewriting it on the fly.

That level of task-switching is not just exhausting—it’s unsustainable.
Over time, this mental load creates both physical and cognitive clutter.

How coaching helps:
In coaching, we slow it all down. We look at what’s truly draining your energy. We ask:

“What’s getting in the way?”

“When have you been successful before?”

“What routines actually work for your lifestyle—not just what Instagram says you should do?”

With permission, we offer possible entry points. Maybe it’s automating dinner three nights a week. Maybe it’s a shared family calendar or resetting expectations at work. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s coaching designed to help you reclaim control—and calm.

🎓 The College Student Struggling to Launch

You were the kid who always completed the checklist. Teachers praised your work ethic. But now, in college, there’s no clear checklist—just a swirl of assignments, responsibilities, and social expectations.

You know what needs to get done… but you don’t know where to start.
You freeze. You procrastinate. Then you spiral.

How coaching helps:
We get curious, not judgmental. Your coach might ask:

“What are you feeling?  What’s one first step you could take?”
“Where are you spending your time—and what values are driving those choices?”
“What does your ideal week actually look like?”

From there, we collaborate to build a system that reflects your life, not someone else’s. We create anchors—daily planning routines, accountability check-ins, and cognitive strategies that prioritize effort, not perfection.

You learn how to steer your ship again, even when the waters are choppy.

🧒 The “Lazy” Child with So Much Potential

You hear it from teachers: “He’s so smart, but…”
“She just needs to apply herself.”
You know your child isn’t lazy—but they can’t seem to bring it all together.

They miss assignments. They melt down over math. They don’t know how to begin, and when they try, they often feel defeated before they’ve even started.

How coaching helps:
Coaching gives kids a safe place to explore why things feel hard. Often, we uncover hidden obstacles: working memory overload, perfectionism, fear of failure, or unclear expectations.

We might ask your child:

“What options do you have?”
“When do you feel most in control?”
“What would help you start, not just finish?”

Then we build tools—visual reminders, chunked timelines, brain breaks, even physical movement strategies—to match their executive function needs.

We turn “potential” into progress.

🧩 Coaching Connects the Dots

The common thread?
Whether you’re a parent, a college student, or a child in school, executive function challenges don’t show up the same way for everyone—but they always deserve support.

A coach plays a key role to help the client:

  • Identify what’s really getting in the way

  • Build sustainable systems that reduce overwhelm

  • Feel seen, heard, and empowered

  • Reflect on what they learn about themselves

This is not therapy. It’s not tutoring.
It’s practical, personalized coaching with the neuroscience to back it up.

Ready to shift from chaos to clarity?

You too, can find your focus!

Written by:  Kristelle Kambanis, Founder of Focus Forward Coaching, Learning & Wellness

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