I need to tell you about my secret weapon: Mindi Huebner, my personal mindset coach.
And before you think this is going to be some toxic positivity pep talk about gratitude journals and thinking happy thoughts, it's not. This is about understanding what's actually happening in your brain when you say you want something but then act in the complete opposite direction.
Mindi calls it self-sabotage: when your actions go against your conscious desires and goals. And she helped me see that almost every form of it (procrastination, overworking, overthinking, avoiding risk) stems from one thing: negative self-talk.
Not just the obvious stuff like picking yourself apart in the mirror. The subtle stuff that sounds like wisdom or protection but is actually keeping you stuck.
Notice what you're making things mean
When you catch yourself procrastinating or overworking or playing small, ask: What am I making this mean?
If I rest right now, I'm lazy. If I don't work evenings, I'm not serious enough about my work. If I say no, I'm not a team player.
These equations are running in your subconscious, driving your behavior. Once you spot them, ask: Is this actually true?
Years ago, I was a chronic over-worker. I felt like working in every available minute proved I was dedicated and serious. I believed it was the key to success. It took time to rewire my brain to recognize that rest made my work better and faster. That shift changed everything. Resting did NOT mean I was not dedicated. It meant the quality of my work improved.
Your brain believes what it hears most
Have you ever told a little girl how pretty she looks only to see her face light up with joy? She believes you. She knows she is pretty. Then, the older she gets, she starts to see subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) messages that she isn’t pretty enough. Years later when you tell her how pretty she looks, she pushes back and tells you all the ways she isn’t pretty. She no longer believes it.
The same thing is true with the messages you've absorbed about needing to work harder to be valuable or tying your worth to your productivity. You've heard them so many times your brain stopped questioning them.
It takes 67 days to rewire
Research shows it takes 67 days of consistent practice for a new neural pathway to match an old one. After that, the new one gets stronger and the old one weakens.
To make this shift, you need to start by intentionally redirecting your thoughts. When your brain says "I'm not dedicated enough because I'm not working every evening," stop and change the message. Instead, you get to say "I'm going to rest because when I rest, my work improves and so does my mood."
You're already putting effort into thinking thoughts that don't serve you. Why not redirect that toward thoughts that move you forward?
One shift at a time
The negative self-talk you're battling doesn't have to run your life forever. It takes consistent practice, not perfection. Sixty-seven days of redirecting those thoughts, and you'll start to see real change.
So what negative self-talk are you ready to start questioning?
- FREE One Notebook Challenge LIVE!
How many notebooks are you using right now? Scattered in your car, purse, and around your house? To-do lists split between multiple notebooks and sticky notes? Rewriting the same tasks everywhere, hoping to keep track of them all?
The One Notebook Challenge is here to help you declutter the chaos and take back control. Join me for five free days, and I'll teach you how to set up one notebook that works for you, process your notes so nothing slips through the cracks, and keep it organized for good. Plus two bonus sessions: how to make this work digitally with apps and tools like Rocketbook, and how to connect your notebook to a weekly planning system.
The challenge runs February 2-6 at 12 pm EST / 9 am PST for 30 minutes each day, live on YouTube. Replays available for a limited time. - Crush Your ADHD Summit 2026
Alan P. Brown is bringing back his Crush Your ADHD Summit for a fourth time. Join me and other top ADHD and executive function experts January 26-30, 2026, where we'll share our most proven, practical insights and strategies to help you start the year strong.
Alan P. Brown, ADHD productivity coach and creator of the award-winning ADD Crusher program, is bringing together 25 experts to help ADHD adults of all ages with an arsenal of new solutions that equip you to win more battles against procrastination, disorganization, and overwhelm. Let's make this year different by ending the negative cycles we find ourselves in. The summit is completely free!
Task List Prevent Progress on Goals
You're crushing your to-do list every single day, but that project you've been wanting to start has been sitting there for weeks or months. You keep wondering what's wrong with you. Spoiler: nothing's wrong with you. Your task list is actually the problem, and I'm going to show you how to fix it.
In this video, you'll learn the hidden reason your brain keeps skipping over the projects you actually care about, why being productive and making progress aren't the same thing, the shift that finally helped me make consistent progress on my book without working more hours, and how to stop rewriting the same goal on your list every single day.
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How the One Notebook System Actually Works (And Why It's Not Just About Having One Notebook)
You've probably heard people talking about the One Notebook system, but if all you know is "put everything in one notebook," it probably feels a little underwhelming. Because here's the thing: just writing everything in one place isn't the magic. The magic is in what happens next.
In this week's Weekly Buzz, I'm explaining how the One Notebook system actually works and why it's so powerful when you understand both parts of it. You'll learn the benefit of capturing everything in one place, and more importantly, what I mean by "processing your notebook" and why that's the step that makes this whole system work!
Remember, this video is updated every Wednesday, so don’t miss it! Head to The Pink Bee app to watch now.
Friend, don’t forget—just 15 minutes of planning today can set the tone for your entire week. You’ve got the tools, you’ve got the tips, and now it’s time to take action. Let’s crush this week together!
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