The "Tired but Trying" client

Hi colleagues,

As we enter the last stretch of 2025, many of the clients I’m seeing are navigating a mix of overwhelm, transition pressure, and challenges with the “last push itchies” - challenges with the executive function skill of goal-orientation needed to get tasks and projects over the line. I wanted to share a brief reflection from my practice this year, along with something I’m offering in early 2026 that may be useful to keep in mind for certain clients.

The case of “last push itchies”

A theme emerging this past quarter with my neurodivergent clients right now is what I think of as the “last push itchies.”

They’re showing up, participating in their work and exam studies, and doing their best - but their planning bandwidth, emotional capacity, energy levels, and sense of momentum are dipping.

It’s not a case of not knowing what they want to get over the line. It’s just that it’s excruuuuuciating gathering all the executive functioning skills required to get a task or project to completion:

• Planning, and sticking to the plan when shiny things and procrastination pull attention away.

• The novelty and curiosity evaporate mid-project or mid-study, which means the getting started gear (task initiation executive function skill) is jammed, and it takes all kinds of brain trickery to ignite interest to get started again.

• Being open to take a step back and investigate new ways of proceeding - this is cognitive flexibility to stop doggedly ploughing ahead, to work smarter not harder, to get the damn thing over the finish line.

Two things seem to be helping most:

• Very small, realistic structures that honour the ways our brain may show up inconsistently day to day

• A change in environment, with opportunity for new connection (in any form - a physical environment shake-up, or connection in online community with peers or other professionals)

I’m finding this combination is often more stabilising than adding more systems, or working on developing EF skills alone.

New February Support Option

I’ll be running The ADHD University Student Coaching Group - a small, online 8-week group in February for university students with ADHD (formal diagnosis or purely EF challenges welcome). This is for students who would benefit from more structure, gentle accountability, and a safe place to build sustainable routines and skills alongside others navigating similar challenges.

It includes weekly group sessions, resources & recordings to keep, tasks to implement in between sessions - plus a bonus 1:1 online private session with me to help participants to get the most out of the course, and the year ahead.
The final session dates and times will be set in collaboration with the participants. I also like to discuss the cost with participants directly, as I have a few payment options.

If a student comes to mind who might benefit from something like this, you’re welcome to reach out or pass the info on. You can download the flyer below by clicking on it, or here. My email address ([email protected]) is shared on the PDF below - that’s the best way to get hold of me.

How “Tired but Trying” shows up in sessions

A student recently described feeling “fine on paper, but empty underneath.” Whenever I hear versions of this, it always makes me think of the swan gliding along the water - graceful (masking?) on top, with little legs furiously paddling under water.

What shifted things for my client wasn’t more productivity tools, but the relief of working with her energy and creating a life outside of her studies, while being supported with bite-sized, doable planning. That blend is what I aim to recreate in February with the student group.

My favourite question for this time of the year

If there’s anything you’d like more information on, or if you’re seeing similar trends in your practice, hit reply to let me know! I’d love to connect.

Strength for the last push of the year!

Warm regards,