Meet Emily Guerra

We were lucky to catch up with Emily Guerra recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

When I was a kid, I had undiagnosed ADHD, which meant I had to work twice as hard just to get B’s in school. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I started obsessively systemizing everything—my homework, my chores, my schedule, even the way I organized my closet—because it was the only way I could keep up. That structure became my unofficial ADHD medication, and it quietly laid the foundation for the mindful productivity coaching business I run today, The Productivity Flow.

Nowadays, my self-discipline doesn’t come from willpower. It comes from the systems, routines, and workflows I’ve built. I design my environment to reduce friction, make decisions ahead of time, and create momentum with small, consistent wins.

My systems ARE my self-discipline because they remove the need for constant motivation. Humans often make the mistake of waiting for motivation to magically arise, but that’s not how the brain works. So my systems automate the hard parts—like getting started, staying focused, knowing what’s next—so I can show up consistently without relying on pressure or perfectionism. Discipline becomes less about pushing and more about flowing, and that’s exactly what makes it sustainable.

That’s also the difference between burnout and balance—and it’s what I teach my productivity coaching clients every day.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a Productivity Life Coach, speaker, and founder of The Productivity Flow, where I help self-employed women—especially solopreneurs and hybrid workers—ditch the hustle culture and build a work-from-home lifestyle they actually love. My work is all about blending productivity with balance, using a mindful, neuroscience-backed approach that helps women get things done without burning out.

What makes my coaching so special is that it’s not just about to-do lists and calendars—it’s about the why behind the overwhelm. I draw from therapy tools, neuroscience, and my own experience navigating ADHD and entrepreneurship to help my clients design systems, routines, and mindset shifts that actually work for them. The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to do what matters, in a way that’s sustainable and energizing.

I think we’ve all seen what happens when we push ourselves too hard for too long: burnout, resentment, loss of motivation. The women I work with are ambitious, driven, and deeply passionate, but they’re also tired of constantly feeling behind. That’s why The Productivity Flow exists: to offer a new path forward. One where you can make meaningful progress and still have a life, relationships, and rest.

If that resonates, I’d love to invite you to join my free Facebook community, where I share tips, trainings (aka free coaching!), and behind-the-scenes support on creating your own version of balanced productivity. It’s a space for real talk, real tools, and real encouragement. You can find it by searching “Freelancer Freedom Lifestyle” on Facebook or clicking this link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/theproductivityflow/

I’d love to welcome you in!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the 3 most impactful things in my journey have been: 1) learning to regulate my emotions and understand myself deeply, 2) developing systems thinking, and 3) mastering time and energy management.

1) Self-awareness and emotional regulation were game changers. Early on, I didn’t realize how much my inner world was running the show. Things like anxiety, overthinking, or perfectionism were quietly dictating my productivity (or lack thereof). Once I started paying attention to my patterns—when I focus best, what triggers procrastination, how I react under pressure—I could work with myself instead of against myself.

> Advice: Start by building in daily check-ins with yourself. Even 5 minutes of reflection or journaling at the end of the workday can help you spot patterns and self-regulate before burnout hits.

2) Systems thinking helped me stop reinventing the wheel. As someone with ADHD, I used to constantly feel like I was “catching up” or scrambling. Learning to create repeatable workflows—whether for my business, my content, or my morning routine—was like giving my brain a map to follow. Systems give you clarity, save time, and reduce the mental load.

> Advice: Anytime you find yourself doing something more than once, ask: “How can I turn this into a system?” Start small. Templates, checklists, and batching are great first steps.

3) Time and energy management taught me to stop measuring success by how busy I am. I used to think productivity meant doing more, but now I know it’s about doing the right things, at the right times, in a way that feels sustainable. I’ve learned to prioritize my energy just as much as my schedule.

> Advice: Don’t just plan your day. Plan around your energy. Identify your peak focus windows and protect them. Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a resource.

These 3 areas continue to shape not only how I run my business, but how I help my clients create workdays that feel grounded, intentional, and actually fulfilling.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, the first thing I do is pause—not push. I either meditate or take a few deep, intentional breaths to calm my nervous system and reactivate my prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking and decision-making. When your amygdala (the brain’s fear center and what’s driving the overwhelm) is in overdrive, it’s nearly impossible to think clearly. So the first step is always regulating the body before trying to fix the problem.

Once I’ve reset, I do a brain dump. I get everything out of my head and onto paper. No filtering, no organizing, just clearing mental clutter. This helps me externalize the overwhelm so I’m not using precious energy to keep track of everything in my mind.

Then I ask: What’s the one thing I can do right now that will actually move the needle? I choose just one meaningful task, set a timer, and get started—even if it’s just for 10 minutes. That small action breaks the freeze and builds momentum. Afterward, I make it a point to celebrate the progress and give myself a little reward, even something simple like a walk or a nice coffee.

That positive reinforcement really matters. Why? Because you’re teaching your brain that momentum feels better than a meltdown. You’re rewiring it to associate progress with safety, not pressure.

Overwhelm thrives in chaos and perfectionism. Your job isn’t to do everything—it’s to calm your system, choose one clear next step, and simply begin. Real progress isn’t about speed or perfection. It’s about being consistent and compassionate with yourself along the way.

So go ahead and steal my process for getting out of overwhelm. It’s simple, science-backed, and it actually works.

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