sahri avatar
sahri
1
1 year ago

How do you deal with task avoidance?

I usually plan my work and personal life down to every detail of every little task. I’m actually perceived by coworkers and friends as a very organized person and I have productivity systems for everything. However, when it’s time to actually DO the tasks I planned, I’m no longer interested in them and avoid them as much as possible. Then, I need to plan again with new deadlines because I obviously missed all of them. How do you deal with task avoidance?

adhdartist2023 avatar
adhdartist2023
1y

I break the task down until I find the subtask that doesn't make my stomach hurt. Once I know that the job isn't as nasty as I've built it up to be (I think most tasks are horrifying) and get my foot in the door, I can finish it and invariably shake my head because it's something that took like 5 minutes to do. You could also try TEMPTATION BUNDLING. This is where you pair whatever your guilty pleasure is with the task you really don't want to do. Like doing the dishes while watching your favorite videos on your iPad, which is what I do. The trick is only to watch the videos or eat caramel popcorn when you're doing these icky tasks. I haul my iPad around and watch Nordic noir crime shows when I fold laundry or do dishes - only when I don't want to be doing them. I hope that helps!

 avatar
1y

I have no help to offer, I need to organize my closet but I’m on the app lol I am trying a reward system as if I was a child. If I organize the closet I get to do something fun afterwards as a reward👌🏻

notagain avatar
notagain
1y

I do the same thing. Plan, plan, plan. Never do, do, do. The list has become soooo long. Now I’m completely overwhelmed and fidgety and stuck all at the same time. So what I’m hearing from the group is to make a list of what HAS to be done today (laundry, dishes, shower, etc), carry the list around the house with me & cross them off as I complete them. And start with the ugliest one first! Okay. Cleaning the toilets is first! Haha!

jensneon avatar
jensneon
1y

I deal with this also, but one thing that helps me is to write everything down on physical paper or a task list. I cross it off as I go, and that visual of it going away helps me so much. Someone also recommended on here to write tasks after you’ve done them and cross them off, and the feeling of that also gets me motivated to do more.

BluFoxFire avatar
BluFoxFire
1y

I try to just tell myself to do it, self motivate in my head, I also do the tasks I hate doing first because if I put it off till last I’m in agony mentally and it seems physically as well. So I homeschooled my kids for a few years when they were young, they homeschool program I used said to start the day with MATH ugh really I thought that’s the one I’d fight them on the most the subject they struggled in the one they hated. I thought it would be starting the day out on a bad foot and they would just be grumpy and unwilling to do anything else so I said nope I’m doing it my math last. Well a day came that I decided to try the math first approach, it actually worked they did it but weren’t grumpy all day and we got it done. Because leaving it for last made it easier to skip out on doing it as well. So now I do the worst first and reward myself after it. However it does not stop me from literally crying while doing the dishes, hand washing them, and eventually turning to anger and calling all of the dishes dirty little whores 🤣🤣 I hope my neighbor doesn’t come to the door one day to borrow something and hear me because I’m mean to those dishes and she’s gonna think I’m talking to my family like that lol 🤣🤣

notagain avatar
notagain
1y

I cuss my dishes too! And almost every other inanimate object in my house at times!

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