Task initiation

[daniegirl6224]

Really struggling with task initiation. Any tips/ideas?

 

[Xinyta]

It depends on what you are talking about. Any specifics you like to share? Or is it just over all?

But generally speaking. If you cannot find yourself motivated to do tasks. I would look at things like sleep schedule, eating habits, and personal behaviors/habits. Not to say you are necessarily are doing anything wrong. However. I've found that how we handle ourselves, has a lot to do with how we handle interaction with people and world around us. Tweaks to how we do things, can make a world of difference.

 

[AuAL]

@daniegirl6224 if, like me, you are “paralysed”, knowing there is some particular thing you need to do but just not getting started on it, I have found it useful to think about the task, find some simple little thing that is part of it and just do that. Then, “OK, what’s next?” Keep the “stepping stones” very small and simple to start with (but make sure they are part of the overall task, not time-wasters.) I have struggled with this aspect of executive function for years, but found this “take a nibble of the elephant” to be a helpful strategy.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I certainly struggle with this. Even if it is something I want to do.

I have some success with AuAL's method.

 

[Outdated]

Really struggling with task initiation. Any tips/ideas?

It seems to be a common problem amongst autistic people, procrastination. I seem to form mental blocks against doing certain things and they're quite difficult to break.

 

[FilterFreq]

It depends on the task, but normally I like to pair activities I actually like doing with those I dislike.

For example:

- Can I listen to music while I do said task?
- Can I watch movies / youtube while I do said task?
- Can I read a book while doing said task?

If any one of these is a "yes", then that kind of sweetens the deal.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I don't know why people do this to themselves. Rationally, all this procrastination is simply creating stress. Had we just started early and taken our time with the process, whatever we needed to get done would have been so much less stressful, our mind thinking clearly, resulting in a much better job, and it would be done earlier.

I know, it sounds easy when I write it out like this, but I have been a victim of my own procrastination, been there, done that, too many times to count.

Sometimes it takes a little too long to gain wisdom.

 

[Outdated]

Had we just started early and taken our time with the process, whatever we needed to get done would have been so much less stressful, our mind thinking clearly, resulting in a much better job, and it would be done earlier.

The ridiculous part for me is that I'm well disciplined and I have exceptional organisational skills as well as a strong sense of duty. Where other people are relying on me I never let them down but that doesn't translate to doing my own housework.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I don't know why people do this to themselves. Rationally, all this procrastination is simply creating stress. Had we just started early and taken our time with the process, whatever we needed to get done would have been so much less stressful, our mind thinking clearly, resulting in a much better job, and it would be done earlier.

I know, it sounds easy when I write it out like this, but I have been a victim of my own procrastination, been there, done that, too many times to count.

Sometimes it takes a little too long to gain wisdom.

This is an interesting comment. I don't know about others, but I certainly know and understand it makes far more sense just to do it than to waste all the time and emotional energy procrastinating. In fact, I've known it all my life.

Often I find that the task I've been avoiding is far easier than I anticipated. I complete it with relief and notice that I have wasted way more time and energy than just completing the task.

So the question is: How can we, or at least I, as an intelligent and independent human being keep on procrastinating?

I think it has something to so with what some call "agency." I lack the agency to make the change. (Not all the time, of course.)

So, what is agency? I know how it feels, but have been unable to identify it. Dictionary definitions refer to having power. I don't believe it is knowledge that keeps us back here. I believe it has more to do with lacking to power to make the change. (Maybe not enough spoons?)

 

[Mono]

Procrastination gives me stress as well, even if there's only a few tiny things that I need to do. I've learned that as soon as I get restless, I make a list of all the things I want/need to do and then cross them off one by one. Honestly I don't do them because I want to, it's about getting rid of my restlessness

 

[Tom]

I do have some mental tricks I do, though I don't believe they translate well. It seems its a matter of finding what motivates you personally and using it as leverage.

 

[daniegirl6224]

@daniegirl6224 if, like me, you are “paralysed”, knowing there is some particular thing you need to do but just not getting started on it, I have found it useful to think about the task, find some simple little thing that is part of it and just do that. Then, “OK, what’s next?” Keep the “stepping stones” very small and simple to start with (but make sure they are part of the overall task, not time-wasters.) I have struggled with this aspect of executive function for years, but found this “take a nibble of the elephant” to be a helpful strategy.

Yes it’s paralyzing! I spend hours most days trying to get started on basic tasks but simply not being able to start it is so hard and frustrating. I really like that mindset- to take a nibble out of the elephant. Thank you!

 

[daniegirl6224]

I do have some mental tricks I do, though I don't believe they translate well. It seems it’s a matter of finding what motivates you personally and using it as leverage.

Hi Tom, could you try to translate your tips? I would love to hear them

 

[George Newman]

I do have some mental tricks I do, though I don't believe they translate well. It seems its a matter of finding what motivates you personally and using it as leverage.

Like making a short to-do list that can be managed and items can be checked off? To me this is enough motivation.

 

[Tom]

Hi Tom, could you try to translate your tips? I would love to hear them

OK I can try. Basically I use 4 approaches.

The Carrot - I decide upon a personal reward if I do such and such. For example I will reward myself with a nice cup of coffee/tea after I do the dishes and take the dogs out. Or allow myself to buy something if I do extra work, overtime, etc.

The Tiny Tim - I do have an admiration for people who slog on despite infirmity, adversity, etc. So when looking at something I would rather not do I think about people who have it much harder and slightly embarrassed to be stalling/complaining, I get up.

Big Boy Pants - A simple assessment and determination to grow up temporarily.

The Shame - I try to avoid shaming others, but have no problem doing it too myself. But its usually tempered with humor/absurdity. I'll mentally visualize someone funny like John Cleese chastising me with something like 'You slovenly soldier! You grubby loathsome worm! What sort of lazy, self pitying pile of pathetitude are you? Now get up and (whatever)." Having had a military career it's easy to conjur up such good memories.

 

[stevens]

Once I get started, many pleasant hours of focus follow whenever I work on a project. When I was younger, isolated in the middle grades of school, all of the special interests were a refuge. Over the decades of life since, I have been canceled or ridiculed because of some of those interests. People find out I like something, and they come for it, because the know it's a way to hurt me. I'm not denying that I'm weird or off-putting to some people. The reaction of social groups generally was excessive though.

Decades ago I found a great job, but it wasn't in my primary field of interest. I developed skills and interests in the new specialty, which worked well for me as long as I had good management that was encouraging. Coworkers always tried to cancel me. I managed to work in that field for nearly 20 years. Unfortunately, now that I've retired I've been socially canceled by colleagues and the work is far too capital intensive for me to do it on my own.

So I reverted to earlier interests. Problem is, there is so much PTSD surrounding the fallout from the social aspects of pursuing interests that I have trouble getting motivated and started with things, even though I'm doing these things alone again.

This disappoints me. I've learned that investment in social pursuits is largely a waste of my time, and I'd like to leave the impact of prior social rejections on these solitary interests far behind.