It’s Been a While… Task Initiation and Self-Reflection

Written By Dr. Cristina Louk

It’s been a while.

My goal with this blog was to write something monthly, but this month got away from me.

Ah… who am I kidding? This month didn’t get away from me. That’s just an excuse we ADHDers use to hide the fact that we were struggling with just getting started.

That’s where I am coming from today. My ADHD and the struggle with task initiation.

Task initiation is simply the ability to get started engaging in a task. This ability is a part of our executive functioning and one reason why we may “procrastinate”. The other reason we procrastinate is that our brains love that rush of dopamine a tight deadline provides us (but I digress…)

So… what do you do when you are having a hard time starting a task that isn’t deadline-driven or maybe something you even really want to do but just can’t seem to find that motivation?

While I would love to say “do this” and it works perfectly every time, I can’t. The truth is that the skill needed will be person and situation specific.

For starting the task of writing this blog today, while it was on my to-do list day after day for the past 29 days, I kept putting it off. Yes, I circled back… only long enough to forward it to the next list until I only had a couple of days left of the month. What it ultimately took for me to write this blog was inspiration and that came from me reflecting upon the facets of my task initiation struggles.

What I learned from the experience of writing this blog today was not that inspiration is crucial to being successful with task initiation, but self-reflection is key to learning how to turn our struggles into our strengths. It was through self-reflection that I saw what I needed in that moment. Perhaps I can use this for similar situations in the future?

What do you do to be self-reflective? Today, I encourage you to take the tool of self-reflection and look back at that last task you just couldn’t get started with. What did it take for you to get started? Can you do that again in similar situations? Why did that work at that time for you?

At the end of the day, we need to take stock of the tools already in our toolbox and start to use them more intentionally. It was by no mistake that we made it this far. We already have the strengths at our ready, we just need to remember that they are there ready for use to use them.

Dr. Cristina Louk

Hi! I am Dr. Cristina Louk and I help ADHDers just like you: ones that are tired of feeling isolated overwhelmed, or disconnected and ones that are ready to live their BEST life.

I can help you have more confidence, experience more happiness, and feel more in control of your future.

Many of today’s solutions for ADHD are a one-size fits all approach which leads many to feel unheard. However, I know your circumstances are unique, so I provide you with an integrative approach that is personalized and tailored to your life and your personal goals.

My training in neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Learning Disorders) means that I have the expertise you need and deserve when learning how to minimize your ADHD challenges and maximize your ADHD strengths. But at the end of the day, you want to know you’re working with someone who “gets” what it means to be someone who wants to succeed in life but who also struggles with ADHD, right?

I get it because I also have ADHD and have learned firsthand how to overcome its many challenges. I know how hard it is to live with ADHD, and how easy it is to use skills that help me reach my goals. So when we work together, you won’t just get a trained therapist. You’ll get someone who truly understands what you are going through.

https://www.peacehumanistic.com
Previous

Clutter bug… Does your stuff have you down?
Next

Auditory Processing Disorder: If you didn’t see me write it down…