ADHD Procrastination - three kinds, three why's and strategies for you.
ADHD Coach Katherine Sanders
ADHD and Procrastination - three kinds of procrastination, three causes and more than three ways for you to get long-term strategies in place.
Warning: This podcast contains ADVANCED strategies for ADHD procrastination - but you'll love them when you understand how they get to the roots of your stickiness for good.
In this episode of "ADHD Powerful Possibilities," Katherine, your friendly ADHD coach, explores the nuanced relationship between ADHD and procrastination, especially within the context of entrepreneurship. Understanding Procrastination - is it about laziness?
The ADHD Brain and Procrastination: Dive into how the ADHD brain's wiring and executive function challenges intensify procrastination. Learn about impulsivity, the need for immediate rewards, and the difficulty in perceiving tasks as interesting unless they align with personal interests.
Three types of Procrastination and three reasons ADHD can make them feel even worse?
Strategies to Overcome Procrastination: From enhancing self-efficacy and task value to managing impulsivity, discover a variety of strategies tailored for the ADHD entrepreneur.
Learn about micro-tasking, engagement shifting and a sneaky mention of my new book on Procrastination.
Next episode:we discuss why focusing on strengths rather than deficits can significantly improve daily life and self-perception for those with ADHD.
Connect with me on Instagram or by email for further discussions, insights, and personal stories related to ADHD and entrepreneurship.
Remember, everything is possible. Stay tuned for more powerful possibilities with Katherine, your ADHD coach.
Connect with Katherine here:
Previous episode on Procrastination: https://pod.fo/e/20d8ca
Hear about my new Procrastination Book soon: Click Here.
- Dopamine & Motivation in ADHD:
- Volkow, N. D., Wang, G.-J., Newcorn, J. H., Telang, F., Solanto, M. V., Fowler, J. S. & Swanson, J. M. (2007). Depressed dopamine activity in caudate and preliminary evidence of limbic involvement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(8), 932-940.
- Prefrontal Cortex & ADHD:
- Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). Toward a new understanding of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder pathophysiology: an important role for prefrontal cortex dysfunction. CNS Drugs, 23(Suppl 1), 33-41.
Segment 2: Emotional Drivers of Procrastination
- Emotional Dysregulation & Procrastination:
- Barkley, R. A. (2015). Emotional dysregulation is a core component of ADHD. In Handbook of emotion regulation (2nd ed., pp. 15-35). Guilford Publications.
- Procrastination as Mood Repair:
- Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. A. (2013). Procrastination and the priority of short-term mood regulation: Consequences for future self. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(2), 115-127.
Segment 3: Practical Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination
- Micro-tasking & ADHD:
- Tuckman, B. W. (2005). The effect of motivational scaffolding on procrastinatorsβ distance learning outcomes. Computers & Education, 49(2), 414-422.
- Engagement Shifting Techniques:
- Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Demler, O., ... & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2006). The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 716-723.
- ADHD & Executive Function:
- Faraone, S. V., & Biederman, J. (2005). What is the prevalence of adult ADHD? Results of a population screen of 966 adults. Journal of Attention Disorders, 9(2), 384-391.
- Neurobiology of ADHD:
- Shaw, P., Eckstrand, K., Sharp, W., Blumenthal, J., Lerch, J. P., Greenstein, D., ... & Rapoport, J. L. (2007). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by a delay in cortical maturation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(49), 19649-19654.
Segment 2: Emotional Drivers of Procrastination
- ADHD & Emotional Regulation:
- Nigg, J. T., & Casey, B. J. (2005). An integrative theory of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder based on the cognitive and affective neurosciences. Neuropsychology Review, 15(3), 144-174.
- Procrastination, Emotion, and ADHD:
- Steel, P., & Klingsieck, K. B. (2016). Academic procrastination: Psychological antecedents revisited. American Psychological Association, 57(1), 5-15.
Segment 3: Practical Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination
- Behavioral Strategies in ADHD:
- Solanto, M. V. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult ADHD: Targeting executive dysfunction. The Guilford Press.
- ADHD, Motivation, and Task Engagement:
- Safren, S. A., Sprich, S., Mimiaga, M. J., Surman, C., Knouse, L., Groves, M., & Otto, M. W. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy vs relaxation with educational support for medication-treated adults with ADHD and persistent symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 304(8), 875-880.
Transcript
Welcome back to ADHD Powerful Possibilities.
2
:I'm your friend, ADHD Coach Katherine, and
today we are looking at procrastination.
3
:Specifically, what happens when ADHD?
4
:You're procrastinating, but you are
also the person who is Completely
5
:in charge of your business.
6
:Unfortunately, I still have
my ongoing throat problems.
7
:So bear with me.
8
:I will edit out the coughs, the
throat clears, as far as I can,
9
:and let's look at what happens.
10
:with ADHD and procrastination.
11
:I don't know a single person who
hasn't procrastinated, and I'm
12
:going to say up front, everyone
with a brain procrastinates.
13
:But with ADHD, we're talking about Olympic
levels when it comes to putting off work.
14
:We need to do, we know we need
to do, and we just don't do it.
15
:So what happens in your brain
that makes it So difficult to get
16
:past and how can you overcome it?
17
:The biggest challenge we have
with procrastination is this idea
18
:that somehow it means we're lazy
19
:but that's not what procrastination is.
20
:It doesn't mean choosing not to do
something because you don't feel like it.
21
:It means Putting things off,
even though you know you are
22
:going to suffer for it later.
23
:So let's get very clear,
what is procrastination?
24
:And then we're going to look at why
is it so common for people with ADHD.
25
:And then we're going to look, as always,
at some practical tools and strategies
26
:and ideas that you can play with.
27
:There are two possible roots for the
word procrastination, one is from the
28
:Greek which means doing something
against our own best interest.
29
:We're actively doing something
that's going to harm us.
30
:And there's a Latin root as well.
31
:Which is procrastinary, crass, being,
tomorrow, putting off things for tomorrow,
32
:and these two roots, I think, sum up why
ADHD people have such a problem with it.
33
:On the one hand, what matters to us
now is more interesting and important
34
:than what we need to do long term.
35
:And also, Tomorrow is not now.
36
:Now is where we are and sometimes we
even have problems imagining tomorrow.
37
:We'll go into this in more depth.
38
:Even the definition should give
you some idea that procrastination
39
:isn't the same as laziness.
40
:And I have to admit, I
did this at the weekend.
41
:I had big plans.
42
:I had written all the scripts
for a month's worth of podcasts.
43
:I'd written them all out late at night,
got everything lined up and I was
44
:going to record them at the weekend.
45
:And then it was more important in
the moment to spend time with my
46
:daughter and my dog, than it was
to actually record these podcasts,
47
:even though I knew it would do me
harm because I have a busy week.
48
:So procrastination doesn't go
away just because you understand
49
:it, and you know what it is.
50
:And I also thought it was quite funny
that I had planned to record this podcast
51
:and then I procrastinated about it
52
:and it's that act of delaying
something even when we know the
53
:negative consequences that gives
procrastination its unique quality
54
:and it isn't just laziness.
55
:For people who aren't ADHD.
56
:It can come from a lack of motivation,
it can be fear, it could be avoidance,
57
:it could even be perfectionism.
58
:And yes, all of those factors come into
why people with ADHD avoid doing things.
59
:We also have perfectionist tendencies.
60
:We also sometimes just
don't feel very motivated.
61
:But our brains are in themselves are
differently structured and wired,
62
:which is why it is so much harder
to get out of procrastination.
63
:So let's look at your brain.
64
:First of all, your executive
functions are challenged in ADHD.
65
:There's a deficit, there's a lack, and
not everyone is the same in each of these
66
:areas, but they are all the problems
that we experience most commonly.
67
:Day to day.
68
:So think of the mental skills that allow
you to quickly switch tasks, to manage
69
:your time, to plan activities, to prepare.
70
:To remember details
and to organize things.
71
:These are all part of your executive
functions, as is emotional regulation.
72
:And these are all critical when it
comes to overcoming procrastination.
73
:If we can't manage these executive
functions, it's so much more
74
:challenging to break out of that cycle.
75
:We're also wired for impulsivity.
76
:And instant reward.
77
:One of the things I see a lot with
parents is they come along, they've
78
:got these reward charts, the reward
charts aren't working, they're confused.
79
:And I have to explain, it's because our
brains see the reward now or not now.
80
:And don't take this the wrong way,
but it's a bit like shouting at your
81
:dog for something they did last week.
82
:The dog has no memory of
why you're shouting at it.
83
:Might make you feel better in
the short term, but it's not
84
:going to change their behaviour.
85
:The same thing with reward and ADHD.
86
:We want something now, and if
we do something, we need to be
87
:rewarded for it almost immediately.
88
:Like many things it can be learned.
89
:Generally we need to have the
reward closer to the action
90
:and that's why we tend
to prioritize immediate.
91
:Satisfaction, immediate, feeling
good, over long term rewards.
92
:And there are several studies that back
this up that show a short term reward
93
:is much more attractive for people with
ADHD than the neurotypical population
94
:and it's one of the problems with us
having long term goals and visions.
95
:We're also much more likely
to perceive or see a task as
96
:being more difficult than it is.
97
:Feels difficult, so we avoid it.
98
:If something is boring or
challenging, it's going to
99
:trigger our avoidance behaviour.
100
:And
101
:again, this is connected to our
reward system, lack of dopamine
102
:that is so common in ADHD.
103
:I have seen clients being able to
learn that completion is the key.
104
:more motivating than not
starting, but that takes time.
105
:That's an advanced level of self coaching.
106
:And in the short term, you're much more
likely to think, meh, doesn't feel good.
107
:I'm not going to do it.
108
:So we're more likely to avoid
things that are challenging.
109
:And of course that's
part of procrastination.
110
:And also, we've got the importance
versus interest nervous system.
111
:When people give you an Eisenhower
matrix and they say, this is important
112
:and urgent, this is not urgent,
not important, none of that matters
113
:if you have ADHD because it can be
really urgent and really important.
114
:If it's not interesting.
115
:You are going to find it much harder to
engage with that activity and depending on
116
:your flavor or recipe of ADHD, that could
mean that things like taxes are important,
117
:they could be urgent, but they're
not very interesting on the surface.
118
:So again, the procrastination comes
into play and we put them off.
119
:And finally, That emotional
dysregulation I mentioned at the start
120
:in general executive function terms.
121
:Emotional dysregulation is the
key to most of ADHD's challenges
122
:because any task or activity
associated with a negative emotion
123
:is going to be put in the not now,
"I'll deal with it tomorrow" bin.
124
:We're also more sensitive to negative
feedback or perceived negative
125
:feedback, that rejection sensitivity.
126
:It's not that other people don't
experience it, but the Pain,
127
:the impact of that negative
feedback is so much stronger.
128
:Again we will postpone it and delay
it in favour of something that we
129
:can do now and that is much more
enjoyable and is avoiding that pain.
130
:Although everyone procrastinates,
if you have ADHD, the parts of your
131
:brain that create the ADHD are also
the parts of your brain involved in
132
:getting tasks done and avoiding them.
133
:Before you start designing any hacks
or strategies or tips, make sure
134
:that you really understand your ADHD.
135
:What your particular challenges
are and how you respond to things
136
:like a negative emotion, a negative
feedback, things that are challenging.
137
:Listen to the ideas and the meaning
that you give something when it's hard.
138
:And now we're going to
look at procrastination.
139
:We can give it three labels, although
it is still all part of the same
140
:thing, and it doesn't mean you can't
experience one or more at the same
141
:time, just to make it more complicated.
142
:But these are avoidance, arousal,
143
:and decision procrastination.
144
:We'll go through each of them in
turn to explore them a little bit
145
:more and you might recognize one or
other or all three being the thing
146
:that's keeping you stuck right now.
147
:The first one is arousal procrastination.
148
:It's not as exciting as it sounds.
149
:It's about the deadline and the impact
of a deadline or a frame around a task.
150
:And the reason this one is particularly
enticing for people with ADHD is if
151
:you have a lack of dopamine, or your
dopamine isn't quite where it should
152
:be in terms of getting started on tasks
you might be relying on adrenaline.
153
:Now, a deadline, which is close
enough, is going to create some stress,
154
:which is going to create adrenaline,
and that will temporarily increase.
155
:Give you the hyperfocus that
you need to get the task done
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:that last minute night before the
deadline for a project for a quote
157
:for your tax return, the ability to
focus for five or six hours straight.
158
:That's adrenaline, and that in itself is
not A great thing to rely on long term.
159
:Arousal, procrastination, where
we're needing the adrenaline of the
160
:deadline, the pressure of the deadline.
161
:Long term is more likely
to lead you to burnout.
162
:Because you are going to experience
anxiety and stress, along with
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:that adrenaline hyperfocus.
164
:And the anxiety and stress are negative,
which will lead you to procrastinate more.
165
:The next kind of
procrastination is avoidance.
166
:And this one's connected to a fear
of failure, a fear of judgment,
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:sometimes even a fear of success.
168
:If you complete this task and
do it well, is it going to be
169
:expected of you every time?
170
:So fearing success as much as failure
and judgment is part of our avoidance
171
:structure, which is protection, right?
172
:But if we never try something
because we've procrastinated and
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:it's Nobody's going to judge us
or our performance in this task.
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:We can't fail because we've never begun.
175
:And if we don't fail, people aren't
going to be saying look at them.
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:What do they think they're doing?
177
:It's about protecting yourself.
178
:And I use the word self esteem because
people who have good self worth,
179
:And who are confident in themselves
generally find this one less of a
180
:problem because you're more likely to
be certain of your value without needing
181
:other people to praise you constantly.
182
:So if you find yourself using
avoidance procrastination, you
183
:might want to be thinking I have
some work to do on my self worth.
184
:Because the more we do this kind of
procrastination, over time, it can
185
:seriously limit our potential for
growth, for development, for new
186
:opportunities, and that just reinforces
a negative self image over time.
187
:So try and avoid, avoidance
procrastination, or recognize it and
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:then do some work on what's causing it.
189
:And then the last one.
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:Decisional paralysis or procrastination
is the one that many people think of.
191
:The analysis paralysis, decisional.
192
:Procrastination is both a fear
response but also an ADHD executive
193
:function challenge because we're
literally trying to run all of
194
:these analyses at the same time.
195
:But are you avoiding a decision because
you're scared of making the wrong choice?
196
:And of course when we have executive
function challenges on top, we can
197
:sometimes struggle to take pieces
apart and analyze them calmly
198
:because looking at all the
potential outcomes is just too much.
199
:So we don't do anything at all.
200
:Looking at each of those three kinds of
procrastination, it should be obvious that
201
:ADHD turns the intensity of them up so far
because of the way our brains work anyway.
202
:It's not just about time management,
it's about our emotional regulation,
203
:our impulsivity, and how we
make decisions and choices.
204
:But until you've taken some
time to understand which kind of
205
:procrastination you're dealing with,
it's going to be harder for you to
206
:identify the underlying root cause.
207
:Think of it like one of these big
Jenga blocks with the bricks that
208
:you take out to topple the tower.
209
:If your procrastination is a tower, we
need to remove blocks from the bottom if
210
:we want to knock the whole structure down
211
:do that.
212
:We're going to look at why procrastination
happens and unpacking the why
213
:behind these three kinds is going
to help you to get clearer still.
214
:One is lower self efficacy.
215
:That's a fancy way of saying we
have less confidence that we can
216
:do a job well, that we are capable.
217
:The second one is lower value given
to tasks and activities and of course
218
:impulsivity, and we're going to look
at each of these three to help you
219
:explore them a bit more in your life.
220
:Looking at lower self efficacy is really
important with ADHD because of the
221
:emotional regulation challenges we have.
222
:It basically refers to how we believe
we are going to succeed or accomplish
223
:a task or complete a situation.
224
:There are many reasons why somebody
with ADHD can have lower self
225
:efficacy than their neighbour.
226
:That could be past
experiences from childhood.
227
:We receive more negative feedback, we're
more likely to struggle with things like
228
:homework and tasks that are valued by the
rest of society because of our ADHD brain.
229
:We have this low self
efficacy from an early age.
230
:We just don't think we're capable.
231
:Your confidence can be knocked really
quickly early on with a few badly timed
232
:words from somebody that you value,
like a parent or an adult in authority.
233
:we tend to think, I struggled before,
what's going to be different this time?
234
:I'm just not going to try because
I'm no good at this kind of thing.
235
:And that's one of the reasons why having
a group of people, a coach, somebody
236
:in your life who can cheer you on and
give you positive reinforcement and let
237
:you see how amazing you are can really
help when it comes to procrastination.
238
:Moving on to lower value.
239
:Now, this is about the significance
and interest of a task or activity.
240
:And if it's not.
241
:Valuable, that means it's not
aligned with our interests, it's
242
:not immediately rewarding, there's
no real engagement, it's maybe
243
:too easy or too hard in execution.
244
:That creates low value for our ADHD brains
245
:and it's not because
we're bored by something.
246
:It's because we need stimulation.
247
:An ADHD brain that is not adequately
challenged with a task that's interesting
248
:for us, personally, is going to be one
that finds it almost impossible to begin
249
:and engage with that task because we don't
have the neurotransmitters that fire
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:together and create the action of action.
251
:It's not that we won't.
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:Won't, we can't.
253
:So creating value is something that we
can work on and that we can learn to do
254
:but it's not generally taught in school.
255
:So don't feel bad if
you've never been able to.
256
:Create value in a task that
you just struggle with so much.
257
:And the need for our brain to engage
with tasks that are high reward or are
258
:in line with our preferred interests,
our values, explains why we need to find
259
:personal relevance in what we're doing.
260
:And I'll talk about that
a bit more later on.
261
:And finally, impulsivity.
262
:It's not just the classic squirrel.
263
:Interruption, although I have
to say my brain does that with
264
:alarming frequency, especially if
I see a cute dog in the street.
265
:Edinburgh's full of cute dogs.
266
:But impulsivity actually ties really
strongly with procrastination.
267
:So if you're somebody who's
very impulsive, and that doesn't
268
:necessarily mean you move a lot,
your brain can be impulsive, you're
269
:going to find procrastination
cropping up frequently for you.
270
:And that's because short term
enjoyment and pleasure will
271
:always override long term,
272
:valuable, long term outcomes.
273
:And two of the ways that I see
impulsivity showing up In disguise
274
:are an activity that procrastinates
the actual job or task that you had.
275
:And procrasti learning, as you
can imagine, is learning something
276
:so that, in theory, you can do
the thing you have to do better.
277
:But actually you're just putting it off.
278
:And that is a very ADHD thing and I'll
explain why I think it's particularly
279
:important for us in just a few minutes.
280
:So looking in depth at procrastivity,
You're more likely to take on other
281
:tasks that give you an immediate
feedback or are quickly completed
282
:and make you feel like you're
busy and you're active.
283
:You're not lazy, but you don't
actually get closer to the goal.
284
:So the task that you had to do.
285
:So that's things that feel like busy
work, but don't move the needle.
286
:An activity doesn't get you there, but
it makes you feel good in the short term.
287
:That's procrastivity.
288
:But we can get stuck in this procrastivity
cycle because at the end of the day
289
:we've been busy all day, we've been
active, we're no closer to our long term
290
:goals, and that makes us feel worse,
we become emotionally dysregulated,
291
:and so the next day, guess what, that
cycle is so much harder to break out of
292
:because you're emotionally avoiding it.
293
:Things that you didn't do yesterday
and that are making you feel worse.
294
:It allows us to cope in the short term
with those feelings of inaction, but it
295
:just leads to a cycle of rushed decisions,
overlooked details and incomplete goals.
296
:Procrastilearning is slightly different.
297
:It's what I call the learning loop and
I see a lot in business owners, anybody
298
:really, but especially in people who
are self employed and who have ADHD.
299
:That's quite a large number of us.
300
:It could be because we
genuinely love learning.
301
:That's one of my top
VIA character strengths.
302
:I love learning.
303
:It's very easy for me to get sucked
into this, but we get stuck in this
304
:endless cycle of doing more classes,
more courses, more qualifications,
305
:reading more books, following more
people, and we never actually learn.
306
:Take action.
307
:And it's great to have this
incredible curiosity, this
308
:wonder, this thirst for knowledge.
309
:It's one of our strengths, but
it's also an avoidance of failure.
310
:If we don't try, we can't fail.
311
:Nobody can judge us.
312
:So although it looks really positive
and worthwhile, it's always got to
313
:be seen through the lens of ADHD.
314
:Am I doing this because I
enjoy it and it's useful?
315
:Or am I doing it because I'm a bit
worried about taking action, being judged,
316
:failing, and how that will be perceived
by others, and what they might say about
317
:me, and what I believe about myself.
318
:It's also connected to our
need to absorb all the details.
319
:Ability to hyperfocus, our
thirst for information.
320
:These are all ADHD strengths, but
when they get in the way of you
321
:doing work and taking action, that's
procrasti learning, not just learning.
322
:And you can tie those two back
to what we looked at before, with
323
:impulsivity, the need for immediate
reward, the time management issue.
324
:These are all part of ADHD challenges
that are built in, hardwired to our brain.
325
:But the good news, of course, is that
we have neuroplasticity and we know it
326
:continues throughout your whole life.
327
:Before we get to the end, I want to say
that I have an ebook I've been working
328
:on for a while and it's sharing my own
framework for overcoming procrastination.
329
:I've shared it with a few people
now and they are really excited.
330
:So make sure that you are
signed up to my mailing list.
331
:I'll include a link if you want to be
notified about when that is available
332
:and it's Something that I think can
change how you work long term, and
333
:I've got a few surprises to go with it.
334
:But let's get back to the strategies about
ADHD and how to manage procrastination.
335
:First of all, I want to say you
do not have to be productive 24 7.
336
:It's really important that you're
getting adequate rest, sleep, you're
337
:making time for enjoyment and fun.
338
:If you're not doing that, don't
listen to the rest of this.
339
:Go away and make sure you've got
firm boundaries about your sleep,
340
:your time off, your weekends.
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:If you feel even slightly close to
burnout, step away from all productivity
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:advice and focus on restoring your
well being and your rest first.
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:Now those people have left the
room, let's get on with what you can
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:do if you need to get stuff done.
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:You have ADHD and you're
procrastinating, here are a few
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:strategies that you can play with.
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:Of course, there's the generic
productivity type advice,
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:Pomodoro timers, planners, etc.
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:They have their place.
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:I'm not saying they're useless, but
as you will know because you will
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:have tried them, they fall short
when it comes to undoing ADHD type of
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:procrastination, and that's because
of all the things we've just talked
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:about and how your brain works.
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:If you have taken the time to think
about which kind of procrastination
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:you're struggling with most, you'll
be able to listen to this section
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:and take the one that works for
you most or combine them together.
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:So make sure you've got a notebook
or I will make these into a download
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:that you can grab at the end.
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:Let's think about specific strategies
for each type and you can mix a much.
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:Experiment with these and see
which ones feel good for you.
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:One of the problems I see quite
often is that we try very generic,
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:neurotypical based productivity tips.
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:Such as a Pomodoro technique,
which is great in some ways.
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:But it doesn't address the
underlying causes of the problem
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:with ADHD, which isn't just.
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:Not being able to get started.
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:It's so much more than that.
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:And the way we do that is
we enhance ourself efficacy.
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:We raise the task value.
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:And then we put in place
impulsivity techniques.
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:It's always going to be part of
your natural operating system.
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:If you think about.
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:Your system as Mac versus windows.
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:You're going to run on safari.
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:When the rest of the world is.
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:Operating on windows.
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:But that doesn't mean
we can't do upgrades.
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:Right.
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:ArousalSo procrastination.
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:thrill seeker delay needing that energies.
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:adrenaline to give you the hyper-focus
to get started to complete the task.
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:Is classic.
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:ADHD How can you manage
arousal procrastination?
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:The key long term is
to create a structured.
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:Excitement.
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:in task completion itself.
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:I just finished talking to a client.
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:And saying exactly the same thing.
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:Completing a task.
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:Can become rewarding in itself.
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:No matter what the task
is when we address it.
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:Properly.
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:When we recognize it, we celebrate it.
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:We focus on the completion.
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:Not the task itself.
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:and one of the ways we can do that
is to build in mini circuit breaks.
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:Where we set an achievement,
we need to reach by that.
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:Time.
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:And then we celebrate it.
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:It's not just.
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:achieve task one tick achieve task
two tick; It's achieve task one.
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:Brilliant.
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:Fantastic.
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:And really focused on how good
we feel at reaching that goal.
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:That mini goal, that many deadline.
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:If you've ever had to train a puppy.
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:You get their attention by being
really excited and really celebrate.
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:when go outside to be when the sit down.
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:Rewarding.
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:That action makes it action.
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:A reward in itself.
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:We're going to do the same.
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:You can say.
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:A mini goal and many deadline.
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:And when you get there,
you're going to celebrate.
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:and really focus on how good it
feels to complete that stage.
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:You're going to believe that
you can achieve things more.
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:And it changes how you view yourself.
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:Which is, you learn to
self coach yourself.
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:To reach these goals.
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:That's the ultimate goal
is to be a good self coach.
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:With avoidance procrastination,
which is based in avoidance fear.
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:Self doubt, self efficacy issues.
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:We need to reframe the task
and reframe what it means.
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:As well as understand how to
structure it so that you cannot lose
426
:so on the one hand.
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:If you're avoiding it because
you're worried about how.
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:People will see you.
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:If you don't achieve something.
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:How small a step can make it.
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:This is based in Timothy Galway's
famous book, the inner game of tennis.
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:If you haven't read it
it's one of my favorites.
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:And you make each stage small enough.
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:So it's achievable.
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:And that will address your.
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:Doubt about whether you
can do something or not.
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:The other thing that can happen with
avoidance procrastination is low value.
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:If the task isn't valuable
because it has no meaning for you.
439
:Learning how to create meaning
and relevance for you for
440
:your own long term goals.
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:You all know long-term personal values.
442
:Is going to change a low value
task into something that you enjoy
443
:completing because it is in line with
your values and your longterm goals.
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:That's the reframe.
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:And the final kind of procrastination
decision or procrastination, which we
446
:know now is connected to our executive
functions so it's a structural issue,
447
:we need to develop our own.
448
:Clear prioritization framework.
449
:And we do that because
we simplify the choices.
450
:By having a clear criteria or a level.
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:For making those decisions and here
are two ideas for you to play with.
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:When it comes to.
453
:Managing procrastination generally.
454
:Micro tasking.
455
:And engagement shifting.
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:So micro tasking is literally
breaking each task down.
457
:Into the smallest possible step.
458
:Some people become overwhelmed
because they see this endless list
459
:of things that they need to do.
460
:The goal is to start taking
action really quickly.
461
:So you're constantly.
462
:Breaking it down and achieving things.
463
:It's about that immediate
reward and forward motion.
464
:So microtasking, isn't about building.
465
:500 step list of each
part of a project or task.
466
:It's about how.
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:Effectively, can we make progress
going through each element?
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:You're not writing an SOP.
469
:You don't need to record things.
470
:Other people need to know.
471
:This is only for you.
472
:And it's about being able to get that.
473
:Hit of having finished each stage quickly.
474
:Gives you immediate feedback.
475
:And accomplishment.
476
:The second tactic.
477
:engagement shifting.
478
:This is about.
479
:How we feel and think about a task.
480
:It's not about gaslighting yourself
or kidding on that something's
481
:really fun and exciting when it's not.
482
:It's a reframe that allows
you to engage with it from.
483
:A different position.
484
:different story that
you're telling yourself.
485
:And creating personal relevance.
486
:When something is personally relevant.
487
:It's so much easier to engage with
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:something that you may know.
489
:Immediately connect with
Managing procrastination.
490
:Is thinking about past success.
491
:Unless you have a clear record
of your past achievements, things
492
:that you have done well before.
493
:Going to be harder for
you to be accurate.
494
:About How effective you are,
what your self efficacy is.
495
:Because you need to
recognize your past success.
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:Two.
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:Be the foundation for your
future success and enjoyment.
498
:We need concrete evidence.
499
:That you can access quickly.
500
:To prove to yourself that you can do this.
501
:I believe you can, but
you need the evidence.
502
:The other thing that doesn't
appear immediately relevant
503
:to procrastination, but it is.
504
:Is thinking about your long term, meaning.
505
:And your mission, what is
your vision for your life?
506
:That may appear to have nothing
to do with procrastination.
507
:Unless you can make a
task personally relevant.
508
:It's gonna feel like
pushing treacle up hill.
509
:We want you to have a clear view.
510
:Of what your vision, your mission
and life is what you want to achieve.
511
:Then you can look at the task.
512
:And you can develop a way to make it
personally relevant and meaningful.
513
:So we've looked at what procrastination
is and the three kinds of procrastination.
514
:We spent some time exploring
why we procrastinate, not just a
515
:physical structure of your brain.
516
:But things like your self efficacy.
517
:The value of the task, your impulsivity.
518
:We've also added in some fairly advanced
techniques for looking at procrastination.
519
:Through a different ADHD lens.
520
:I do have another podcast
episode looks at procrastination.
521
:I will have a link to
that in the show notes.
522
:But of course in a few weeks I will have
my ebook available which breaks down
523
:the model I've developed for managing
procrastination and getting tasks done,
524
:especially for people who are wearing
all the hats in their business or
525
:who are are just exceptionally busy.
526
:I would love your thoughts on how
you see procrastination, now that
527
:you understand the different kinds.
528
:If you recognize one more than the
other, if that has changed over time.
529
:You can leave a comment on my
Instagram account or you can email me.
530
:Thank you so much for your
continued support and feedback.
531
:I meet so many people now
who say I love the podcast.
532
:I heard.
533
:This episode and it really helped.
534
:And I hope that you will
share this with somebody who's
535
:struggling with procrastination.
536
:It is.
537
:So special when somebody is taking
the time to leave a comment.
538
:It really makes a big difference for me.
539
:Thank you again.
540
:I look forward to sharing
with you next week.
541
:All about strengths and ADHD.
542
:And why a strengths based approach
can make such a difference to
543
:how you feel everyday life.
544
:I'm ADHD coach Katherine and you've been
listening to ADHD, powerful possibilities.
545
:Take care of yourself.
546
:And just remember.
547
:Everything is possible.