My career coach says that many neurodivergent folks really struggle getting started on tasks.

[petraphoenix@beige.party]

@GinevraCat

I have someone sit with me, either in person or via video call.

It isn't always a viable solution, but when I can do this I find it helpful

[nicelymanifest@mastodon.social]

@GinevraCat Funny how the lady I met today was the 1st to use the Audhd term. For herself.

And it applies to myself.

I have found that mindfulness is a skill or artform that can be antidote to much of the downsides of Audhd.

With it I cultivated an ability to avoid losing my temper. By reframing the urges - expressing or suppressing does not work.

Not lost my temper in years.

[ginevracat@toot.community]

@NicelyManifest Such a great suggestion. I *know* mindfulness meditation does good things for me. But I am too far away from starting that on my own right now. Maybe I should just go back to a few mindful breaths a day. I could manage that.

[ginevracat@toot.community]

@PetraPhoenix That works for me too - but again, not always a viable solution. I actually do that with my eldest child quite often since it helps them too ️

[nicelymanifest@mastodon.social]

@GinevraCat I cannot overstate how amazing mindfulness can be.

When we start we keep forgetting to do it. But fuss not - just keep at it.

At the start all you need to do is observe the myriad of autopilot habits that you engage with. Many are entirely valid. But some do not serve us well. Just observing at first lets you see the landscape.

Then you can start pausing before engaging with emotional reaction that are of dubious value. To see the emotion and attached message more clearly.

[nicelymanifest@mastodon.social]

@GinevraCat If you embark on this 'journey' I would love to hear what manifests.

[ginevracat@toot.community]

@NicelyManifest Thanks. I used to be pretty good about doing some mindful meditation every day, and it really did help me. But I have some kind of internal block now - maybe because it was during an unfortunate relationship - who knows.

So I am first going to find a local meditation group since doing things in groups is really helpful for me.

But I really sit better with either secular or Theravadan Buddhist traditions of mindfulness, and that seems to not be around where I am.

[ginevracat@toot.community]

@NicelyManifest The Keep-at-it - like your mind is a distracted puppy. No punishment or self-blame, just continuous gentle correction. I am familiar with this notion.

[mandy@cupoftea.social]

@GinevraCat when I'm especially burned out, I'll do the pomodoro technique for 25 mins with a 5 min break. Rinse and repeat. After a few cycles, I somehow calm down my unquiet mind.

I show the timer on my phone so that if I try pick it up, I see the timer and put it down again. Then I try get up during the break and get water or something rather than pick up my phone

[yaiaou@eldritch.cafe]

@GinevraCat I run away procrastinating until the deadline is NOW! Then i can't escape and actualy do the thing...

[madsenandersc@social.vivaldi.net]

@mandy @GinevraCat

THIS!

Also, I usually spend my first 25 minute run making a todo-list with small, easily digestible tasks, ordered so I can start from the top.

Seeing things broken into really small tasks usually breaks the ice for me, and once I start completing the tasks, the dopamine starts flowing, even though it's all just baby steps.