535- Conquering ADHD Procrastination and Task Paralysis
Jan 1, 2025
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Join J. Russell Ramsay, a licensed psychologist and former professor at the Perelman School of Medicine, as he delves into the science behind ADHD and procrastination. He reveals why individuals with ADHD often excel at putting things off and offers practical strategies to combat task paralysis. From transforming overwhelming tasks into manageable steps to leveraging cognitive-behavioral techniques to enhance prioritization, Ramsay ensures listeners walk away with actionable tips to boost their productivity and tackle avoidance head-on.
ADHD procrastination often arises from overwhelming emotions, making it essential to label and reduce these feelings to facilitate task completion.
Breaking down tasks into manageable steps and creating checklists can transform daunting responsibilities into more achievable actions for individuals with ADHD.
Deep dives
Transforming Procrastination into Productivity
ADHD individuals often struggle with procrastination, particularly when faced with tasks they find boring or overwhelming. To combat this, one effective strategy is to reverse engineer dreaded tasks by breaking them down into more manageable steps. For instance, instead of just stating intentions like 'I will work on my essay,' an actionable approach might be 'open laptop to document' or 'review the last two paragraphs written.' Creating checklists and defining specific starting and ending points helps make tasks feel more achievable, thus turning procrastination into productive behavior.
Leveraging Emotions and Consequences
Procrastination in individuals with ADHD can often stem from unpleasant emotions tied to certain tasks, such as anxiety about handling finances during tax season. By labeling these emotions, individuals can reduce their intensity and become more equipped to tackle the tasks at hand. Additionally, recognizing and overcoming perfectionism is crucial, as waiting to feel 'ready' often leads to inaction. Using reflective prompts can reinforce motivation, and for some, the fear of negative consequences, like public embarrassment for missing a deadline, can serve as a strong motivator to complete tasks promptly.
J. Russell Ramsay, Ph.D., explains why the ADHD brain excels at procrastination and shares tactics to make dreaded tasks feel more doable.
This special episode is a feature article from the Winter 2024 issue of ADDitude magazine. To listen to the full issue — and receive our Spring 2025 issue hot off the presses — subscribe now at additudemag.com/subscribe.
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