Traditional productivity methods are tips and tricks designed for people who already have all the resources and opportunity to be productive – they just need fine-tuning.
Productivity methods are like buying a map when your car is already ready to go, with a full tank, a clean MOT, and you just need an optimal way to get to your destination. So you buy a map that tells you how to get there more efficiently. Hooray!
When it comes to executive dysfunction, we need more than an optimal route.
Our “cars” might have leaky tanks, or might not be able to contain as much gas in the first place, or take longer to fill up, or use fuel more quickly, or have wonky wheels that can only take certain roads… Productivity tips don’t even acknowledge these differences. They just assume all is fine and in shipshape, and when you cannot get to your destination, even though they have “helped” with the best route, it has to be your fault.
The trouble is, unless you’re aware of your neurodivergent differences, you probably don’t even know about the unique features of your “car.”
You think it’s your fault for not being able to use the map effectively. You try harder, you force your car on an empty tank, then don’t understand why the motor is smoking. You spend more time and energy making sure your tiny tank is filled, and wonder why everyone has so much left in their day when yours is already empty.
The key to feeling better isn’t trying harder with methods that weren’t designed for your brain. Instead, it’s about understanding how your unique brain works and finding or creating systems that work with your traits rather than against them. Learning to approach productivity with self-compassion and neurodivergent-friendly techniques that work for you specifically can transform what once felt impossible into something manageable.
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