Persons with ADHD really struggle with Task Initiation and Metacognition! Here's why!
Is it easy or hard for you start something?
It’s ironic… it’s both EASY AND HARD for me and it really depends on the level of interest and motivation.
Somethings… like a new hobby or interest can cause me to hyperfixate on them and starting is easy!
Like a brand new cross-stitch project… I would pore over designs and get so excited about getting all the colourful DMC threads
So beautiful, amiright? 😆
Or I would remember the time in my life when I sat in front of my computer, Youtube tutorials open and my sewing machine in front of it. And I would google, “How to thread a needle on a Brother NV180K and I learnt how to sew stuff. Never knew I was so resilient!
But…. inevitably, the promise of something new and the dopamine of novelty would wear off midway in the project as I realize… I’ve got so much more to go! Or the project isn’t looking as beautiful as I had imagined. 😟
Then the motivation to keep going would wear off.
AND those are the difficulties of people with ADHD when they were even interested and motivated by the tasks in the first place.
If they aren’t… like homework, or a dreaded assignment, or cleaning the house, or decluttering my kids’ outgrown clothes and overspilling drawers 🤮, starting the task(s) is super challenging!
If it’s tough for me as an adult, how about a child with ADHD or Executive Dysfunction?
One of my purposes of talking on social media or writing longer blog articles is to help people start to understand what’s really going on in the ADHD person’s mind so that there can be common understanding and empathy. And over time, this blog can become your go-to resource for information and encouragement to the mum with an ADHD child.
Especially for our very own children.
Because you can imagine, if their own parents don’t understand them, how can we expect others to understand? How alone they must feel?
When we understand and empathize, then we can start to find the right solutions that work for us and our children to manage and overcome the challenges related to task initiation and ADHD.
For myself I’m trying something new since it’s the start of 2025 and all… 😝
Tracking… again, something I’m NOT good at. Or most people with ADHD - I think. The review and evaluation part is often something boring or painful and I tend to avoid it - This is yet another executive function skill most people with ADHD have challenges with - metacognition.
Metacognition is thinking about what we are thinking.Also stepping back, reflecting, reviewing what worked, what didn’t and what lessons we can learn from past experiences.
It’s both a blessing and a curse, isn’t it?
When our kids are not great at metacognition, it sometimes mean they don’t seem to reflect or learn from their mistakes, but they also don’t dwell too long on their failures and they remain optimistic and upbeat.
This is an EF skill I’m focusing on honing more for myself this year as I write down and track certain things. There’s a saying, “You can’t improve what you don’t measure and track.”
So I’ve been tracking my habits:
Week 1
Week 2
I’m time-blocking so I know what is realistic for me to spend time on.
I’m trying to be more diligent reviewing the results of what I’m doing.
It’s only the begining of the year right… and I feel like I would end up not following through again, but well.. This is a challenge for myself, as a means of being accountable. Not that people will call me out… my community on IG and (you here) are soo nice! But research does show, even if no one is tracking you, the fact that you’re saying it out loud, putting it out here will improve our chances of success of following through with our stated intentions (see ref 1)!
For 2025, I invite you to challenge yourselves and keep accountable too. Let’s use this community to reach some great and worthwhile goals…
P.S. Notice I haven’t spoken about our kids yet although my account is about parenting and teaching neurodiverse kids. I will, but I thought I’d start by making changes that my kids can see and I’ll have the authority and experience to teach them the process of task initiation, metacognition, goal setting and goal persistence.
Join me will you?
You can get started by taking a screenshot of this simple habit planner and filling in your own habits for yourself!
If you want to get this digital planner that I’m using, this is my affiliate link https://www.happydownloads.net/?ref=freedom
I’ve been using Happy Downloads for 3 years now and I love the format and it has some great customisable options! Of course there are other great planners out there but nope… I’m done with shopping for shiny new objects (maybe next time), I’m just going to hunker down and use what has been great for me.
P.S. If it’s extremely confusing which one to pick - they are all the same price, only the look differs. You can also customize the layout for yourself - it’s unlimited downloads once you purchase it so no pressure! I think I got the rainbow version (can’t remember) - the one that you can sync up to your Google / Apple calendars.
10% coupon code "freedomfam"
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I have a mini workshop to help your child Start Focus and Finish homework so if you’re having challenges with getting your child to finish his/her homework independently after school, this workshop will help you understand the unique way the brain is wired and practical strategies to solve this problem - without you nagging, yelling nor bribing!
Get started here! https://freedom-fam.com/startfocusfinish
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Want to learn more about helping your scattered child improve on Executive Function Skills, this Executive Function Blueprint Course will give you the exact steps and things to say.
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If you're a parent to a neurodiverse child, or you're a neurodiverse parent yourself and looking for coaching, community and camraderie with other likeminded parents, join the membership (and get all the workshops and courses I create plus many other relevant trainings)! Check out the membership
