Today feels like one of those days. Scratch that—it’s been one of those weeks. Tasks seem to have multiplied while I’ve felt too burned out and overwhelmed to tackle them. My diary page, initially marked for Monday, now bears the weight of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s ever-growing to-do list. With assignments looming, I know I should start, yet here I am—writing a blog post, and before that, mindlessly scrolling Amazon for a replacement coffee mug that I broke this morning, the one my middle child gave me years ago.

But what do we do when we’re frozen from neurodivergent procrastination, overwhelmed, or burnt out? In my quest for answers (more procrastination, I know), I searched online and encountered suggestions like meditation, staying active, and understanding different types of procrastination. But I need help now, so I can tackle my assignments and get some work done. So… what’s the plan?

First, I give some thought to the root of my procrastination. To avoid distractions while I think on it, I set a timer for 10 minutes. Recently, I hit a roadblock when I received feedback on a recent assignment. While well-written, I failed to answer the question—a ridiculous mistake that triggered self-doubt. But hey, thinking outside the box is one of our wonderful traits, right? I acknowledged the error, attributed it to ADHD, and requested an extension for the course from disability services. Now, I can focus on preventing such mistakes in the future.

Yet, the fear of repeating this error—the perfection procrastination—looms large, making it even harder to start the next assignment. It’s time to turn the page in my diary, to Thursday, and jot down a manageable list of tasks. Checking off each completed item provides a much-needed dopamine hit—a reward especially vital for those of us with ADHD.

Tune in tomorrow or in a few days to see if I’ve managed to thaw from this frozen state and forge ahead. Together, let’s navigate the labyrinth of neurodivergent procrastination, one step at a time.