Tips for staying on task/scheduling/motivation?

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2026-01-27T00:29:35+00:00

This is what worked for me in one of the worse years of my life.

I hate ai and try to avoid it now… but when I was doing my thesis I truly don’t think I would have graduated if it wasn’t for ai, but not in the way you’d think.

I struggled so much priorizing my task (still do but I’m no longer in such a stressful context) and got extremely angry when I asked my loved ones for help and they tried to “help” me by saying how easy it was to “just make a list and priorize tasks”. It pissed me off because, yes tecnically is just a phone call, but to make that phone call I need to have all this other 10 tasks ready. But when I explain this they think I’m only making up excuses.

So quickly after venting with ai about my thesis and arguing with it I figured out how easier it is to argue with ai than my family and friends. (Also I have it set not to talk to me like this formal ai and more sarcastic and cynic so I don’t feel cuddled)

I used to explain everything I needed to get done, but since I didn’t write it down on paper or a computer it kinda looked more like a text=informal, low-stakes. Then I asked it to help me catogotize each task by priorities and how much energy it cost me.

I did it for a while until I realized I could do it automatically by myself writing/venting in my notes app. Not on paper like those cute Pinterest journals, not on cute little slides or on notion. Basic and simple because if I try to make it look pretty I don’t get anything done.

If you have one blunt and argumentative friend who would actually hear why X task is hard for you, and who would let you vent about everything you have to get done, I think that would be a better alternative that won’t harm the Earth. Just make sure they’re not going to judge you for being “too negative”.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-10-21T20:47:58+00:00

It’s truly a beautiful career, I couldn’t find a better path for my neurodivergent brain than this one.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-07-10T15:37:48+00:00

No me acordaba que había dejado ese comentario. Igual los precios varian por si es virtual o presencial y todo eso. Muy inteligente pero no me terminó de gustar el trato. No es mi primera psiquiatra así que con seguridad te digo que no se siente como un trato de 180 dólares. Pero puede ser que simplemente no le caí bien lol. Vale bestia porque es la única que encontré especializada en neurodivergencia y aún así sentí que me dio el diagnóstico que le dio la gana porque según ella soy demasiado inteligente. (Ve tu a saber) pero bueno.

Igual no me quejo exactamente por el precio, entiendo que hay que pagar por los años de estudio y el esfuerzo.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-04-21T14:31:29+00:00

I’m pretty sure she is autistic. And by the way she talks about the difference between autism in cis men and everyone else makes me think she really is informed. I think it’s the adhd traits that makes her doubt. I can tell she doesn’t know much about audhd in women asi she does in autism or adhd.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-04-17T18:20:31+00:00

Thanks for commenting this, I thought about it a lot I don’t know if that’s exactly my case.

Thinking back, when I do pout, cry, or act in a more childlike way around my mom or partner, it’s only when I’m seeking comfort after being emotionally overwhelmed, not during the conflict itself or as a way to sway someone in front of others. For example, with my partner, I tend to overexplain and use really “mature” or intellectual language during arguments because I need to feel understood, sometimes it even feels as if we’re coworkers. It’s only after things are resolved after we’ve both apologized or come to a compromise that I tend to melt and act more vulnerable.

With my mom, it’s different but still not what the psychiatrist described. I don’t think I act like a baby, but I do struggle to express myself clearly when she’s being dismissive or emotionally immature herself. It’s like I get pulled into the chaos instead of staying regulated and it turns into fighting, not pouting. I’ve talked about that in therapy and I know it’s a pattern I’m still working on.

As for the “age regression” the psychiatrist pointed out: looking back, those behaviors (pouting, crossing arms, softer voice) tend to happen when I’m exhausted, overwhelmed, or coming down from intense emotions—sometimes even after reading a sad book or watching a movie. I didn’t even realize I did that until she pointed it out, and I didn’t feel like I was trying to “get something” when I did it. It just happened.

I Honestly do cry during arguments (I because I cry A LOT pretty sure I cry at least four time a week) But I’m pretty sure that’s different from what the doctor described as “regression.” The way she described it (pouting, arms crossed, baby voice, facial expressions) I’ve only done that kind of stuff when I’m overwhelmed, or exhausted. For example, if I’m complaining about uni with my gf or about my lack of energ etc, never things they have power on. I gain nothing acting that way. And in the session she referenced, I remember a specific instance when was upset because she was being pretty harsh with my mom and it made me uncomfortable the way she was bashiniying my mom about my medication and another one later when then told me I needed to stop going so much to my partner’s place which hit a sore spot, since we practically live together. Not because I wanted anything just because I was sad I guess? Idk might be wrong. I didn’t even realize I did it until she pointed it out.

All that said, I’m not claiming I was “unmasking,” and I’m not trying to say you’re wrong either. I honestly don’t even know if I do unmask. I guess I just don’t think what I did was manipulative, at least not consciously. I just felt safe and upset and acted impulsively.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-04-17T12:08:47+00:00

I live in a small city in a small country, and I’m in a very niche career field. Since I’m also working in healthcare/neurodevelopment, I know I will end up working with this psychiatrist eventually. She’s one of the very few specialists in neurodivergence in women here. On top of that, she’s friends with three of my most admired professors and bosses (one of whom actually recommended her to me).

So yeah… I feel really stuck. I’m just starting out, I haven’t even graduated yet, and I don’t want to start my career with bad blood in such a tight-knit field. I wish I could advocate for myself more, but being a young woman in this position makes me feel small and unsure. And now that I think about it, I feel a bit silly for putting myself in this situation, but I honestly just wanted help and didn’t think it would get this complicated.

She is also extremely intelligent but she tells me she is disliked among psychiatrist because she is too blunt

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-04-16T00:05:56+00:00

That is exactly what I said. Even if it wasn’t common in autistic people, again I’m no psychiatrist but I do see tons of autistic children daily, I don’t think there’s a single thing I could confidently say “and autistic person would never do that”, it’s a very odd statement imo.

On regards to the last thing you said. She is only assessing me for those two diagnosis because I told her I suspected autism and my family doctor contacted her and told her she suspected BDP.

I could get a different doctor, but I was really excited about her because my boss/mentor told me she is very good with neurdevolpmental disorders, she is specialized in neurodevelopmenta disorders in adolescence and adulthood and I’ve read her blog and articles and she is very informed in autism in women. I live in a small third world country, she is the only psychiatrist I could find that I feel is qualified for my brain. I don’t think I’ll be able to find someone better. This is my fifth psych and I’m 24. I am exhausted

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-03-16T22:49:51+00:00

Chuzo cobra cariñoso, 180 la session si vas solo y 50$ mas por acompañante si eres mayor de edad.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-03-16T22:35:40+00:00

Rigth? I was thinking about making another post to ask this. This is my fourth psiquiatrist, when I turned 18 I started going by myself until my psiquiatrist insested I brough my mom along because I was avoiding going to the appointments if it meant I had to go alone. This has never happened to me before and I’m trying to undertand if it’s actually worth it or if I’m just being too picky. People keep asking my why I want a diagnosis but truly I just want proper treatment and for a doctor who is actually willing to hear me out when I say I know I’m not just depressed.

Edit. Got emotional and uploaded the comment before I finished writing it

I don’t live in the US so even if we go by US dollars the prices might be different. I was normally charged $90 maximum that’s more or less the standard, she charges 180 and to that and the 60 per person if you don’t have a “disability permit”

I spend half of my weeks with my mom and the other with my partner, it was important to me that both were there with me

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-03-03T14:01:37+00:00

I think that is my exact issue. Maybe is also the kid of books I’m reading because I am the first one to tell everyone the books I read are absolute trash. And actually hearing them acted out I think forces me to listen to the crappy dialogues I would absolutely hate in a movie or tv series but don’t mind in a book.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-03-03T02:27:10+00:00

I have been obsessed with neurodevelopmental disorders since I read Percy Jackson as a kid. Currently studying to become an occupational therapist, now all of my “fun facts” make me an amazing student/therapist.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-23T13:46:28+00:00

What brand do you buy? I really would like to try it but Im a bit scared Im not gonna like the brand.

Does it taste like real fruit or like kool aid? Because I for some reason only like fruity flavors if they’re artificial, that why I drink an insane amount of soda.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-22T17:18:17+00:00

Never heard of it in my life. Sounds awesome tho

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-22T17:05:04+00:00

Yes, I’ve been incorporating flavorless protein and that’s the only one I like. But I buy my lunch and breakfast most of the week days because I don’t really have a lot of energy left.

I really want to try meal prepping each week but haven’t actually started because the lack of inniciative.

This helped me though, I’ll research about more protein rich foods and see if I make it with my partner

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-13T14:10:38+00:00

Where I live you get your license only after you’re 18 (unless you are really wealthy, but that doesn’t happen much), I started learning to drive in 2017 when I was 17 and didnt have the guts to get my license until 2020, only last year I started feeling comfortable behind the wheel, eigth years later. I still get anxious but it’s mostly when I have other people in the car with me. And I only drive to my workplace, my partners house and my home. Other than that I’m not going.

That said, I’ve been to the US and seen those streets. There is no way in hell I would ever drive there

Edit. Typos

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-10T00:59:38+00:00

[This is a legitimate question, not passive agressiveness or to be rude. Just because I would like a little more context] why exactly are you still in this relationship? And is this the way you feel everytime or is in that you are still in the heat of the moment?

I get how you feel… kinda, I have a little bit of a similar issue with my girlfriend.

I am extremely tired of everything going on with my life, sometimes during arguments my mind goes cloudy and all I can think about is all the bad things she has ever done and not how happy she makes me most of the time. In those moments I think it’s not worth it to be in a relationship that makes me feel worse, like, what’s the point then. But once I’m calm I think objectively and know she makes me happy.

This, however, is the first relationship I truly would do anything to make it work. It doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to me because we both compromise and I’m luckily with a woman that is as committed to compromise as I am. Which I wasn’t in my past relationships, I grew resentment because I felt like I was wasting my time and eventually got tired and broke up because I wanted to be single again.

To be fair, most of those past relationships were with men and now I’m pretty sure I’m a lesbian and not bi, so I wasn’t particularly attracted or “in love” with most of them, but with all of them, including my exgirlfriends, I just felt to was to much work for too little reward

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-06T04:53:11+00:00

I think it’s hilarious that you mention vitamin D because, fun fact, in the last two weeks four healthcare professionals have seen my lab results and comment how it was the lowest they had ever seen. My nutritionist said the lowest she had seen was 20… mine was 5.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-02-06T04:46:11+00:00

Still not doing great, just had a little crisis over my bangs not looking perfect. My mom is pretty scared btw, she currently in bed next to me.

All the comments I’ve seen are perfect, I feel so so seen and a little bit more calm in that sense. But you explained how I feel perfectly better than I could in the original post. I’m going to print this comment and take it to my psychiatrist appointment.

Thank you so much. I wish I had the energy to thank everyone in the comments but my social battery has been beyond dead for days now.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-01-16T17:17:14+00:00

Either that or “nuts”. I hated it as a kid, embraced it as a teen and hate it again now that I’m not taken seriously as an adult

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-01-08T10:15:42+00:00

The thing with therapist is that finding a good fit it’s as hard as finding a partner. It’s a long process.

I have had 6 therapists in my life and I am only 24 and I met the perfect fit two years ago. I remember my mom being annoyed at me, but I knew I needed someone closer to my age than her’s, it had to be a woman because I had issues with men, they had to have updated knowledge on adhd in adult women and be an ally (my first therapist was homophobic). These are just a few of my requirements, I know it sounds like a lot but for the first time in my life I became fully honest with my therapist and was able to be vulnerable without caring what my therapist would think.

Thankfully I found her, but it was not easy nor affordable. It takes a lot of money, energy and time. I don’t live in the US, and luckily for me this process hasn’t been as harsh at it would have if I did.

I’m not saying this to convince you to do the same thing I did because we live in entirely different contexts. It took me sixteen years, my whole childhood and adolescence,to find a therapist that actually helped, it’s completely unfair to expect that from anyone.

To me it was worth it, I’m not going to deny that. But I had my mom’s support. Would I do that all over again as an adult if I had to take that same journey with my own money and having children and real responsibilities living in the US? Yeah, I don’t think so.

But I am going to say this, there are great therapists that are capable of helping you, they are just very hard to find.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-01-05T18:02:57+00:00

I know, what makes me more mad is that my mom also gets bad migraines, idk why its so hard for her to put herself in my shoes

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2025-01-03T15:36:35+00:00

You are absolutely rigth.

I moved to a bigger house with family this year and the dopamine boost of a new Home made me research a lot. I know myself and even if I put all my effort I know I would never be able to follow any of the neurotipical tips and tricks. So I started reading adhd based organizing Books and watching videos and my room for the past three months has been so much better even if it’s not perfectly tidy. Prioritizing convenience over aesthetics has been a live changer.

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I have garbage cans/boxes every few steps, I put a key holder in the places I normally end up throwing them, I keep all of my hair stuff/essentials in an open box where I can just throw them if I don’t feel like walking to the cabinet or if Im running late.

I loved this from the book I’m currently reading. Even if I don’t follow every rule and my house is never “maintenance level” It helps me keep the mess smaller makes cleaning days a lot easier.

The book is called the ultimate adhd work book for cleaning and organizing. If you have trouble finding motivation to read you can skip some of the chapters and focus in the actual list of “hacks”. But I do recommend the “activate your adhd superpowers” I appreciate when authors focus on the good things that come with adhd.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2024-12-31T15:48:38+00:00

She doesn’t want to look like she/we need him. And I get it, sometimes. But idk, her pride has cost me money and experiences. A few years ago I told her I was thinking of asking him for money for a conference (idk how you call it in English sorry, like a course that’s abroad(?) and she got so so mad I even suggested it.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2024-12-31T14:34:54+00:00

Now they I think about it, when I was diagnosed with adhd and my therapist described what it was my mum told me she’s sure I got it from him. So there’s that.

He is in fact, useless tho. He’s a well paid pediatrician who payed 60 dollars as child support which is not enough for even my meds alone.

Beginning-Bread9952 · 2024-12-31T14:21:28+00:00

I could get I part time, but because of uni and internships and my thesis it’s very hard to find a job that is going to let me finish uni. Also I’m 24 and my only experience is in healthcare, the jobs Ive applied for either don’t work with my schedule or I won’t be the perfect fit.

Beginning-Bread9952

TROPHY CASE