What is Executive Function and Why Do We Need it?

My laundry has been sitting on my bed for a week now. It's my most complicated task.

“Ah, interesting.” I think, as I sit on the toilet watching my 20th YouTube video instead of completing the single simple task I’ve had a month to do that is due tomorrow. “I wonder if I’ve got issues with executive function?”

This channel has allowed me to overcome some shame I had trying to finish college with undiagnosed ADHD. After I've realized I have it, got medication, and work with my brain differently, I am in such a better place.

Irony, this poped up right in my feed after I just found out I missed my second vacciene due to my adhd... welp, one for the algorythm

I read online a few weeks ago that wanting to get something done yet somehow it's not getting done and WHY AM I SITTING HERE WHY CAN'T MOVE MY BUTT AND DO THE THING is actually not procrastination it's just executive function leaving the room...

I spent hours yesterday trying to get myself to step away from my phone and do something I enjoy (learning embroidery) - I failed. Sometimes it feels like I'm holding myself hostage, and that really sucks. At least when I watch these videos I know I'm not alone in it :)

Smh we should make a petition to change ADHD’s name. It should just be renamed “executive function disorder” because I feel like the name ADHD only covers like two things about it.

“We can do hard things but we don't need to do them in the hardest way possible.” Jessica

I was literally just thinking about how I can't function correctly in this moment and boom your video showed up.

I have routines set up for the kids. One has ADHD and the other doesn't, but I make them both do them to reinforce the idea, as having a routine isn't going to hurt a neurotypical kid... They've been massively helpful to me as an adult. People who've known me have called them "quirks," but whatever. Those "quirks" often let me perform better than neurotypicals in many areas.

One thing that I have learned is that if I need to do something "weird" in order to accomplish things then I should just do that. I used to think that if I just kept trying to do things the "normal" way eventually it would click and I would get it, but if I let myself do things the "weird" way I am much more likely to get them done. Like installing a program that blocks me from my computer two hours before bedtime. Or having a continual list on my phone, or making people write notes instead of just telling me, or buying a certain kind of sock because its the only kind that doesn't set off my sensory issues. These things make my life so much easier

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your videos. I'm recently coming to terms with some mental health problems I've had for my entire life, ADHD being one of the suspects. So thank you very much for the hard work, and all the support you show for those of us that are struggling.

For anyone who has trouble showering: Buy a Bluetooth speaker, start music and lock your phone outside the bathroom. Don't leave the bathroom until the thing is done. Trust me, it helps!

perfect timing.... just sent an email (the body was only 1 phrase) that I've been procrastinating off writing for 2 days..

I am an adult at university and, yes, I still use a sticker chart... I genuinely don't know if I'd have managed to get any of my work done through quarantine without it😂 And I buy extra super exciting stickers for courses I don't like to make doing the work seem more exciting!!🎉

I swear no matter what the video is about, I always end up weeping due to the validation.

Wow, I literally just missed the deadline for my online quiz yesterday and I’ve been so frustrated that I couldn’t do any of my schoolwork anymore... perfect timing.

This explains so much about why I only started recognizing myself as an adult in the past couple of years. I've kept pushing myself to do "adult" things but only recently started experiencing myself as an adult despite being 31. Thank you!

ive struggled with adhd my whole life and nearly cost me my apprewnticeship which at 17 is everything including my education and after watching so many of your videos ive been able to cope better and socialings has become easier. i just really appreciate the effort you put into all your videos cause its makes a difference and you make a difference to other people in so many ways.

I’ve created a sort of a dopamine menu as a color-coded word cloud of routines and possible things to do; written a lot of lists; kept journals; created timetables and charts and so on… but I keep polishing them too much and I’m having a hard time actually getting any of them affect my actual day-to-day behavior. Writing things down or talking about doing them makes me feel like I kind of almost did them already, but then I don’t follow up on that. Suggestions warmly welcome! ❤️