Autism, Uneven Productivity & Executive Function Challenges in Autistic Adults

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video I explore the topic of executive functioning and productivity challenges for Autistic people. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person. #orionkelly #autism #asd #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike

⏱ Index:
00:00 - Welcome
00:48 - What is executive function
02:34 - Examples
07:33 - Strategies

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ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

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[Stormbrise]

One of my main issues with executive function is task switching. However, one task may be waiting on input from someone else. This leads to something the ADHD community is calling ADHD task paralysis. The inability to reorder tasks because of the ‘plan’ and you do not want to be hyperfocused in something else when you need to switch back to that plan. So you in other words procrastinate, for lack of a better word, until you get the other input you need. It has to deal with task switching, and you know us, we hate to switch our plans for the day. Delve further into task switching would be my suggestion for a topic. Dr. K, The HealthyGamerGG on YouTube has a ADHD Memes video a couple of weeks old as of the day of the release of this video where he discusses this task paralysis.

[Nate-hbtw]

My s/o doesn't understand how much energy it takes to switch from one thing to another, to rearrange my intended plans and cram new stuff in... then to still be in a good mood. I'm finding it hard to convey just how "wrong" it feels when things get messed up, like why the need for structure is so important. Umm it just is! I wish it wasn't too!

[rainerwahnsinn]

Sadly, I can't build a routine or use calendars etc. I can't commit to fixed dates/times because I always feel like I'm not able to do things on time. So the calendar or fixed date just builds pressure and maybe some fear of failing. I think this feeling often triggers demand avoidance wich makes things even more complicated.

[kuibeiguahua]

I’m more of a menu person than a routine person, audhd requires novelty every ten days, so I try to build up a reservoir of self care before I set out to do something

[elizabethf]

Executive function and time blindness are the reasons I can't get promoted.On the other hand, I thank God I've held a job down for 19 years. It's a bewildering mix of gratitude and utter disappointment in myself. Diagnosed 10 years ago w/Asperger's/autism and ADHD.

[agathoklesmartinios]

Another example that I think ties in somewhat with the trouble prioritising tasks: going through a college syllabus wanting to mark the important bits, but being unable to differentiate what is important, what isn't, if levels of importance should be applied (i.e. different colour highlighters), etc. Something I struggled with a lot while in university.

[ErikaEmody]

Listening twice. I love this. I’m self-Dx AuDHD. it’s a daily thing!

[MusicSparkleStar]

I wish some of these suggestions were feasible...ADHD is often on the opposite side saying "yeah no, we don't like that" 😅 It's hard to appease them both.

One of my coping mechanisms, I suppose, is to make everything that I need to do as efficient as possible to make up for the days where my brain isn't doing as well. And hyperfocus (which has plenty of drawbacks of course). Trying too hard to present as neurotypical by overachieving is absolutely a thing - but you may not realize you're doing it depending on what your interpretation of a "normal" work pace is. 🙃

[WingZeroSymphonics]

The inertia difficulty does get better with scheduling a routine. Taking large tasks and breaking them down allows for a well founded completed task overall. Mindfulness makes for consistent state of mind that adheres to routine. Self-care is like watering the soil of our tasked 🌺 .

[kdcraft]

I have routines for the kitchen and bathroom cleaning built into cooking, showering. I actually like doing them. These are the 2 areas that need to stay clean and always are. The rest of the house, when it needs it. I also will lay out the materials for a particular task, like gardening, in advance, say the night before. This makes it much, much, much easier to do the task. It's the first step and I will then begin to visualize doing it. I will go through the steps in my mind. Sometimes I will talk them out loud if they are tricky. If it's in my imagination, it makes it so much easier to do.

One bad habit, though, is leaving out things that I need to do so I don't forget to do them. Right now, I have a lamp that needs repair sitting in my living room. I finally went to the repair shop for a specialized part. The parts guy only comes in sometimes (M, W, F but not always so call ahead). When I finally got to the shop to be told this, I felt overwhelmed. This then felt like an anchor had been tied around my leg. I love the lamp, so this may help overcome the problem. My guess is the next step will be to talk to the guy and then wait weeks for a part, if it even exists.

Unfortunately, the single lamp is not the only thing I have "sitting out" waiting for a task to be completed. But if I put it away, I will totally forget. I'm a highly visual person, so the extraneous things bother me, but also why I have to leave them in sight. Lists of them don't work for me, but make my brain overload. Plus making a list is another hard task to do. I do have some lists for specific things, but they are specialized things, like building a cabinet. These are accompanied by visual plans that I design.

Every day I have the impression that life has too many moving parts, all going in different directions. Easy to become overwhelmed. A routine is soooo important for me.

[srldwg]

When you talked about getting support from others to help you, it reminded me of a story. To be clear, I was undiagnosed at the time and didn't completely understand my brain.
I will tell this story out of order, to tell one of the 2 most helpful things in it. I had never moved out of a residence by myself before. My psychiatrist said to me "What? It's easy, just pack everything up." Same exact thing from my therapist. I walked out of those sessions only feeling more panicked. I called my closest friend and she said "Grab one box, pick one tiny area, put one thing in at a time." I got off the phone with her and felt the difference from anxiety to being made to feel more anxious, to feeling extremely more calm.
I had been living in an apartment by myself for the first time ever. I lived there 2 months short of 2 years. I had been under immense stress, because I was in danger of becoming homeless.
Fast forward to getting help overall from a village of people (mostly emotional support, and calming tips), and general resources available (a place for low income people where you get a case manager, who gets you the psychiatrist, then gets you the therapist...). I ended up in a group home due to simple (not complicated advice and tips people were bombarding me with with) from my mother.

[keylanoslokj]

Multi tasking is my nightmare. So true😢. I've lost jobs because of it

[philippabertacco]

Oh my gosh. This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I'm 48 and have recently realised that I'm autistic in the process of getting my daughter diagnosed. What a relief to know the thing that has plagued my whole life has a name... demand avoidance! I've often wondered if I'm simply insane, not being able to do things that people need me to do. Sometimes I just CAN'T do the thing, and it causes me and my OCD massive anxiety. My executive function is also extremely impaired and I've chased after an answer literally my whole life. I'm a mom of 4, and when my husband and father-in-law died after a brief fight with covid, I had to take over 4 businesses in a toxic environment. The stress this has caused me as a perfectionistic OCD, ADHD and autistic single mom nearly broke me.

You're wonderful, and I'm so glad I found your channel.

[annerigby]

All recognisable and then there is 'create a routine'. For me a routine is a schedule of things to get done at specific times during the day, the week, the month, etc. I have made so many schedules for the kids, for myself, even for a school (yes, really, and it was a good one), that it has become a joke. I am really absolutely fantastic at making schedules and planning, but I am incapable (tried and tested) of sticking to a routine or a schedule or a plan for any length of time no matter how hard I have tried. I have used technology to remind me, but I just ignore it. I don't want to ignore it, but I am always reminded just at the moment when I cannot/will not do whatever it reminds me of, at that moment. And yet, the routines or schedules or plans I make are very good. They make sense, they would be really efficient and practical and great if I could only use them. I have made hour by hour routines, activity by activity with time allocation schedules, simple reminder lists with time reminders, etc. I certainly do love making schedules. Is there such a thing as not being able to follow a routine/schedule/plan because it is scheduled, part of a routine or a plan? is that contradictory or what!?

[rachel_sj]

This video, along with the one on Autistic Inertia is an absolute Godsend!! I love how you’re able to speak aloud what, sometimes, cannot be spoken or realized! 😊

I plan on sharpening my Prioritization, Reward, and Patience skills since those are the ones that are a challenge for me!! 😅

[Robert_Byland]

My autistic discovery was four years ago at 46yo. The discovery prompted me to reorganize my entire lifestyle. Routines quickly became... routine! No longer dominated by my PTSD, I've become far less reactive, and more stable. Now that I'm eating properly and exercising daily, I've lost over 70kgs and added 20kgs of muscle. I'm still burned out, but at least I'm happy now.

[stolenzephyr]

I've also been thinking about autistic inertia as the full definition of inertia. That an object in motion tends to stay in motion. So if I get started, I'll be able to keep going! Also, each law of motion includes "unless acted upon by an outside force" which means I can try to use external motivators to help me get started. Also that external factors can derail me, like multitasking.

[civetcawfee]

I've definitely felt sympathy for others who have commented about work issues involving their neurodivergence, but finally feel I've experienced it this week.

I was in the middle of a repetitive task & was told 3 pieces of information that would alter my usual schedule for just a few days, but had problems hearing part of it because of noise interference & being generally preoccupied with the work in front of me. I entirely did not process another part & accidentally neglected a duty, then when I asked if I could get the directions in an email because I was having trouble processing the information via verbal communication, was basically told the directions are too minor and don't warrant sending an email.

I know this was rather insignificant, and I didn't losey job, but I know a few more degrees of empathy for people who have these adverse work experiences.

It is very frustrating because I just want to do a good job, and asked for what seemed like a small accommodation, but ultimately was told I need to work on my communication and comprehension (I know!...I'm trying to make it work).

All that said to unburden myself of this thought & unpleasant feelings somewhere it's more likely to be understood.

I appreciate the content and community, and hope you're all able to find something helpful, enlightening, and positive here. Having these videos helps me be kinder to myself and understanding of others, as well as motivating some strategizing (going to carry a small notepad & pencil at work).

[katjs]

You have no idea how much this video just resonated with me. The video as a whole was great but the bit about being kind to myself by being patient and persistent hit me right in the feels. I've been in a deep deep deep rut and very unkind to myself and I just woke up telling myself I need to snap out of it. I really needed to hear the idea of breaking down large tasks as well. And to think I was about to blast out of bed to go from one extreme to the other, then discovered this video had posted and decided to anyway, just thanks.

[amandamandamands]

I will quite often get overwhelmed and have to have someone notice and help me work out exactly which bit it is that is the problem. If I can't do one bit no matter how far down the process I can't do the whole thing. If someone helps me to break it into smaller tasks (I never think to do it cause it is one task) then I can quite often do some of it. I also need the reassurance that it is OK to stop and leave it when I get to the bit that I am stuck on.
I can't do to do lists cause I never remember to go back and look at them (never remembered to open my homework diary either). If I see a long list of things to do that is immediate overwhelm even if all of them are things that would only take 5mins to do.