If you're someone who struggles with ADHD, or a number of other behavior mental health disorders, you may have experienced what's known as executive dysfunction - a behavioral symptom that can disrupt your ability to manage your own thoughts, emotions, and actions. It's a real thing that can make seemingly simple tasks feel near impossible. As someone who makes and sells products, I know this struggle all too well.
When I create a new product and want to put it up in my shop, it's not as simple as writing a post about it on social media. There are so many steps involved, from staging and taking photos at the right time of day to editing and uploading those photos, to writing and editing the descriptions and social media posts. It can feel overwhelming, and I often find myself frozen in place, unable to take action.
This pattern is something I repeat over and over - I'll be really good about posting on social media for a week or two, and then I'll go radio silent. It's not that I don't care about my business or my customers - it's that the task at hand feels insurmountable.
If you can relate to this, know that you're not alone. Executive dysfunction is a common symptom of ADHD, and it can make it difficult to accomplish even the simplest tasks. But there are ways to work around it. One approach that's worked for me is breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. Instead of focusing on the mountain of steps before me, I try to focus on just one step at a time - taking the photos, editing them, writing the description, and so on.
Another strategy is to build in extra time for each step. If I know that taking and editing photos is going to take me longer than it might take someone else, I'll make sure to give myself plenty of time to get it done. And if I need to take a break or step away from a task for a while, I try to be kind to myself and remind myself that it's okay to take things at my own pace.
At the end of the day, it's important to remember that executive dysfunction is a real thing, and it can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. But with patience, kindness, and a willingness to work around it, you can find ways to get things done and move your business forward.