Here's a little executive function tip based on my Splines Theory.
If you're having trouble starting a complicated and boring task, give yourself time to "load the splines." Splines are just my silly word representing the fact that ADHD and autistic people are more detail-oriented. We have a hard time accessing an idea by its summary, and need to think about the whole system with all its parts (splines) in order to grapple it. This takes time and energy.
But the good news is, reticulating splines is mostly a passive activity. First step, the hardest, is communicating to your brain about what it needs to load.
A few hours ago when I started gathering paperwork for taxes, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and my chronic pain was activated. So I pushed myself to kinda get started (updating my list from last year, opening the email folder, creating some folders on my computer), but then I hit a wall. Under intense overwhelm, I couldn't get started turning those emails into PDFs.
But my brain knows what it needs to do. It just needed time. I entered my passive splines reticulating phase, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Since I only have a week to get this to my CPA, the sooner I started the loading process, the better. Most of that happens in the background. The hardest part was telling my brain to start, which I did by giving a glance to the body of details I will need to absorb.
Then I went did a couple of hours of paid writing work which my brain normally expects on a Monday (so that went easier). And then back to taxes to see if things were flowing better.
And they are! I still hate it! But now my mind has an understanding of the task and it doesn't seem impossible.
I will work on it until I feel sick and foggy again, then I will pick up tomorrow where I expect it to go even more smoothly.
Here's my 2013 post on Splines Theory of neurodiverse executive function.
#taxes #ADHD #ActuallyAutistic #pacing #MECFS
https://www.corbden.com/2013/10/splines-theory-spoons-metaphor-for.html
![Decision to release data from PACE trial (2016)
⦁ In its submissions QMUL made a number of accusations of harassment from patients, while QMUL’s expert witness characterized PACE trial critics as "young men, borderline sociopathic or psychopathic", remarks the Information Commissioner dismissed as "wild speculations".
⦁ When pushed to provide evidence of these threats and harassment under cross examination, witnesses speaking for QMUL were unable to do so, and ultimately conceded that "no threats have been made either to researchers or participants."
⦁ The tribunal found QMUL's assessment of activist behaviour to be, “grossly exaggerated” stating that “the only actual evidence was that an individual at a seminar had heckled Professor Chalder.” [Professor Chalder is a leading researcher in the PACE trial and a key witness for QMUL.]](https://assets.disabled.social/media_attachments/files/114/173/899/069/966/309/original/76c103902666d0d7.png "Decision to release data from PACE trial (2016)
⦁ In its submissions QMUL made a number of accusations of harassment from patients, while QMUL’s expert witness characterized PACE trial critics as \"young men, borderline sociopathic or psychopathic\", remarks the Information Commissioner dismissed as \"wild speculations\".
⦁ When pushed to provide evidence of these threats and harassment under cross examination, witnesses speaking for QMUL were unable to do so, and ultimately conceded that \"no threats have been made either to researchers or participants.\"
⦁ The tribunal found QMUL's assessment of activist behaviour to be, “grossly exaggerated” stating that “the only actual evidence was that an individual at a seminar had heckled Professor Chalder.” [Professor Chalder is a leading researcher in the PACE trial and a key witness for QMUL.]")
![Dr William Weir’s testimony
⦁ Maeve had previously privately consulted Dr William Weir. Three weeks before she died, Weir wrote to the RDE CEO criticising attitudes of some doctors and urging them to introduce total parenteral nutrition “I am not exaggerating the issue when I say this may well save Maeve’s life”
⦁ “it would appear a considerable portion of the staff at [the hospital], including some consultants, still hold onto the now outdated understanding that ME/CFS has psychological causes”.
⦁ He urged her to support Strain and to tackle the “dogma concerning the cause of ME/CFS that some of his colleagues are still perversely adherent to”.](https://assets.disabled.social/media_attachments/files/114/163/216/028/280/874/original/3b8608e2cb18b9f2.png "Dr William Weir’s testimony
⦁ Maeve had previously privately consulted Dr William Weir. Three weeks before she died, Weir wrote to the RDE CEO criticising attitudes of some doctors and urging them to introduce total parenteral nutrition “I am not exaggerating the issue when I say this may well save Maeve’s life”
⦁ “it would appear a considerable portion of the staff at [the hospital], including some consultants, still hold onto the now outdated understanding that ME/CFS has psychological causes”.
⦁ He urged her to support Strain and to tackle the “dogma concerning the cause of ME/CFS that some of his colleagues are still perversely adherent to”.")
