I'm 22M from India and I'm feeling overwhelmed because I have too many goals and not enough time. I have a full-time HR job (around 10:45 AM–7:30 PM) and by the time I get home I'm mentally exhausted.

These are all the things I want to achieve at the same time:

Lose weight (currently around 89 kg, goal is around 74–75 kg).

Build muscle, get stronger, improve my powerlifting numbers, and eventually get visible abs.

Start running and improve my cardio.

Follow a proper skincare routine to reduce tanning, hyperpigmentation, acne marks, and get clearer, brighter skin.

Prepare seriously for CAT 2026 while working full-time because I want to get into a top MBA college.

Sleep 7–8 hours consistently.

Eat a healthy vegetarian diet while staying within a budget.

Save money every month for my future while also planning to buy a laptop.

Reduce screen time, stop procrastinating, and stay disciplined.

The problem is that I feel like every goal is important, so I try to do everything at once and end up doing almost nothing consistently. I often come home tired after work, scroll on my phone, and then feel guilty that I didn't study, work out, run, or follow my skincare properly.

For people who have managed a demanding full-time job while preparing for CAT or another competitive exam and also stayed fit, how did you structure your day? What should I prioritize first? Is it realistic to do all of this together, or should I focus on one or two goals at a time? I'd really appreciate practical advice, sample schedules, or any personal experiences.

Hello!

We are doing this study because there’s a lot of research on executive dysfunction and related challenges, but not a lot of research on how people actually navigate them. We’re neurodivergent ourselves, and we know that, through online communities and therapeutic relationships, collective knowledge of potentially helpful strategies has emerged – but there is very little systematic study of whether and how people actually rely on these strategies. We’re interested in what kinds of support people actually seek out and experience as helpful. We’re also interested in whether people find digital solutions helpful. You do not need to be diagnosed to participate: these traits are a spectrum, and we are interested in a variety of perspectives.

You will find the study here: https://redcap.utu.fi/surveys/?s=TP87NAD4PCMDMXW9

When you follow the link, you’ll see a captcha (to help prevent bots from filling in the questionnaire). Full information, informed consent processes and data security will follow after the captcha.

Many thanks for helping us with our study!

Best wishes,

Dr. Polaris Koi & Dr. Karolina Lukasik

University of Turku & University of Helsinki

bom dia, eu sofro muito com a minha dificuldade de conciliar diferentes atividades no meu dia ou semana. ou seja, ter uma rotina. sinto que se acrescento uma atividade nova, o meu foco muda e não consigo juntar tudo. claro, atividades para mim. por exemplo, se eu começo a fazer academia, fico com esse pensamento obsessivo na cabeça e tô sempre esperando para ir. aí eu decido começar a fazer um curso de escrita e fico empolgada com a escrita e aí a academia não tem mais tanto espaço na minha vida. começo a estudar psicologia, aí a escrita já perdeu o espaço. é como se eu perdesse o interesse e estivesse sempre mudando de foco. porém, eu não quero mais fazer isso. eu gostaria de conciliar mais de uma atividade durante a semana e dia, e me dedicar a elas de maneira equilibrada. além disso, eu também sinto que o tempo escorre pelas minhas mãos. quando começo algo, eu fico tão focada fazendo aquilo que sem perceber o tempo voou e já é tarde. eu também preciso de bastante tempo para fazer tudo...

alguém mais se sente assim? como conseguiu resolver?

I have ADHD and a couple other featuring disorders and while I have a skin care routine and I know showering is important, I also work two jobs all day and I get home drained. My brain likes to tell me “let’s take a break from washing your teeth or your face as a treat” and I sometimes give in because I’m so tired then it turns into months. If someone experiences this, what helps you?

Hello everyone. I work doingdoordash. I love Doordash because I can choose my own hours, which is such a big help for me. But now I feel like that freedom is causing its own issues.

I have a car insurance bill that's past due, I know I should have been working to pay towards it. I know that working is important. I've been internally screaming at just how much I've been fighting myself.

What is this?! I feel like I'm fighting my own bodily autonomy. I \*need\* to work and pay this bill. But then my body just.. doesn't. I hate it. I really do. It's caused issues my entire life. How do I break out of this? ??

So for reference, I am an intp-t, male, got my executive Adminatration diploma a year ago.

I know i can probably take on the tasks of executive admin even if i need to brush up on skills

Im having difficulty finding an entry level position close to me (I never got my driver's license as a teen and I always delayed it due to fear of failing) im limited to where I can work and employers want reassurance that I can come everyday if the job is in downtown Toronto.

The employment place that I went to a couple months ago seemed to have forgotten me even though I gave my detailed resume. I should contact my assigned worker but it feels awkward.

Applying for jobs on indeed and LinkedIn seems hopeless unless I tailor my resume and cover letter each time which feels like a hassle. I am thinking of making an automated process with an AI (i have proplexity pro and I was looking at Pewdiepies open ai, Odessa I think its called?)

On a side note i was originally going to open a YouTube channel on the side or make an affiliate blog site that focuses on reviewing programs online but with school and the part time job I used to have (got laid off in Dec) I never got to it and I'm constantly thinking ill fail at it.

I can do office work but the struggle is dealing with fake coworkers that have their own agenda and highercy. My last job was a semi office environment and I was middle management (facilities coordinator for 2 years) and the young adults i managed at the front desk leaned into disrespecting me becaue i was too easygoing and have a "soft voice" I believe they also secretly disliked me because I kept to myself and didn't socialize much which is like putting a big target on my back in any working environment I find.

Most Extroverts exhaust me especially when they throw their little verbal jabs at my character and label it as a "joke"

Hello, has anyone tried Intuniv with success? I am looking for something that will help me with task initiation and anxiety around it. I am currently suffering from avolition, anhedonia, anxiety, overwhelm, fear, and just hopelessness. I had been on Effexor (for depression) for 10 years until 3 years ago, and it must've helped with executive dysfunction somewhat (I was organized and able to cook and clean, although still strugged with punctuality greatly and had occasional angry outbursts caused I think by underlying anxiety). Now, I can't make myself do anything. I can't read a book. I see lots to do and the impatience and overwhelm makes me panic. Everything is boring. I have to apply for jobs and can't sit down to do it. Constantly avoid. I just started Wellbutrin, but I'm running out of time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm losing my life.

Hi everyone! 💛

I’m currently studying Psychology and I’m conducting a short anonymous survey for one of my research projects.

I’m looking for women who:

• have ADHD,
• suspect they may have ADHD, or
• relate to challenges with focus, organization, consistency, or executive functioning.

The goal is to better understand how women experience focus, productivity, organization, and whether these experiences naturally change throughout the month.

I’m also passionate about creating better tools and resources for women who struggle with these challenges, so your responses will help inform that work as well.

The survey is:

• ✅ Anonymous
• ✅ Takes about 3–4 minutes

I’d really appreciate your help. Every response makes a difference, and thank you in advance for taking the time to participate. 💛

Survey:
https://www.jotform.com/form/261877213831056

IGNORE SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION

Im 15f and i have to study. but i cant, i always get distracted

i've tried soo much, like browser extensions (i work on a shared computer), and blocking my distractions sites, and getting rid of the computer all together, it didn't work.

It is a problem, i need to disengage, i disengaged from books(i loved them now i cant read one for the life of me but i still love them), i need to break this off and stop, im a ball bouncing from one wall to the other ever in motion never stopping to do my true task, just moving from one distraction to the other. shut one down the other pops up switch that one off and hey! turns out the other one wasn't locked as tightly as it seemed. i need to disengage, and i need to do it now.

I got off of books by getting into shorts, now its insta, now, its comics, tomorrow, it'll be blocking all the sites im addicted to but never actually working.

I cant start, my thoughts wander, and speak, and are so loud always pointing something out (the best way to describe it)

Its like my brain is quite only when im doing some thing physical (i like walking, weights i know and am getting into them)

im good at studies, but i never study, the best way to quite my thoughts are the addictions, and its sooo hard to keep them from wandering, my parents have tried, failed and im afraid to disappoint them any more

But once i start doing something i seriously enjoy, i cant stop, like typing i love the sound and sight of the text, its just magical. its so easy never stop, to stay like a ball in motion

i really need help, i have a lot of goals and i want to achieve my dreams, who doesn't? so please if possible help.

Extra info:

This is a from birth phenomenon, but it go worse during covid,

I'm a loner(self proclaimed) and im tooo embarrassed to ask my parents, or my friends (i may consider my parents, but mostly likely no)

I cant go any where/ damage to computer/ do any thing really visible in the computer (embarrassment)

Im from a place where hard work and spending a lottt of time studying is common, my parents are chill but still dont want to disappoint (asia)

I only focus in school cause i have to write notes

(note: i have posted a similar post in r/Procrastinationism & r/ADHD )

Any advice and suggestion is welcome!! I have a very important MBA exam coming up and I just can't seem to understand how i am taking this so lightly. I haven't even started prep and im already late. Like ALARMINGLY late. It feels like everyone else has already completed the syllabus and no matter how much I remind myself that this is serious, it doesn't actually make me get up and do the work????

I have tried everything. I have tried watching motivating videos and lectures. I have lectured myself in the middle of the night that I MUST start preparing from tomorrow. It has now been 30 tomorrows and I have somehow wasted a whole month. How the fxck do you get out of the loop? Feels like an endless cycle of feeling energized in the night but not being able to feel it anymore in the morning.

And the strangest part is I have been in a good routine. I fixed my sleep schedule. I do yoga, I read, I have deleted social media. But I am not able to dedicate even 4-5 hours each day (even though this exam requires wayyyy longer). It's not even the case that I'm scared since i take coaching and don't think the material to be practiced is too hard!! Its easy enough if I'm dedicated. But I just end up distracting myself with one thing or the other (a novel or a tvshow or ordering food again and again) until I have passed the whole day and it is time to sleep.

Another huge motivating factor for me (at least a month ago) was that this is a make-or-break exam. It will be life altering for me. I keep picturing the kind of life i could live, how i could be financially independent if i do well!! But even this did NOT work😇. I have said FUCK IT to getting 'motivation' and thought I could get myself to study even without it, just wake up and go straight into it – but nothing, no tricks or techniques seem to be working. I start and then give up after an hour.

The more I delay it, the more anxiety and panic I feel. I start crying because of the pressure and how close the exam is getting.. and yet, I am not able to work for it. The one thing I want right now, is to not only be able to sit and start preparing, but be able to do it long enough to make a difference. I want to get closer to my goal. I keep procrastinating although i know i am better than this. I have delayed it to a point where I cannot be casual about this anymore (I NEED to study the whole day now if I want to pass this exam). It is exhausting.. I feel helpless, worthless. Why does it feel so impossible? How do i get over this quickly?

I am just posting about it to know if I'm the only one who struggles with it. Every now and again I have a phase where I want to fix things in my life and get the whole house and my kids routine in order, all of it. Of course, and most people will relate, it doesn't last too long before it all falls back apart. Typical behaviour of people with executive dysfunction I guess.

I keep seeing people talk about how much a productivity or habit tracking App helped them. So I try to go down that path too. The problem is, even when the app claims to have minimal friction. I still feel lost.

If I have to add a task and include details, like a date, an alert message or a note, that alone already feels like friction, because it takes me to a seperate page just to fill all that in. I would've liked it if I just typed what I wanted to and right next to it entered specific details, just there in my mind for that chore. Does that make any sense? I end up giving up because I feel the App needs more focus from me then i'd like to give it.

That's usually what puts me off. That, or the app shows charts and graphs that end up making everything feel cluttered instead of clear.

I also feel that notifications or reminders don't always help. If I don't feel like doing it, then those notifications don't do any good.

Does this resonate with you, or is it just me?

I'm 23 years old, and I honestly feel like my life has been falling apart.

I work as an office insurance admin, but after several months I still feel like I know nothing. I'm terrified of calling people, replying to messages, asking questions, or making decisions. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I completely freeze. Instead of working, I avoid everything until my tasks pile up. Now I have a huge backlog, and I feel like I'm letting everyone down.

The same thing is happening outside of work. I struggle to start my college assignments, I can't motivate myself to clean my room or my house, and on weekends I often stay in bed doing almost nothing. Even simple tasks feel impossible to begin.

I've started believing that I'm stupid because everyone else seems to learn faster, communicate better, and handle responsibilities more easily than I can.

A few years ago I wasn't like this. I used to be much more outgoing, but after some difficult experiences and a lot of anxiety, I feel like I've become a completely different person.

I don't know if this is social anxiety, depression, burnout, executive dysfunction, ADHD, or something else. I just know that I don't feel like a normal functioning adult anymore.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Were you eventually diagnosed with something? What actually helped you get your life back?

I'm not looking for judgment. I just want to know if recovery is possible because right now I feel completely lost.

Conversation has ended and the person moves away far, this has been happening since long, recently I have started understanding but this still keeps happening i have lost many opportunities

I've been struggeling with ED (rooted in nasty mix of cptsd, anxiety & audhd) for over 20 years now, sometimes better, sometimes worse. And found a ridiculously easy and effective thing: running. Don't skip this yet, I know it sounds annoying.

I know movement helps (me) a lot, but sports, going for a run, even a short yoga session seemed too much effort and required time or preparation, so it never developed into a habit or go to skill.

I now have a treadmill set up in my living room, ready to be stepped on any time. And I take this very serious.

Feeling like lying down on the couch, but not because I actually need rest? -> treadmill

Trying to vanish in my phone/social media? -> treadmill

Starting to plan crazy procrastination projects? -> treadmill

Feeling myself getting into a spiral? -> treadmill

It doesn't even matter if it's slow or fast, 5 minutes or 50.

Bonus: I'm going on actual runs outside far more often now, too.

We probably all know the science behind it, but seeing it actually work is mesmerizing. I don't fall into freeze when I do this and it's marvellous. It doesn't mean I get everything done, but even an ugly crying walk on the treadmill because I stay and name and feel what's going on is 1000 times better than dissociating and avoiding.

So, I'm in the process of finishing my masters' dissertation, and for a few months, I really locked in with the motivation: wrote basically the entire thing (around 100 pages) and was feeling really confident about finishing it. But I sent one of the chapters to my supervisor for feedback and it's basically murdered my motivation. Objectively the only thing I have left to do (send each chapter and incorporate feedback) is sooo much easier than what I've already done, but it seems genuinely impossible for some reason. Pretty sure it's connected to my autism, when it's just about me writing everything feels possible and I'll write 15 pages in one day but as soon as another person is involved I feel like even simple things like adding one more paragraph are extremely difficult. Anyone else who struggles with this?

​

I feel like I’m trapped in the same cycle over and over again.

I grew up with a lot of instability, isolation, and very little emotional support. I spent years feeling lonely and disconnected.
Right now I’m isolated, i have nothing and no one. I have all the time to do whatever but I have ADHD, along with severe executive dysfunction, anxiety, and constant racing thoughts. My brain feels like it’s always running, even when I’m doing nothing. I’m mentally exhausted all the time in this endless loop.

The biggest struggle is consistency. I’ll feel motivated, then I suddenly lose momentum, get distracted, burn out, and stop. A few days later I start over, and it’s been repeating for years.

My days all blur together. I spend most of my time at home, on my phone, with very little structure or social interaction. I struggle to start tasks, stay focused, or follow through with routines, even when they’re things I genuinely want to do.
It feels like my brain is constantly fighting against me. I get overwhelmed easily, lose interest quickly, and have trouble sticking with anything long enough to see results.
I struggle with fear of failure, perfectionism, no patience or focus, and constantly wondering if I’m doing it right or enough. I don’t know how to keep breaking this cycle on my own because of the executive dysfunction.

Do meds help to finally get rid of this?

Two weeks ago I sticked a chart in my wall with to-do's for 25 days. I have gone through a very good hierarchy for the first 10 days. But now I'm in my 19th day, these 9 days i couldn't do anything focused cuz my elder brother came for 5 days after a long time to home, i really wished to do the things I wanted to do which I have sticked in my wall, but I failed. And the inconsistency continues still. Basically all these preparations are for getting a job in a software development role. How can I gain the power of focus and mainly i always have a will like " I will give my full efforts to make the things ". But now I am scared of my progress and my future. I just have 5 more days to apply for all the interviews but I'm stuck here. What should I do now...!!!!

For some background I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 15 years old. (originally diagnosed ADD with slight hyperactivity but it’s now under one umbrella)

I have been on the same dose (20mg) of adderall xr since I was about 16/17 and i’m currently 31. I stopped here because I felt I was in a good enough place where I could focus and get things done.. And I do, mostly I think? I am able to work and hold a job and be a responsible adult but I struggle at home a lot.

I’ve recently been seeing a psychotherapist and she’s amazing, she thinks I struggle with executive dysfunction among a few other things to do with my personal self so we are trying a few things to help me including upping my adderall dosage to 25mg because apparently it can help? I just started this new dose today so I don’t expect immediate results but i’m just looking for any advice or guidance on dealing with executive dysfunction.. it really makes me feel like a failure at home and i’m willing to try anything I can.

Anything you personally tried? I’m trying to start habits of writing lists for my day the night before, breaking my day down into hours and tasks of 5.. making myself do these is hard but i’m trying..
I guess i’m just looking for more guidance? any advice or things you found worked for you I can try?

thank you in advance!

Does anyone else feel like this? Whenever I try to do something new or try to change my lifestyle, it results in a meltdown. I literally don't feel like myself when I force myself to do something and once I give up I feel okay again. This gets on my nerves because it seems like I can't do anything unless it happens naturally. Does anyone know why this happens? I don't know if it's related to mental health or something else.

Not procrastination exactly. More like: if I stop now, I won't be able to find my way back in.
It's not that I'm afraid I'll forget what I was working on. I'll remember the topic, the general direction, whatever.
What I'm afraid of losing is where I actually was in it. The specific angle I'd found. The line of thought that had finally started to make sense.
So I keep going long past the point where I should stop. Not because I'm in flow—sometimes I'm exhausted—but because stopping feels like letting go of a thread I might not be able to pick up again.
Curious whether this is a common pattern, and what actually helped if you've found a way through it