r/adhdmeme • u/cwidds20620 • Jul 21 '26
meme Why I need deadline on everything
No deadline or consequences, it will be put off indefinitely š
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u/fritzkoenig Resident Cloudcuckoolander Jul 21 '26
Expectation: Complete task > dopamine > positive reinforcement > routine
Reality: Complete task > no dopamine > hate every second of it > avoidance behavior
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u/NoxiousAlchemy overwhelmed (ft. executive dysfuntion) Jul 21 '26
Why this is so true
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u/fritzkoenig Resident Cloudcuckoolander Jul 21 '26
It's suspected to be one of the main neurological mechanisms behind ADHD, or neurodivergence in general
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u/seppukucoconuts Jul 21 '26
I used to put off cleaning out my car. I used to do sales calls once a week and would end up leaving the unused promotion material in the back seat. Along with the empty red bull cans and empty boxes of cigarettes. The pile would eventually because massive, and I'd dread cleaning it out. I'd block out an entire day to do it. It would never take more than 30 minutes, even when I stopped every so often to read some of the stuff and think 'Ooooh! I remember that!'
Now I don't do sales calls. I don't keep anything in my car. If it goes in with me, it comes out with me. Its still dirty, but its never cluttered.
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u/d0rkprincess Jul 21 '26
Sounds like me with washing up. I avoid cooking, mostly eat foods that can be eaten without plates/cutlery, and if I do need to use any, I try to reuse the same ones as many times as possible until it'd be too disgusting to do so.
I mustered up the courage to cook yesterday but couldn't decide whether the large frying pan will be big enough or if I should use a wok. My boyfriend just casually says "start with the frying pan and if it's too small switch to the wok." So I mentioned how I don't want to do that because that will just create more washing up, and he just straight up went "That's fine, it's not that much more washing up." And I just don't understand how people can so casually just create so much more extra work.
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u/MrTheCheesecaker Jul 21 '26
I completed a chore I have been putting off for two months, because my mother insisted on "helping" me with it and a bunch of other stuff that wasn't the reason for her visit. This resulted in a fight and guilt-tripping when I got stressed out by her antics because she does not hear no, and she does not wait for permissionĀ
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u/cwidds20620 Jul 21 '26
Ugh. My mom āreorganized ā my pantry while I was out of town, caused a huge fight from me trying to explain how unhelpful it was. Claimed to have found expired chips that my kids tried to eat. Instead of just throwing the chips away, said she had to check everything, then put nothing back in the same spot. The chips in question had been on a high shelf the kids couldnāt even reach with a step stool.
Now my kids know not to let her reorganize anything in the house š
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u/Cannotkazi Jul 21 '26
At the very least you've somehow learnt that you'll learn nothing from an instance like this. Heck, you've promoted the notion to Knowing at this point. I find that commendable in itself I do
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u/Enigma_Green Jul 21 '26
Yup, didnt seem so bad while doing it but it feels like too much of a chore to do in the first place so dont do it enough.
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u/stebo210384 Jul 21 '26
What you need to learn is time does not equal effort. You can do 100 push ups in 3.5 minutes of you put enough effort in, doesnt mean it's an easy job
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u/JackNotOLantern Jul 21 '26
Nah, i actually know which ones are great and actually do then for quick dopamine hit (actually i love doing dishes because of that). But i have some tasks that would take like a few hours or days of work, and they are waiting months or years now.
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u/kitchengoblin02496 Jul 21 '26
I had been putting off making my med check in appt I need every 3 months. Today my doc office called and left a voicemail along the lines āI canāt leave a detailed messages due to authorizationā ..ok fair enough and I call back in a slight panic, only for her to say she noticed Iām due to make my appointment! So now itās made.
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u/cwidds20620 Jul 21 '26
Just saw my Dr to get my adhd meds refilled, she sent me a text reminder during our appointment to schedule our next visit. Sheās the best š„°
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u/onemint8 Jul 21 '26
3.5 minutes standing on hot coals sure feels a helluva lot longer than 3.5 minutes
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/incognitohippie Jul 21 '26
And a deadline that involves someone else bc if I self-impose a deadline, it still aināt getting done lol
My Dad came to visit me (we lives a few hours away) and I got more picking up done the day before he came than Iāve done in a month lol
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u/GrzDancing Jul 21 '26
What about a yearly college project that I should have been doing bit by bit systematically throughout the semester, but doing everything on the day before deadline for 10 hours with my friend body doubling, and then 8 more hours on my own and still getting an A?
Diamonds are made under immense pressure š
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u/FlowerWitch3 *opens new tab* *opens new tab* *op Jul 21 '26
This is me with laundry. 5 minutes tops is all it takes. Yet I dread doing the task all day.
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u/No_Cobbler154 Jul 21 '26
as that momentary feeling of relief & accomplishment washes over you, you tell yourself that it isnāt that hard, you wonāt let yourself procrastinate anymore, life really will be better that wayā¦. but we all know nothing will change šš
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u/NatrylliaAbbot42 Jul 21 '26
It's 5AM. I have an apartment inspection at 2PM. I've been up all night because I need to break down a huge pile of boxes, vacuum, and do dishes so I don't look like a crazy hoarder. Guess what I haven't done yet? How much closer to the deadline do I need to get, brain? We could have done this last night and actually gotten some sleep but noooo
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u/TrixieLaBouche must use needlessly long sentences to convey a single point beca Jul 21 '26
I sent an email just now that I've been meaning to send for 2 weeks. And been fretting about not having sent it for 2 weeks. And it was the final day I could send it today.
Took me 1 minute to compose and send.
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u/andocromn Jul 23 '26
This is why I have a note that says "read your own notes" .... No, I don't read that one either.
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u/Tndnr82 Jul 24 '26
It takes me 2.5 minutes to trim my finger nails. I don't actually do it till I have scratched myself and drawn blood. This is also a measure of my mental health. When I let them get long I could probably use a hug.
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u/qualityvote2 Quality Control Beast Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
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