Executive Dysfunction
You know that moment when you’re lying in bed, telling yourself to get up and brush your teeth, and your brain is like “absolutely, great idea, let’s do that” but your body just… doesn’t move? Or when you have a really important task to do and instead you find yourself reorganising your sock drawer for the third time this week?
That’s executive dysfunction, and if you experience it, you’re definitely not alone.
Executive dysfunction is when the part of your brain that handles planning, organising, and following through on tasks decides to take an unscheduled break. It’s incredibly common in ADHD and autism, and it’s one of the most misunderstood experiences out there.
Here’s what it actually feels like:
- You know exactly what you need to do, but you just… can’t start
- Simple tasks feel impossibly overwhelming (like, genuinely)
- You get stuck switching between activities, even when you want to move on
- Multi-step instructions make your brain shut down completely
- You forget important things despite having reminders everywhere
- You feel paralysed by having too many choices or not knowing where to begin
And here’s the bit that nobody talks about: this isn’t about being lazy, unmotivated, or disorganised. Your brain is working just as hard as everyone else’s — it’s just that the executive function department is having some technical difficulties.
From the outside, it might look like procrastination or avoidance. But from the inside? It can feel like being trapped in your own head, watching yourself not do the thing you desperately want to do, and having no idea why.
The frustration is real. The confusion is real. And the exhaustion from fighting your own brain all day is absolutely real.
You’re not broken, and you’re not making excuses. You’re dealing with a genuine neurological difference that affects how you manage tasks and intentions. And once you understand that, you can start being kinder to yourself and finding strategies that actually work with your brain instead of against it.