In order to deal with executive dysfunction, what works sometimes is to just do a little. E. g. instead of a full workout, I say: I can’t do a full workout, but I CAN do 1 pushup, or 1 set.

Sometimes, I can do more with 0 mental effort, only the first one is hard.

At other times, I still don’t feel like it. And here is the trap: I could force it like “come on, now you started, you finish!”

But the problem with that is that next time, the “just start” method does not work. The devil on my shoulder would say: “You know it’s never just one pushup, more will be forced and squeezed out of you!” And he would be right.

Better to deal with nearly 0 progress occasionally than to lose the method! Be honest to yourself. If you said just 1 pushup, just do the one. More only when it’s 100 % motivation-driven.

  • SirSamuel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    11 days ago

    Thank you. I need to improve my cardiovascular health, and I tend to be all or nothing. This was a valuable reminder.

    On a personal note my BP is too high and the doc has taken me off stimulants until I can get out of hypertension. Which sucks balls because without the stimulant I’m all over the place and life starts to fall apart quickly. I’ve been on stimulants less than a year and it saved my business and is healing my marriage

    I guess this would be more appropriate to put on Off My Chest or something, but that is too many steps

    • AddLemmus@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      4·
      11 days ago

      Can’t he hook you up with a non-stim?

      Wish I had the diagnosis for my marriage. Would have been a real chance. So much pointless suffering everywhere due to missed ADHS/depression/trauma/autism/… All while the health systems cost a fortune.

      • SirSamuel@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        10 days ago

        I’ve got an appointment next week, so hopefully I can get on something. I’m already on Wellbutrin as part of my cocktail. For me it only helps in conjunction with other medicine tho

        We’ll see. I’m sorry you’ve suffered the consequences of the capitalist medical industry, it really sucks

        • AddLemmus@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
          1·
          10 days ago

          Yes, it’s infuriating. Here in Germany, I have to pay ~EUR 1.1k per month, and it covers immediately life-threatening diseases completely and well, but a missed diagnosis can lead to a lot of suffering. A completely different life. Had to pay out-of-pocket eventually. Now that the diagnosis is there, there is a theoretical path to have meds covered, but it’s not worth the hassle to make it a priority.

          I noticed that the way to go is always meds plus methods. Constantly checking out new methods and improving on making better use of them.