How can I make myself do the stuff I need to fo today (ADHD).

[FreshHellscape]

I have ADHD. Recent formal diagnosis and starting meds very soon. but of course lifelong difficulties.

I have invoices I need to send today. They are overdue and the customer needs them. It will be a problem if I dont send. It won't take long. I've wasted a morning worrying about it. But somehow I just can't. Any tips to break out and do this? My usual go to of caffeine isnt cutting it. I feel pathetic and crushed with shame.

Watching for tips, sorry that’s not much help. I’m just like this too.

after much avoiding i have a word with myself and tell myself to just get on with it and that i will feel better once I’ve done it…. It doesn’t always work. I tell myself it has to be done, and no one else is going to do it for me. And then i can stop worrying about it.

recently I’ve started timing things so that when I do them the future I can say to myself that it will only take x amount of time, it helps sometimes.

also sometimes I force myself to start for just 5 mins, but then carry on. I’m not going to lie, it’s painful, but it gets it done.

you’re not pathetic, the struggle is real. You’ve got this.

Did you manage it in the end?

Do you need to email them or post them?

Do you know what's getting in your way, can you verbalise this even if it sounds "stupid" or like not a real reason?

Thanks both.
I haven't done it.
It is hard to isolate down what actions I need to take. Where to start. It just feels like a wall.
Plus I'm embarrassed because I know the finance dept will complain when they get them so late, they have one before. Not having to deal with that feels easier but the more I delay the worse it is.
I'll have to do it in the morning. I've got 2 cans of Red Bull in lieu of methylphenidate...

Write the instructions as if for someone else to send them. Then go through the instructions one step at a time. The only way I can get past those mental logjams is to write an instruction set.

I used to hate doing my invoices! They were always last minute or overdue.

just start by popping a red bull, turn computer/tablet on, put the date and title/address you need and go from there, you’ll soon get into the swing of it.

don’t know if this would help you but i used to write mine out in format on paper first, then copy onto excel (once I’d gone through my phone to work out dates and amounts as record keeping wasn’t my strong point)

as pp said break it down into small steps, it will be clearer and easier. Good luck

Would putting on music help? Something energising.

Thanks everyone. I forgot to come back to this thread to update! I got there eventually and it felt amazing! I used a combination of the above ideas and it really helped.

Just started methylphenidate- so far so good.