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I wish I could just "do the thing"!

1 reply

AwkwardPaws27 · 09/09/2025 19:25

I finally called Samsung today about my washing machine which has been slinging error codes constantly since it was installed (by them) 10 months ago.

If I was "normal" I would have /could have called them immediately & had it looked at but I've put it off for this long and just kept re-running failed cycles Blush

The call handler was having system issues so will apparently call me back (I really hope they do as otherwise the chances of me chasing it are slim to none...). Especially as we have to go through a troubleshooting process which is my idea of hell. I just want a human to come & make it work now.

Has anyone found a way of making themselves "just do the thing"?! (Autism diagnosis but suspect AuDHD).

OP posts:
BlueUmberFox · 11/09/2025 07:04

Complicated tech is a PITA.

Two things on this.

I always make process notes for tech things. I need to do them enough times that it becomes muscle memory, so I'll make a note on my phone on Google Drive or on a post it note in bullet point saved at the location that I need to do the thing. That way I save working memory for doing the thing and hopefully eventually committing it over time to memory.

In terms of doing the thing for the first time, there's a few hacks.

Getting started is one of the easiest things to hack in ADHD - just make it novel / urgent / competitive like set a timer or put music on or how many shit tasks can I get done this morning without sitting down.

For more complicated tasks things like getting the tools ready, breaking it into steps (phone x isn't the whole task, it's find phone number, check opening hours, schedule quiet time to do it, call 01384 etc.).

One thing I've done recently to overcome that sense of overwhelm is writing out the task in a better way. Rather than sort dishwasher problem (for example) I'd write:

Call Samsung on 0800 444444 (opening times sat 9-6) to resolve button not working so I can use dishwasher quickly in future (have manual to hand), 30 mins

What I have here is
Task - what do I physically do here (I honestly think most tasks can be broken into something physical at some level everything involves pick, find, call, walk etc etc. I think this is the part I enjoy
Intention - think of this like going bowling and trying to get a strike, what does success look like, set the intention, here I've also included a reminder of why this is important/beneficial as a motivator to do it
Timeframe - super important as I need to be prepped
Also Tools - what do I need to be ready to do it

So the anacronym is TITT. Use TITT to stop the task going tits up 🤣 which is easy to remember. A coach helped me with this.

The main thing really I think with ND is having tools for us that help and work.

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