Executive Dysfunction or Procrastination?
It’s back to school season, and if you and your child are staring at unfinished assignments, unopened emails, or a planner that’s more of a decoration than a tool, it’s easy to assume the problem is procrastination. But what if it’s something else entirely? For neurodivergent and trauma-impacted kids and adults, issues with productivity could actually come down to executive dysfunction.
So what’s executive function?
Executive functioning is the brain’s management system. It handles things like:
Starting tasks
Organization
Emotional regulation
Working memory
Planning and prioritization
Impulse control
When these skills aren’t working as expected—due to ADHD, autism, trauma, chronic stress, or burnout—it can create what’s called executive dysfunction.
When is it executive dysfunction vs procrastination?
Typically, procrastination is a choice. We’re feeling unmotivated or we didn’t manage our time well. But executive dysfunction is more of a barrier. It’s not that someone doesn’t want to start the task—actually, they may really want to start it—but they can’t.
Imagine two students sit down to write a paper.
The first student is procrastinating: they end up scrolling on their phone to avoid the task. After they scroll, they might feel additional stress, which pushes them to get started. This student might need support with time management and prioritization.
The second student has executive dysfunction. Their brain feels frozen. When they think about the task, they start panicking. They may also choose to scroll, but it may be in response to the crushing anxiety they are feeling about the task rather than an unwillingness to get started. After they scroll, the overwhelm might continue into a mental shutdown—or even a meltdown. This student needs help with task initiation, breaking down the steps, and nervous system regulation.
How to support executive dysfunction
Whether you are struggling with executive dysfunction personally, or you are the parent/caregiver to someone who does, there are many ways to support executive dysfunction without judgement.
✅Break tasks into tiny pieces. Instead of “write an essay,” try “open laptop,” then “open Google docs,” then “write one sentence.”
✅Use external supports. Visual timers, the pomodoro method, post-it note checklists, body-doubling, and verbal prompts all can help. We’ll cover many of these methods in next month’s blog post!
✅Validate the struggle. People who experience executive functioning often beat themselves up. Saying something like “I see you trying, and I know this is hard. Let’s figure it out together,” can help relieve shame and build a sense of safety.
✅Prioritize regulation, not productivity. Work can start when the body feels safe, but highlighting a very full to-do list can create more overwhelm. Grounding, movement, and rest are productive in their own right.
If you want help finding systems and approaches that work for you and your brain, reach out to Ashlee for a consultation. Your neurodivergence might become your superpower!
