Ah, task and time management. If you’re neurodivergent, you’ve probably done everything “right.” You’ve bought the planners (shout out to my fellow planner addicts who just can’t resist!). Downloaded the apps. Learned the systems. You’ve tried the Pomodoro technique, time-blocking, and every “anchor” habit in the book. And yet, you still feel like you’re failing. But here’s the secret I’ve learned both personally and through my work with clients: The problem isn’t the strategy. It could be the “Textbook Trap” – the belief that a system only counts if you follow it verbatim.
1. The Trap of “Verbatim” Thinking
I recently worked with a client who felt a heavy sense of demand avoidance whenever they tried a new strategy. Why? Because they believed they had to “set up” the strategy exactly as described. Whether it was finding the perfect “anchor” or explaining the rules of body-doubling to a friend, the management of the strategy became a task in itself. We further discovered they believed they were “doing it wrong” if finishing a task didn’t feel satisfying. So here’s The Mindset Shift: How you feel after a task doesn’t determine whether you’ve completed it successfully. Completion is a binary (done or not done), not an emotional state. We have to decouple “completion” from “emotional payoff.”
2. Capacity is a Moving Target
In some professional environments that seem to demand “consistency,” ND brains often struggle because our capacity is not a flat line. It varies based on our environment, our sensory load, and our internal state. Personally and professionally, I’ve had to learn the power of permission. I’ve given myself permission to skip tasks when I don’t have the capacity, without the self-punishment. I’ve recognised that working with my brain’s fluctuating energy preserves my capacity for the long run.
3. Routine vs. Novelty
We are often told that “routine is king.” Indeed, this may be true for a lot of people of different neurotypes. But for many of us, rigid routines are the fastest way to burnout. The key isn’t a perfect, unbreakable system; it’s finding a balance between routine and novelty. In a professional setting, I often explain that we can’t always have a “perfect” day. It is allowed (and often necessary) to find an approach that yields results even if it looks messy. If your system is so rigid that it breaks when you have a “human” day, the system is the problem – not you.
4. Continuity Over Perfection
If there is one thing I want you to take away, it’s this: A time and task management system is designed to support you, not the other way around. Applying 10% of a strategy in a messy, real-life way is infinitely more valuable than describing a 100% perfect strategy that you never actually start. Focus on continuity- keeping the momentum going – rather than getting it “right.”
Are you tired of trying to fit your brain into a “standard” box? I work with neurodivergent professionals to move past the “textbook” and build bespoke approaches that actually yield results – without the shame. If you’re ready to stop serving your to-do list and start making it work for you, let’s talk.