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soc_puppetSomething I've done for myself that feels very indulgent but also important, is that I've given myself permission to do fun things even when I "should" be doing "productive" things.
If I focus too long on how I "should" be doing Task A, B, C, or D, even though what I really want to be doing is Fun Thing X, Y, or Z, I'll end up doing neither of those things and instead basically stagnating while doing Distractions L, M, or N. At the end of it, I usually end up with neither any Tasks nor any Fun Things done, and feel guilty and frustrated with myself (and also with the Tasks, and even with the Fun Things, for not allowing themselves to happen somehow).
So I started giving myself permission to do the Fun Things, even when the Tasks are Important and Need Doing Soon Please.
I don't know how much of an effect it's had on me getting Tasks done, though I suspect that allowing myself not to feel guilty over doing Fun Things instead has made them more approachable (fewer associated Bad Feelings). I'm pretty sure it's made me at least somewhat happier, though, since I do sometimes get around to doing Fun Things that I otherwise would have endlessly procrastinated against. And some of my "to-do" list invariably gets checked off, even if the checking off heavily prioritizes the Fun Things.
I can't imagine that it's a perfect solution by neurotypical standards, but I think it's working reasonably well for me.
If I focus too long on how I "should" be doing Task A, B, C, or D, even though what I really want to be doing is Fun Thing X, Y, or Z, I'll end up doing neither of those things and instead basically stagnating while doing Distractions L, M, or N. At the end of it, I usually end up with neither any Tasks nor any Fun Things done, and feel guilty and frustrated with myself (and also with the Tasks, and even with the Fun Things, for not allowing themselves to happen somehow).
So I started giving myself permission to do the Fun Things, even when the Tasks are Important and Need Doing Soon Please.
I don't know how much of an effect it's had on me getting Tasks done, though I suspect that allowing myself not to feel guilty over doing Fun Things instead has made them more approachable (fewer associated Bad Feelings). I'm pretty sure it's made me at least somewhat happier, though, since I do sometimes get around to doing Fun Things that I otherwise would have endlessly procrastinated against. And some of my "to-do" list invariably gets checked off, even if the checking off heavily prioritizes the Fun Things.
I can't imagine that it's a perfect solution by neurotypical standards, but I think it's working reasonably well for me.
