Before sharing these methods, I want to clarify that while they may not work for everyone, they have been effective for me. To ensure fairness, I evaluated each method using the same criteria, which helped me identify strategies that truly work in my experience.

Personally, I struggle most with continuity, starting, and completing tasks due to executive dysfunction. The methods I’ve listed have helped me manage these challenges, and some I’ve even integrated into my daily routine. Although they haven’t solved all my problems, they have made my life significantly easier.

Number 1: Using body doubles

• Having someone who consistently reminds me to complete my work or assignments greatly increased my chances of remembering and finishing them. As someone who struggles with follow-through, this approach was surprisingly effective, since I often tend to forget tasks.
• Duration: 1 week
• Effectiveness: 9/10
• Work actually done: 14/15 assignments!

Number 2: 5-minute rule

• I was genuinely surprised at how well this strategy worked. Whenever you don’t feel like starting an assignment or task, simply tell yourself you only need to do it for five minutes. Chances are, once you begin, you’ll keep going even if you weren’t initially motivated.
• Duration: 1 week
• Effectiveness: 9/10
• Work actually done: Out of 12 assignments, I continued to do 10 until finished.

Number 3: Thinking out loud/ writing thought process down

• I’ve noticed that when my to-do list feels overwhelming, I become stressed and unsure where to begin, often getting caught in a cycle of anxious thoughts. When this happens, I find it helpful to talk out loud or, even better, write everything down. I list every task that’s on my mind and then organize them into smaller, manageable categories. This approach helps me clearly identify what needs immediate attention and what can be postponed, making the workload feel much more manageable.
• Duration: 1 week
• Effectiveness: 8/10
• Work actually done: helped me de-stress and actually get things done rather than just worrying and doing nothing about it.

Number 4: Cleaning my workspace

• This one is much harder to begin. Personally, I really dislike cleaning. I don’t like moving things around, and keeping my desk free of clutter has been a constant challenge. However, I’ve realized that I can focus so much better when nothing is distracting around me. If my desk is covered in random clutter, I tend to fixate on that instead of getting my work done.
• Duration: 1 week
• Effectiveness: 6.5/10
• Work actually done: I’ve noticed I can focus for a longer period of time compared to if my desk had lots of clutter on it

Number 5: