22 Results in Executive Function

What does having no instincts mean?

One of the most severe difficulties associated with autism is the difficulty imagining what might happen in a situation. You could describe this as social imagination or just simply lacking instinct. Most neurotypical people will go into any situation and be able to cope with it on the spot. The situation can be anything, for example going on the train, going to a cafe, meeting friends, going to the GP or going to a conference. In most instances they don't have to do much 'preparation' beforehand, or least not overly conscious or right-to-the-very-last-detail preparation. Autistic people, on the other hand, have a tendency to either overprepare or underprepare.

One skill you need for a less overwhelming life

Ever since I learned the skill of being able to prioritise, life for me has become so much less overwhelming. To prioritise means to determine the order for dealing with a series of tasks according to their relative importance. To be a successful prioritiser means executing the tasks in that order. I realise why a lot of autistic people may have trouble prioritising. The fundamental answer is that prioritising is a skill controlled by executive function, which is an area of difficulty in people who are autistic.

5 amazing ways to manage deadlines

Deadlines are vital for everything that is important because they facilitate people actually getting things done. Without a deadline, tasks can just get left or forgotten about. I love deadlines and I have them for every single thing that I do, however, if not carefully managed, they can cause me to feel very stressed. One… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to…

Performing your best performance: 5 steps

Most people want to get the best performance out of themselves. They want to do something the best they can. These situations can be anything, such as: giving a talk, hosting an event, having an interview, participating in a competition, performing something either in front of others or just for yourself. There is a method we can follow to increase the likelihood that we perform at our best for whatever situation we would like to be at our best for.

The 3 factors needed to succeed in any situation

There are three very important factors that impact on whether or not I will have a positive and successful engagement. These factors are relevant to any and every engagement - work, hobbies, friends, dating, meetings, etc. It might be very helpful for you to recognise what these three things are. You might find you can incorporate something into a situation that you're already finding very hard and find that it becomes much easier; or you might find it explains why you struggle with one thing yet excel at something else...

The freeze response to anxiety in ASD

I've been thinking about the Freeze response to anxiety. A lot of people know a bit about Fight and Flight and less people think to remember Freeze. Let's consider Freeze and how and why it might happen to people with ASD.

Familiarity vs predictability

I've been thinking about what makes a situation easier for me. One aspect I talked about recently was how immediate a situation is. I debated whether doing something very soon is sometimes easier than planning it ahead of time. Something else I think makes a difference is how predictable and how familiar something is. Let's find out more.

Improving productivity using routines and schedules

I had a brief conversation with someone recently and, like lots of things, it annoyed me (lots of things annoy me). The person was asking me what I was up to. When I listed what I was doing and the time I was doing it at (I said something like "I'm going home now because I'm going to be late for dinner, which I like to eat at 5pm"), she did a big grin and said, "It's all about schedules with you!!!" The reason this comment annoyed me was because it reminded me that lots of people play down a very serious matter. Note, this was all in my head, she hadn't given me any true reason to think that she was playing it down. However, I do know that many people I've come across in the past have made similar remarks to me and it always ends up with a bit of banter and teasing by them, because they think my "like" of schedules and routines is a bit of a laughing matter. I understand that people are trying to be friendly and affectionate with me, but I do sometimes wish that people took my "like" (which, if they took the time to find out more, they would realise is actually a 'need') of schedules and routines more seriously. Maybe I just wish that people took a bit more time to understand why schedules and routines are so important, so that they had more empathy, and then I wouldn't mind the teasing so much. But so many people view schedules and routines as very superficial, flexible things... "It's only a few minutes late, stop worrying!" or "Come on now, it's good for you to do things outside your comfort zone sometimes!"

The benefits for people on the spectrum doing less

What is the definition of the word 'busy'? It means 'having a great deal to do.' I've noticed that lots of neurotypical people seem to thrive on describing themselves as having a "very busy" life. I'm sure you also hear the same comments I do, people saying that they are or have been so busy, and they say it so proudly! People also seem to have the same impression of me, that I am very busy. But actually, my life is very minimalist and quiet. Sometimes I feel that I am busy but I think that the feeling of busyness I have is less to do with the number of things I am doing and more to do with the amount of energy it takes for me to do things? In this article I'll talk about why people on the autistic spectrum might benefit from a less 'busy' life in comparison to many neurotypical people who seem to desire and enjoy having busy lives.

How to reduce the number of transitions you do

For many people on the autistic spectrum, transitions are difficult. A 'transition' is basically any sort of change in circumstance, surroundings or activity. Transitions are most likely difficult for people with ASD because different activities require different thought processes, skills and general mental resources and the ability to undergo transition quickly is often very hard. Indeed, one of the impairments of autism is the ability to be mentally flexible. Many people also have sensory processing difficulties and transitions often cause disturbances of our senses, which can be very uncomfortable or even painful. I also find transitions hard because I get very focused on whatever it is I am doing and to have to suddenly stop that focus and shift it to something else, is hard. I also find transitions in the way I am feeling difficult and if I am doing one activity or doing the same thing, my mood tends to be constant and stable. Doing something different causes changes in feelings and a chance in mood and I find that hard as well. There are an infinite number of transitions that we all do every day, but here are a few examples based on some that affect me: