What is executive dysfunction' and how do you overcome it?

"In an ultra-viral TikTok video, a woman lies on her couch. I'm tired. I should shower so it'll wake me up; if I shower, I should exercise first so I don't have to shower twice, intones the voiceover. If I'm going to exercise, I should eat first; if I'm going to cook, I should have coffee first so I have energy to cook, it continues. The video which has almost 5m views bears the caption: What executive dysfunction looks like."

"Executive dysfunction, on the other hand, is not really a term used by mental health professionals. You're much more likely to hear a professional say that a person has difficulties with executive functioning or has poor executive function, says Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist based in Atlanta and New York. These professionals don't want to label anyone as dysfunctional, she says. But the idea of executive dysfunction does get at a real experience that some people live with. The obvious hallmarks of poor executive functio"

Social media videos commonly show people stuck on everyday tasks, unable to start chores, becoming overwhelmed by household responsibilities, and frequently running late. Executive function is the cognitive capacity to plan, prioritize, estimate task duration, break large tasks into smaller steps, shift attention between duties, and maintain working memory. The label 'executive dysfunction' is not a formal clinical diagnosis; clinicians typically describe people as having difficulties with executive functioning or poor executive function. The social portrayals capture a real lived experience for many individuals who struggle with task initiation and organization.

Read at www.theguardian.com