[claviola]

> If I have positive motivations to do X, distractions are easy to set aside. If motivations are negative, I will be unable to resist creating distractions. And a straightjacket that prevents that leads to insanity.

How do you deal with chores?

[btilly]

First, a direct positive emotion - I'm aware of how much my doing routine chores helps my wife and family. And it is a trade, I'd much rather do the chores than the routine paperwork that my wife does instead!

Second, I use doing routine chores as meditation and thinking time. It does lead to doing the chore less efficiently - I might break off loading the dishwasher to pace, think, and jot down a note. But it is also personally productive time for me.

[beardedmoose]

These are really good tips which have an added benefit mentally with the positivity you are bringing to your own headspace.

I think meditation is overlooked in favor of medications as a valid aid in folks with executive function disorders.

I personally just listen to music with noise cancelling headphones while doing chores. It also helped that I took the time to explain to my family that I am not trying to ignore them but sometimes I need to unwind after a mentally taxing day at work with some distraction free cleaning.

[cstoner]

Not OP, but I give myself a little reward. Specifically, I "X" out the task on my daily task list. I take this so far as to add items I just completed to my list just so that I can mark them off.

It's stupid, but it works. At least for me. I think it comes down to 2 different types of positive reinforcement:

1. It feels good to mark a task done. 2. It feels good to look at a list of all of the things I did that day, even if they were the size of taking out the trash.

[btilly]

Yup. Reward early, reward often.

50 small rewards works better than one giant one. Even if the 50 small rewards were just + points TOWARDS getting the one giant one.

[ModernMech]

Automate as much as possible. I cannot live without a washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher inside my apartment. I tried once and I just had dirty clothes and dishes all the time. Beyond that I just pay for it! I love in an hoa so I don’t have to do yard work or trash, so cores are minimized as much as possible.

[Doxin]

not OP, but what works surprisingly well for me, is doing chores when I am in the mood. That does sometimes mean cleaning out the dishwasher at 3AM, but at least it gets done sometimes instead of never.

Just keep an eye out for productive moods. Keep checking with yourself if you feel like doing chore X and if the answer is "yeah I guess" drop everything and do the chore.