Dear Prudence,
I’ve (22f) always had issues with executive function/procrastination. For a while, I convinced myself I had ADHD, but my doctor says it’s not bad enough for a diagnosis. Even if he’s wrong, I can’t afford a second opinion. As an example: I woke up at 8 a.m. today (Saturday) intending to wash my hair (an activity I enjoy). It is 4:30 a.m., and I have just finished doing that. I spent most of the day in bed playing phone games and trying to will myself out of it.
To be fair, this is a bit worse than usual. I have coping mechanisms that work OK. I’m not depressed: not apathetic/suicidal, still love doing my hobbies when I can convince myself to, have a fulfilling part-time job, etc. My life is good overall! But days like this come along often, and I’m constantly behind in school, disappointing my friends, and never sleeping enough. Any tips for someone who’s just naturally more weak-willed than average? Is there some silver bullet Pomodoro-time-audit-life-changing-system I’m missing out on? If I just need to stop being a wimp and suck it up, please tell me!
—It’s Now 5 a.m. Because I Wrote This Letter Instead of Going to Bed