#switching tasks

[my-autistic-things]

yes a meal derails my whole schedule because it's a whole Event in my brain. if i stop one Event to do another the flow is gone idk

That makes sense to me! I'm glad to see so many people relating to my post. I also struggle with this aspect of having food, even down to drinking water, or going to the bathroom, because literally anything that makes me switch focus makes me lose my flow. And I say this to point out that this occurs outside of hyperfocus -- I can be focusing on something in a conscious, dedicated way, and have the ability to pull myself away to make food/pee/get water/etc., but know that once I switch tasks I will Not Be Able To Return.

[humunanunga]

(switches between apps/windows to do a thing) (switches to the right one but doesn't recognize it cuz what it still has open isn't relevant to the thing and won't be until I take it to the thing myself) (gets stuck in a loop of flipping through everything I have open until I forget what I was doing) (goes back to resume what I was doing before) (remembers what I was gonna do because I can't pick up where I left off until I do the thing) (switches between apps/windows to do the thing) (switches to the right one but doesn't recogni

[actuallyadhd]

Hi, I know having difficulties with change is an autistic this but do you know if it’s also an ADHD thing? Like whenever plans get changed I get really upset, like meltdown upset.

Yes this can also be an ADHD thing! I think part of it is that some of us find it easier to function well when there’s structure and we know what’s going on. -C

[autism-asks]

If I'm doing homework or reading or even just being on my phone and my dad asks me to take out the trash or something but then makes me do it right that second I get so annoyed like almost meltdown annoyed but I can't tell if it's an autism thing or if I'm lazy. or if I'm watching a show or reading and someone tries to talk to me I just want them to shut up even if I genuinely enjoy talking to them in any other situation.

Autistic people often have difficulty switching tasks due executive dysfunction which it sounds like is what’s going on in this situation.

-Sabrina

[ossie50]

“Did you even read my email?” Such a common question, often not asked of the email recipient, but rather as part of a behind-the-scenes rant.

[autism-asks]

I have a difficult time doing more than one thing at a time without a lengthy break inbetween (unless it's planned out for me). I know that is related to executive dysfunction, but there are other times when once I start a task I have a hard time stopping? And it doesn't even have to be related to my SpIn. I could just be cleaning and work straight through lunch. It's like it takes more effort to stop and eat than it does to keep cleaning until my hands start shaking from low blood sugar. Itaat?

I’m the same way, anon, it’s definitely an autistic thing. We often have trouble switching tasks, and often stopping in the middle of a task leaves it incomplete which is not inline with how we think (black and white thinking and rigid thinking).

(And it’s something I thought I was really goo about, multitasking, but my bosses at work are frequently reminding me that I need to be able to stop what I’m doing and switch tasks because I suck at it.)

- Os

[askanautistic]

Hi, is this an autism thing? Sometimes, when I want to do homework/Guide badge work, I will try to start it, but can't talk myself into doing it and can't stop what I'm already doing.

it’s common for autistic people to struggle with beginning things and/or with switching tasks.It’s also quite common in other conditions.It might be helpful to look up executive dysfunction.