It’ll probably get done…
For one neurodivergent young woman, task completion wasn’t her strong suit, especially in college. Instead of being proactive in completing her daily tasks, she would rather scroll on her phone or go out with her friends, causing her responsibilities to be put onto the back burner. Homework, chores, and work that would need to be done would be pushed until the last minute due to her poor executive functioning skills, and as time went on, she would often have too much procrastinated work in a day to get it all done. This would then force her to try and start multiple things at once, but as she did so, things would be forgotten or left half done, so the majority of her daily tasks and responsibilities would be left uncompleted. Whether it be homework that was missing a few answers, dishes still being left to soak in the sink for the next two days, or laundry being left in the washer, she felt like when she was away at college, nothing was ever fully completed.
As time went on and the young woman continued to struggle with these executive functioning skills, she quickly began to resent college. She felt as if no matter how hard she tried to get things done, the list of tasks would never end, causing her mental health to deteriorate. As she began not attending class and avoiding tasks, her roommate let her parents know what was going on, and as they realized their neurodivergent daughter was struggling with executive dysfunction, they got into contact with the College Life Skills Program. There, she met with a coach weekly so she could learn how to strengthen these executive functioning skills by learning and applying strategies such as implementing a daily calendar of tasks with reminders and a system where she had to complete one task fully before moving onto another. As she received this coaching, with a level of accountability, her ability to handle independent life flourished, preventing her from dropping out of college due to the stress of poor task completion skills.
In college, task completion is not just for homework, but chores and other aspects of independent life as well, which is why it is so important. Without it, nothing will ever get done because most people do not have their parents there to do whatever it is they didn’t have time to, leaving the young adult to deal with the stress of it. Procrastination is a big contributor to poor task completion skills, and when in college, it is a very common thing. One source explains how “As a college student, your time management skills can determine your success or failure. Psychologist William Knause estimated that 90% of college students procrastinate. Twenty-five percent of these become chronic procrastinators, many who end up dropping out of college.” (Maffett, n.d.). With such a high percentage, it is no surprise that task completion is an issue college students are facing, however it can be even more daunting for neurodivergent students. Another source explains how neurodivergent individuals “…may struggle with maintaining attention, getting easily distracted, or frequently shifting focus from one task to another.” (Pinon, 2023). With task completion being such a prominent issue so many college students face, especially neurodivergent ones, it is no surprise parents worry, but at the CollegeLSP we help teach them skills like these to ensure they are successful before, during, and after college.
At the College Life Skills Program, our team of Doctoral and Master level professionals utilizes a series of highly individualized strategies, services, and techniques to help neurodivergent young adults who are college bound, in college, and even after college succeed in and after their transition into independent life. We help teach them life skills such as task completion so they can be successful in the work world and in life as well as help them learn how to balance independent life on their own, and other executive functioning skills, social skills, and emotional maturity. If your young adult is struggling with life skills, such as task completion on their own or the transition into college and adulthood, CollegeLSP has the tools to aid them in achieving and generalizing such skills.
Click here and call now to schedule your FREE 20-minute individualized screening- $150 value.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Maffett, S. (n.d.). Time Management. Time Management | Piedmont Technical College. https://www.ptc.edu/college-resources/academic-resources/academic-self-help-tips/time-management#:~:text=Is%20time%20on%20your%20side,up%20dropping%20out%20of%20college.
Pinon, J. (2023, June 13). Neurodivergent: Understanding signs, challenges, diagnosis and misconceptions. Longevity.Technology Lifestyle | Health, Fitness & Technology. https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/neurodivergent-understanding-signs-challenges-diagnosis-and-misconceptions/
