There’s just too much going on…
For one neurodivergent young man, shifting or transitioning between tasks has always been difficult for him because of his executive dysfunction. He would often become too hung up on the task he was currently doing, so instead of shifting his attention to his group mates while doing a project, he would just ignore them until he was done with the task he had started. This would then cause him to miss important information or suggestions, creating tension in the group. However, this wasn’t the only place he struggled with shifting. While in his apartment he would be getting ready, but instead of putting away the clothes he didn’t want to wear after taking them out of the closet, he would throw them all on the ground so he could continue to focus on one thing. Then, at the end of it all, his room would be a huge mess. This then stressed the young man out, so he would either ignore it or be unable to keep track of the time as he cleaned it, causing him to either come home to a messy room or be late to wherever he was going.
As this cycle became a routine, the young man became unhappy with independent life. He felt as if it was all too much for him to handle because of his inability to tranistion between tasks, so he mentioned wanting to drop out of college and move back home to his parents. This then worried them, and before allowing their son to come home, they contacted the College Life Skills Program. There, he met with a counselor once a week to help him learn strategies that would help him learn how to be actively transitioning between multiple activities. By being held accountable to set timers while doing tasks and shifting between them as they went off alongside his coaching, the young man was able to get his independent life back on track both socially and academically.
College is a place where there is a lot going on all at once. Whether it be moving from doing homework to chores or shifting to a more relaxed activity after work, young adults days are filled with change. Yet, for those struggling with executive dysfunction, actively shifting can be difficult. They may find it hard to switch between tasks smoothly without feeling overwhelmed with anxiety. Young adults may also find it difficult to be able to shift back and forth between tasks to get multiple things done at once, which can make their days longer and more difficult since they are unable to actively multitask. This can take a large toll on their ability to do well in college, especially academically since “Studies have indicated that up to 25% of a school day may be spent engaged in transition activities” (Hume, 2008). If young adults cannot easily shift between taking notes and having a group discussion with their class or professors, they may find class a difficult place to be, and may even stop attending all together.
However, classes aren’t the only place college students need to utilize these shifting abilities. Work and home require independent young adults to be actively using their executive functioning skills such as shifting as well. Cleaning while also making dinner so there isn’t as big of a mess left over or shifting from one task to another at work to get what needs to be done in a day completed are other ways young adults use shifting in their daily life. If they are lacking these skills, daily life can be made more difficult and can discourage young adults from continuing to be independent. They may become too anxious or depressed because they feel as if nothing ever gets done since they cannot shift between tasks to ensure multiple things are actively being worked on, but with the proper help, this skill can be implemented into their daily lives.
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 shifting 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 shifting 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.
Hume, K. (n.d.). Transition time: Helping individuals on the autism spectrum move successfully from one activity to another. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/transition-time-helping-individuals-on-the-autism-spectrum-move-successfully-from-one-activity-to-another.html
