Why do we feel the need to apologize for the amount of time spent on a task? Do you do that? Lately, I'm noticing how much shame neurodivergent folks carry related to their pace. I've heard we process more slowly, but sometimes I'm ten steps ahead of everyone else in the room. Are we too slow or too fast?
The neurodivergent brain is good at seeing connections and patterns, which is one of my favorite things about me. This advantage, however, becomes a real stinger when the array of potential paths overwhelms me and I freeze.
Do you know what helps with prioritizing which ideas, thoughts, or patterns to pursue? Context. The bigger picture eases decision-making for the task at hand.
I like to read the whole recipe before deciding to use it. When going somewhere new, I zoom out on the map to see the general area I'm headed to. New movies are difficult to get into without a synopsis (but I don't want to watch the whole trailer and give away key details). I loved the syllabus in school. It was immediately clear what was for credit and how many absences I was allotted. (I rarely left one unused)
Even with all this context, you can imagine needing - we may still take longer to accomplish things. We get stuck and need external pressures to propel us forward. That is part of our process.