Turns Out, Real Life Doesn't Follow the Instructions
August is over. School is back in full force. Routines have changed. New things have started. Plans met reality.
And sometimes the way executive function gets explained makes it sound remarkably simple:
“Break the task into smaller steps.”
Okay, great! But what happens when you can’t figure out what the first step is?
“Use a calendar.”
Okay…What happens when you forget to look at the calendar?
“Put things in the same place every time.”
Excellent plan.
…
Except apparently I have absolutely no memory of where I decided that place should be.
And the reality is that executive function doesn’t happen in a worksheet. It happens while you’re running late, someone is talking to you, your phone is ringing, you’ve lost your keys, and your brain has suddenly decided now is the perfect time to remember something you forgot three days ago.
We're Talking About the Real Stuff More
More creators are moving away from the “look at this ADHD thing I did today” and more towards “Here’s what happened, and here’s what was actually happening in my brain.”
There’s still humor in the videos - it’s actually how we connect with the creators themselves. But underneath the funny reel is a conversation about processing, overwhelm, task initiation, working memory, masking, sensory needs, transitions, or communication.
If you’ve been on our socials recently and seen the videos we have put out this past month, we’ve also been putting this to the test. We have found that people connect a lot more with the situations they can relate to:
It’s all super relatable to neurodivergent people, but also explains different executive functions that we don’t ever realize are happening.
What We’ve Been Building
When we started NeuroLocker, the app was naturally at the center of everything we talked about.
But the more we've built, talked to people, shared our experiences, and listened to the community, the clearer something has become:
A tool is much more useful when you understand what you're trying to support.
And I know we talked about our website redesign last month, but we have officially finished it, and it centers more around resources with the app as the supporting piece. I think the redesign looks so much better, and allows you to see the difference we are trying to make in supporting neurodivergent people - not just technologically, but also personally.
Take a look at our website here!
Wait…What IS Executive Function?
I’m so glad you asked.
We’ve actually spent the last month talking about executive function without always calling it executive function.
Forgetting what someone said while you’re responding
Knowing what needs to be done but not being able to start
Losing track of time
Walking into a room and forgetting why
Having the exact same task feel easy on Tuesday but impossible on Thursday
That’s why we created the Understanding Executive Function guide.
Not because people need another clinical definition, but because once you can recognize executive function in your own life, you can start figuring out what kind of support actually helps.
You can access the guide either here or through our resources page on the website.
Worth Exploring - Start Here
New to the conversation?
Start with What is Neurodivergence?
Ever wondered why seemingly simple things can sometimes feel ridiculously difficult?
Download Understanding Executive Function.
And if you’d rather learn by watching us make jokes about forgetting what someone asked while we’re still answering them…you should probably follow us on social media too.
Before You Go…
What’s one of the completely ordinary things your brain makes unnecessarily complicated?
Getting out the door? Answering texts? Putting laundry away? Remembering why you walked into the kitchen?
Hit reply and tell us.
We might just turn it into a future NeuroLocker post - because chances are, you’re not the only one.
(Yes, this goes to a real human.)
If You Want to Be Part of What We’re Building
If this is your first newsletter - hi! We’re glad you’re here!
Around here we talk about neurodivergence the way we actually experience it: sometimes seriously, sometimes educationally, and sometimes by laughing at the absurdity of looking for your phone while holding it.
There’s a lot more coming.
See you next dispatch!
Sophea
Co-Founder, NeuroLocker
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