17/10/2025
Zo bekend dit. Ik ga koffiezetten op de camping. Ik zet de waterkoker aan, zie nog wat kleren op mijn bed, ruim die op, hee daar ligt mijn telefoon, Facebook, spelletjes, hee de waterkoker is klaar, lekker thee, dus nu heb ik thee en Theo geen koffie.
✨ The ADHD Pinball Machine: A Day in the Life of Executive Dysfunction
This simple observation—"Cleaning the kitchen but saw the laundry so I watered the plants and now I'm making a dentist appointment"—is not just a funny anecdote; it is the perfect, concise summary of how Executive Dysfunction dictates task ex*****on for the ADHD brain. It’s a hilarious, yet frustrating, cycle where momentum is constantly hijacked, and the intention of one task spirals into the initiation of several completely unrelated ones.
The Logic of the Neurodivergent Brain
This sequence of events perfectly illustrates the lack of filtering and prioritization that defines the ADHD experience:
The Starting Line (Cleaning the Kitchen): The day begins with a clear, good intention. The necessary Activation Energy has been successfully generated to start Task A (cleaning the kitchen). You are in motion!
The Hijack (Saw the Laundry): The brain registers the laundry as a visual cue and a potential distraction. The reward system instantly calculates that Task B (doing laundry) is more stimulating, more novel, or more urgent (because it’s visible) than the current task. The momentum immediately shifts, but the first task is left incomplete.
The Detour (Watered the Plants): This is the crucial, absurd pivot. While walking to the laundry room, the plants are seen. The brain is still in "Initiate Task" mode, but the plants present an easier, low-stakes, and slightly novel micro-task (Task C). The original goal (laundry) is jettisoned in favor of the immediate, accessible dopamine hit of the plant chore. The brain says, "Look, I’m being productive! Just with... these."
The Hyperfocus Rabbit Hole (Making a Dentist Appointment): This final jump is the most baffling, yet common. The simple act of checking the clock to see if you have time to water the plants might lead to seeing a calendar, which reminds you that your bi-annual dentist checkup is long overdue (Task D). This new, high-stakes, high-urgency task immediately triggers a stronger dopamine response than any chore. All previous physical movement stops; the brain locks into a new form of hyperfocus that involves zero movement and 100% phone/computer time.
This entire sequence is driven by the brain’s constant, desperate search for sufficient dopamine and novelty to sustain action. The moment a task becomes rote or boring, the brain scans the environment for an alternative that promises a higher hit, resulting in a trail of incomplete chores and a random appointment successfully made. It’s chaos, but it's a kind of chaos that, ultimately, gets some things done—just never in the intended order.
What unexpected, low-stakes task did your brain prioritize over an actual deadline this week?