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Executive dysfunction is one of those phrases that can feel clinical and distant — until you live it.
You sit down to pay a bill, answer a text, start a work task, or even pick a meal. You know what you want to do. You might even care a lot. But your brain won't move. Or it moves in circles: you switch tabs, start three half-tasks, forget why you opened a drawer, and end the day exhausted and guilty.
That's not laziness. It's a real pattern, especially common in ADHD and other neurodivergent profiles, and it gets worse under stress, sleep debt, or overload.
Your brain has a set of control skills that help you hold goals in mind, resist distractions, and follow multi-step plans. Researchers call them executive functions, and the three core ones are inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. When those systems are underpowered or overloaded, intent stops converting into action. That gap is executive dysfunction.
It's state‑based. You can handle a task on Tuesday and be unable to start the same task on Thursday. That's not inconsistency — it's changing capacity.
There isn't one cause. Several factors work together — and they often create feedback loops.
ADHD is strongly linked to executive function differences — especially in inhibition, working memory, and planning. Autism and other profiles bring their own version.
Stress and poor sleep weaken executive function directly. You fall behind, get stressed, and your capacity drops further. Tasks carry emotional weight too — fear of failure, perfectionism, past criticism.
Unclear priorities, constant interruptions, systems designed for a different brain — some environments actively fight you.
No single strategy fixes this. The goal is a small set of reliable supports that make the next step obvious, low-effort, and emotionally safe.
Define the first two minutes so small it feels almost silly. "Open the document and type a messy title" is a start line. "Write the report" is a wall. If you can't begin, the task is still too big.
Working memory is limited. A short list on paper, a sticky note, voice notes — anything that moves the plan out of your skull and into view. If your list becomes a graveyard, shrink it.
Pin the file you need. Put distracting apps behind a sign-in. Use a website blocker for a short sprint. You're making the path easier for your future self, not punishing your current one.
10, 15, or 25 minutes. Give yourself permission to stop when the timer ends. Stopping on purpose reduces the fear of getting stuck and makes it easier to come back later.
Do writing in your high-focus window. Save admin for low-energy stretches. If you feel foggy, pick tasks with clear endpoints.
Work alongside someone — in person, on a video call, or in a coworking stream. The point isn't punishing accountability. It's shared momentum.
Don't rely on "just try harder." Willpower is a limited resource, and treating executive dysfunction as a character flaw will burn you out.
Don't keep everything in your head. Your working memory is already strained. Offload to paper, apps, sticky notes — anything external.
Don't build a massive to-do list that becomes a threat. The list should help you act, not shame you.
Don't demand a perfect plan before you start. Planning can be its own form of avoidance.
Don't treat rest as a reward you earn by suffering. Rest is part of the system.
If daily tasks feel overwhelming most weeks, or your work and relationships are suffering despite real effort, it's worth reaching out. An ADHD evaluation, CBT focused on skills, coaching, or medication can all help.
A good clinician treats executive dysfunction as a real constraint, not a motivation problem.
Long-term management is about reducing the friction your brain fights every day. Build a few repeatable routines. Treat your systems as disposable — if one stops working, swap it without guilt.
Protect your inputs: fewer notifications, fewer open loops, less internal juggling. And take care of the basics — sleep, movement, and connection shape executive function more than most productivity advice will.
You don't have to become a different person. You just need a support structure that fits the one you already are.
Join us at NeuroDiversion March 20–22, 2026 in Austin, Texas — where hundreds of neurodivergent people come together to learn, connect, and celebrate the way our brains work.
This article is for informational purposes only and isn't medical advice. If you're concerned about your symptoms, seek evaluation from a qualified health professional.
Last updated: February 2026
Great question—it's very different. There actually isn’t any other existing conference or event specifically for the neurodivergent community, or anyone who just thinks differently. Some events focus on clinical education or academic research, which is cool—but there’s a growing audience of people who enjoy learning about neurodivergence on their own.
We'll be based at Fair Market, a beautiful event space in East Austin close to many restaurants and hotels. It's 15 minutes from the airport and you won't need a car unless you choose to stay farther away.
We have the entire event space (both inside and outside—it's big!) for the whole time of the event, and won't be sharing it with any other group.
Not just before, but also during and after! This will be a key feature of ND26. At least a few weeks before the event, you'll have access to an app that allows you to browse attendee interests and make initial connections.
Once the big week arrives, programming details will be added, so you can choose which activities to attend and easily make new friends.
(We think you’ll like the app, but if you prefer to opt out of being listed in it, you can do that too.)
Tickets will go on sale in three rounds, with all-access pricing of $597. This price includes all activities and sessions for the three-day event.
NeuroDiversion is hosted by Chris Guillebeau, bestselling author and founder of the World Domination Summit, an annual event in Portland, Oregon that brought together thousands of people for a decade.
The planning team has years of experience producing WDS and other events. To bring it all together, we'll be joined by more than 50 on-site volunteers to create a remarkable new experience.
You can also see a few of the people who are coming on this page. (And when you register, we'll add your name as well! Unless you don't want us to, which is totally cool.)
Another great question! First, almost everyone on the planning team has personal experience with ADHD, ASD, or another neurodivergent type. We didn’t come to this idea merely out of academic interest. :)
Accordingly, we’re thinking through the process of conference design in a different way. We know how important sensory sensitivities can be. Expect a range of high-sensory experiences and space to chill or decompress as you see fit.
Talks will be short—if you like the speaker, you can join them for a post-talk meetup, but you can also escape from anything you don't enjoy. The schedule will allow for plenty of time for you to do what you need. (And if you’re not sure what you need, there will be options.)
Above all, we’re going to rely on everyone to make it a welcoming and collaborative experience. If you like the idea of being part of pioneering something magical and new, we need you.
Think of our schedule as a flexible framework. Each day has anchor points (two sessions where everyone comes together) that provide rhythm, but what happens between those points is up to you.
Want to attend every scheduled breakout or workshop? Great! Need to skip something for alone time or an impromptu conversation? Also great! We'll use a simple app to help you track what's happening when, but you're never locked into anything.
We've designed ND26 with overwhelm in mind. You'll find quiet spaces throughout the venue where you can decompress whenever needed. The schedule includes natural breaks between sessions, but you're always free to step away for extra time if you need it.
No explanation necessary—we get it. We'll clearly mark the quieter areas of the venue so you can easily find a spot to reset.
Yep! For ND26, we're working with THREE hotel partners all very close to the main venues. We'll share discount booking codes with attendees within 24 hours of registration. And while many people like to stay close to the action, you don't have to stay in one of our partner hotels if you don't want to.
Older kids and teens, definitely! And not just attend—they can also participate. There will likely be a few sessions that are appropriate only for adults, but the great majority of programming will be family-friendly.
Absolutely—and you won't be alone in feeling this way. We're creating multiple paths for connection that don't require traditional networking. You might enjoy joining a meetup where the focus is on doing rather than talking, or you might prefer to observe from the sidelines.
This is a gathering of people who understand social challenges firsthand, so you can be as passive or active as feels right to you.
You can do that if that's all you can get away for, but there's only one ticket option. You'll enjoy the experience much more if you stay for the whole three days, like most attendees.
Yes you can! New for 2026, we'll be offering a package of continuing education (CE) credits for our clinicians in attendance. You can purchase this 12-15 unit package for $149 after registering.
Possibly! Many employers support personal development opportunities like NeuroDiversion, and some of our attendees have already had success getting their costs covered.
Your company and organization may already have a process for this, but in case it's helpful, we've made an employer letter template you can use to support the request. Be sure to copy the template into a new document so you can customize it with your details before submitting. :)
Maybe! But first, note that we're doing everything possible to keep costs low while putting together a brand-new experience. Most of our team are volunteering their time and labor, including our founder and all speakers, and we rely on ticket sales to fund the experience.
That said, we do want to provide a few scholarships to help those who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend. Fill out this form if that might be you.
That's great! We'll take applications for community programming on a rolling basis. Most sessions are now full, but you can still host a meetup or propose a story for the main stage.
How rude of us! But we'll fix that: send us an email at team@neurodiversion.org.
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