#task management

I was watching a tiktok of a neurotypical husband vs his neurodivergent wife and he was talking about how he gets a sense of pride and accomplishment when he gets done with any task or project.

The look on his wife's face mirrored my own disbelief and skepticism.

There is little to no feeling of accomplishment when I finish a job, there are no endorphins rushing in to reward my hard work, at best I get a second of relief that that task is done for now.

However shortly after is the concern I missed something and someone is going to find a mistake and even if not there are so many other tasks to get done and my brain is demanding I pay attention to them all.

I'm diving back into the university thing, Computer Sciences major. Now, I'm neurodivergent, specifically AuDHD. I've done the hunt for the magical app that will handle routines and tasks and things. Major issue I've found is the complete lack of acceptable variation built into the app for daily achievement. Especially with routines.

So, here's my proposed concept.

A cross-platform app designed to encourage neurodivergent individuals in their personal rituals and pacing using self-reported energy levels and lists designed around those fluctuating energy levels. Also a place to keep track of sensory accommodations and routines to maintain sensory stability and minimize overwhelm, sensory meltdowns or shutdowns, and encourage regular personalized sensory stimulation.

At this point explaining how Side Quest Rail Line works is like trying to explain how Rome rose and fell. Im completely serious.

Because through my creation of side quest rail line I began to create a inner world that helped me organize my thoughts and feelings in a manner that felt safe. Changes to the system were a direct result of self-talks with my thoughts and feelings within headspace. It didnt start out like that, but... essentially by roleplaying it... I created a inner world that more or less just.... FUNCTIONS....???? There was a lot of changes to it that i kept and didnt keep and used and didnt use. it currently sits as a completely unrefined ball of ideas. Theres a bit of psychology and philosophy, a bit of internal system dynamics as an influence. I think what isnt talked about enough is that task management, at least for ADHD, isnt just task managment. its an expression of how you want to organize your thoughts and feelings. I cant say what the experience is for neurotypicals becasue im not neurotypical, but I feel like the reason ADHDers struggle with task management is because we inherently need a creative, self expressive way to manage our tasks. And neurotypical advice doesnt address that. Task management has become a visual manifestation of my inner world. what matters to me the most.

In my journey of creating side quest rail line I was listening to what MY need and feelings are for a task management system. And... throughout it I was carried into a number of other rough but valuable lessons in how toxic I am with myself. Side Quest Rail Line is my system, and it might work for others, in any of its particular iterations. But I think the most important thing about task management is that there is genuine value in making it your OWN. Letting yourself get lost in a little world of magic allows you to whimsically escape from the dullness of chores. Use imaginative fantasy to shape your task system and it will begin to change the way you think about tasks. Its not just plain fun and adventure. It give your thoughts and feelings a space to figure out WHAT it is you are struggling to do and WHY. Thats another thing that neurotypical advice never addresses. YOUR FEELINGS. MATTER. Allow your task system to accommodate your feelings, your mood, your energy level. Mark that on each particular task for what kind of mood and energy level it requires and .... you will see a lot of changes emotionally and organizationally. I need a phd in fucking ADHD psychology or some shit because I have PIECES AND I DONT KNOW WHY THEY FIT TOGETHER

BUT THEY DO

AND IT MAKES SENSE THEY DO