"Procrastination" on the Constant Chaos Podcast
Leslie joins Rachel and Christie on the Constant Chaos podcast to discuss her new book How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done. Procrastination is a key challenge for all students and even more so for students with ADHD. Listen in as they discuss challenges, strategies and simple tools to support your child. And if you are like many, her techniques may resonate with you as well!
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? We suggest you check out this great podcast next: Preventing Procrastination in Teens and College Students.
SHOW NOTES:
Leslie Josel’s book, How to Do it Now, is anecdotal and comes from being in the trenches with thousands of students. Much work has been done on procrastination with adults but little for students. Her goal was to bring her students to light on why they procrastinate. For the book, she went back to interview her past students.
Leslie says the biggest cause of procrastination is skill-based. Kids would do it if they knew how to do it. They procrastinate because they may not know what they are being asked to do.
Procrastination masks something else. The brain is being asked to take on a heavier load that is able to lift. Leslie compares it to strength training. The brain is being asked too heavy of a weight before it is strong enough.
Rachel and Christie ask when are students supposed to get these skills and build the strength? Rachel points out that her middle schooler is asked to study and has no idea what he is supposed to do.
Leslie points out that is a child has ADHD, they automatically have executive function issues. However, if a child has executive function issues, they do not automatically have ADHD.
Leslie discusses that children with ADHD are 30% less than their chronological age. For example, your 13-year-old execution function skills are more like a 10-year-old even but looks even though he looks like a 13-year-old. As a parent, you need to meet your child where he is at.
Christie says many moms tell us, “we are tired of being my child’s executive function”. The key, Leslie says is to tell them less and show them more. Telling is not teaching. That is not how to strengthen behavior. Model, prompt, and make sure they completely understand what you are asking them to do.
Christie asks about the schools and their expectations. There is so much put on them. Going back to the brain strengthening example, Leslie says you can help your children increase their capacity. Start with asking, “What do you have to do?” That is a two-pound weight. Then ask, “what are your priorities?” This is a three-pound weight. Asks them to think more. Then ask, “Do you understand what you have to do today?” This gives baseline to be able to provide support.
Rachel asks if the tools in the book can also apply to a middle schooler to start supporting him to prepare for high school. Leslie says yes. Time management, homework and study pieces are very helpful to younger student
Leslie describes how a personal homework profile taps into your child works best. For example, some students need to focus on one thing at a time, others need to jump around or move. Parents can help teach kids what works for them
Leslie points out that choice and control is massive for all students. They don’t have it in many areas of their lives especially homework. But they can have choice and control on how they study – the more choice and control, the more successful they will be. Create a space to support your child to discover how to learn best.
Leslie comes back to ask parents to visualize a strong brain and think about lifting weights to strengthen it. Rachel points out that her remote student is fighting his willpower to go on YouTube or Roblox
Leslie says that the opposite of distraction is movement. What gets kids distracted is brain fade. The brain looks everywhere else to get that boost. If student moves around, it engages and activates brain.
Leslie pushes back on how we were all taught to sit down and get the work done. She promotes movement to keep the brain engaged. Having kids do different subjects in different rooms or even different sides of the desk.
Christie asks, “I just can’t get my kid to do the work.” Leslie calls this the TOO child, overwhelmed by the quantity and not understanding what they have to do.
Leslie talks about body doubling to share the load. For example, partner with other students, even remotely and working on different projects, will help lessen the cognitive load. For example, it’s easier to get up on a Saturday morning to study with a friend than to get up early to do it yourself. She advises to find ways to share to lighten the load.
In pandemic, so much has been taken from kids in remote school. Transitions, social structure, and how can parents replicate that at home. Home competes for your attention. Leslie goes back to movement as well as creating separate places for homework and building transitions.
Find Leslie at Order Out Of Chaos to find webinars and products and social contacts including Facebook groups.
Want to LEARN MORE with Leslie? Visit our VIDEOS & PODCASTS page for more great resources!
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Order Out of Chaos’ mission is to provide hands-on education, guidance, and coaching to parents and their students through our customized products and programs, so all children – both mainstream and with learning difficulties – can develop the necessary skills needed to experience success in learning and in life.
