Difficulty with task switching

[T&O]

But strangely conscious of the need to rest and pace when doing something boring ?

Youd think thered be a difference between work you find tedious or boring ,
compared with something interesting or new. But physically I find the fallout ,post doing, very similar.
Exciting things I love usually tax me more , take more focus and thought. more concious decision makings required.
I think if its something youve done for years, (and dont have to consciously step through requirements in your mind), like planting a tree say. Even though thats more physical I easily remember its easier for me, usually with lighter fallout,
with less fallout if compared with a fruends trlephonconversation

I don't have ADD/ADHD or autism. I'm not neurodivergent in any way as far as I know. But ever since I got ME/CFS I do have difficulty switching tasks.

Even harder is switching topics when having a conversation. Verbal communication can be very difficult for me. It's always hard but gets worse in PEM, especially word finding, even for very common words.

I can be feeling reasonably okay, having a conversation with my husband about household tasks, when he brings up a new topic. I often joke, "Hold on a minute, I'm downloading the right words into my brain."

I may have a coherent thought in my head but it takes a few minutes for me to find the words, make a sentence, and then reply. Sometimes I have to close my eyes to block out other input so I can concentrate. With my husband that's no big deal but with other folks that can seem very weird. And this is on a relatively good day. On a day with bad PEM I'm more monosyllabic. Or just pointing and nodding.

In addition to trouble switching tasks I also have trouble staying on task. One tiny interruption and whatever task I was doing has gone from my mind.

Example - the phone rings while I'm loading the washing machine. I leave to answer the phone and it's as if the laundry has disappeared from my mind. It might be 3-4 days before I go back into the room and realize I never started that load of laundry.

The memory is still there if I get some prompt or reminder. It's not like in that movie Memento where the guy has no memory at all. But without a reminder that memory will never come to my mind.

There have been situations where problems staying on task caused embarrassing situations. Due to interruptions I've left tasks half done that were much more important than a half finished load of laundry. I have various tools/tricks to avoid this problem (phone alerts, lists, post-it notes, etc, etc) but nothing is foolproof.

I think switching tasks and staying on task are both part of executive function?

I'm not sure where those other problems fit (word finding, short term memory issues) but I think they are also common in people with ME/CFS.

These are all so hard to describe, and I'm sure I'm rambling, but I hope some of this makes sense.

Well articulated.. totally relate ! Especially during conversations and when tiring(PEM) … I can be mid sentence and go blank or loose the thread entirely .

Its these short term memory failings that I find the hardest to deal with… pain, ok, allergy flare ups , huge swollen glands, or sleeplessness, ok, but cognitive issues ? Jeese Louise…scary.

 

[T&O]

(that should read as “friends telephone conversation”… sorry, not well articulated)

 

[MrMagoo]

Youd think thered be a difference between work you find tedious or boring ,
compared with something interesting or new. But physically I find the fallout ,post doing, very similar.
Exciting things I love usually tax me more , take more focus and thought. more concious decision makings required.
I think if its something youve done for years, (and dont have to consciously step through requirements in your mind), like planting a tree say. Even though thats more physical I easily remember its easier for me, usually with lighter fallout,
with less fallout if compared with a fruends trlephonconversation

Well articulated.. totally relate ! Especially during conversations and when tiring(PEM) … I can be mid sentence and go blank or loose the thread entirely .

Its these short term memory failings that I find the hardest to deal with… pain, ok, allergy flare ups , huge swollen glands, or sleeplessness, ok, but cognitive issues ? Jeese Louise…scary.

It’s not the “fallout” which I’m comparing, it’s the fact that I find it easier to stop when it’s a dull task which bores me, versus getting into a flow state, and not wanting to stop.

 

[T&O]

It’s not the “fallout” which I’m comparing, it’s the fact that I find it easier to stop when it’s a dull task which bores me, versus getting into a flow state, and not wanting to stop.

Ok