People with ADHD often experience challenges with executive functioning, which refers to a set of cognitive processes that help with planning, organizing, initiating, and completing tasks. This can lead to difficulties in task initiation and task completion. There are a few factors that can contribute to the phenomenon you observed:
Interest and Motivation: People with ADHD may have difficulty maintaining interest and motivation in tasks that they find boring, challenging, or unstimulating. As a result, they may procrastinate or avoid starting the task altogether.
Distractibility: Individuals with ADHD are more prone to getting distracted by their environment or internal thoughts. When faced with a task, they might find it hard to sustain their focus and attention, leading them to engage in more immediately rewarding or stimulating activities.
Time Perception: Time perception can be altered in individuals with ADHD. They may have difficulty accurately estimating the time required to complete a task, leading them to underestimate how long it will take to get something done.
Emotional Regulation: Some individuals with ADHD may experience frustration, anxiety, or overwhelm when faced with challenging tasks. Avoiding the task can become a way to escape these uncomfortable emotions, at least temporarily.
Working Memory: Working memory is the ability to hold and manipulate information in mind temporarily. People with ADHD may have limitations in this area, making it challenging to remember and follow through with steps needed to complete a task.
Hyperfocus: Interestingly, while distractibility is a common feature of ADHD, some individuals experience a phenomenon known as hyperfocus. This is a state where they become deeply absorbed in a task they find highly engaging or enjoyable. However, they may struggle to enter this state for tasks they perceive as less interesting or rewarding.
It's worth noting that ADHD is a heterogeneous condition, and not everyone with ADHD will display the same behaviors or challenges. Additionally, other factors can also influence behavior, such as individual personality traits, learned coping mechanisms, and the presence of comorbid conditions like anxiety or depression.
Understanding these aspects of ADHD can help educators and parents develop strategies to support individuals with ADHD in overcoming challenges and finding success in academic and personal tasks. Introducing tasks in a more engaging and interactive manner, breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps, providing reminders, and using positive reinforcement can be helpful in managing procrastination and task avoidance in individuals with ADHD.