The Most Difficult Things For Me To Do...

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...are very simply the things I don't want to do. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but my case feels a little extreme. I don't look at tasks in light of their substantive difficulty. I'm sure that if I decided tonight that I wanted to build a rocket, or learn a Beethoven piano sonata, or run a marathon, I would conclude that this endeavor was totally reasonable to undertake, and I would start in on making it happen immediately. But, sitting here hungry at 8:30 p.m., I am finding the prospect of walking into the kitchen and heating up some leftovers in the microwave daunting. Like, "how the hell am I going to pull that off???" The challenge seems insurmountable because I'm just not inclined to do it. I feel this tremendous inertia, with no idea how this is going to get done. (Unfortunately, I'm not exaggerating here. Many nights this doesn't get done, in fact, and I just go to bed hungry.) Cooking -- if you can even call my microwave proposal "cooking" -- is hardly the only "impossible task" in my life. In fact, there are quite a few, and lots of them fall into what I would call the "self care" category. How is it that getting through law school was easier than getting through the grocery store is? Anyone else have significant difficulty accomplishing seemingly very simple tasks that just don't interest you???

I go for at least 4 weeks without vacuuming, because I absolutely hate doing it, yet it's so simple to do.

Wow...just wow. I've been trying to figure out why I can't seem to do simple things like clean the kitchen or take out the garbage, but can read advanced textbooks and attend classes, etc. Was thinking maybe it's some kind of executive functioning problem, and maybe that inertia is related somehow.

Now that we know WHY we can't do things we don't want to do--how do we overcome that? Because I can't keep going for months without cleaning the house anymore. I hate to be a thread pirate, but any advice as to how we can deal with that would be great!

I can relate to this. I managed to complete a Master's program, yet I can't bring myself to clean or organize my apartment. Thus, I basically live in a disaster zone that would be a terrifying sight to most people. It's lucky that my social life is almost non-existent, as on the rare occasions I am expecting company, I experience massive stress rushing around doing my best to clean up/ jam all the clutter I don't know what to do with in closets with doors that never open in the presence of others. It often takes days before I can bring myself to carry my garbage out to the incinerator, and the incinerator is right next to my apartment. I have similar issues when it comes to buying clothes for myself, or making minor alterations to my usual routine. You'd think that someone who has completed years of education would have no problem with these simple things. Unfortunately, they're not so simple for me.
My point is, you're not alone in this. I wish I could offer a solution. Of course, if I could, my own life would be significantly easier.

I love this forum because topics that I have always hidden in shame are brought out in the open.
I do the same things as you guys. In addition, I keep paper plates on hand because I can't manage to wash the dishes. I've always felt guiltily lazy, but as you said, these tasks take minimal time and effort and I spend much more time and effort on other things. And yet they can seem impossible to do.

I desperately hate doing laundry....but it does get done.

OMG - RainingRoses, you know me soooo well! I remember a specific night where I read an entire book on canine anatomy, memorized a map of NYC, and created a detailed budget but could not get up from the couch to make myself a bowl of cereal! When I did stand up comedy, I was so focused on writing jokes that the only thing I DID eat was cereal. For years! With the lack of protein/vitamins, I don't know how I managed to have the energy to get on stage. Amazing. I can totally relate! Ha! :0)

I'm re- posting this article I found on the subject.

http://www.autistics.org/library/inertia.html

I have a big problem with inertia.

I relate to this, and I'm NT.

The funny thing is I live on my own, but will let weeks go by before washing the dishes 'til there's nothing clean in the cupboard and drawers. I know it would be easier if I washed up soon as I eat off something.

The scenarios here remind me of the scene from Forgetting Sarah Marshall when the lead hasn't seen his girlfriend in a while, gets a call that she's coming over, then frantically starts shoving his stuff in all the closets.

I sometimes wonder if I had a flatmate would I be as lackadaisical.

I find I'm much more apt to get things like cleaning, laundry, etc. done when no one else is around. I live with family and for some reason I just can't bring myself to clean when they're around (it almost feels like I'm embarassed or something). On the rare occasion that they're gone for an extended period of time, I seem to be perfectly capable of getting all sort of things. I'm really looking forward to getting my own place next month to see if I become a neat-freak

I can relate with that. I think when I have guests at home, I get overwhelmed with anxiety, thinking I need to "entertain them" (which you can imagine isn't so very entertaining after all!). Therefore, all responsibilities stop, and when they leave, I need up to a few days (or weeks, depending on the guests) to recoup and put everything off until I feel "filled up" again. The "filling up" usually happens when reading my books, doing random intensive research online, listening to Christmas Music (in July!), or sitting with my dogs. :0)