Try the “State Check” Before You Push Through
ADHD brains love to force focus — but what if you paused and asked AI how you’re doing before you try to work?
You ever try to push through a task when your brain clearly isn’t on board?
You know the moment:
You open your laptop, stare at the tab, maybe even start typing…
But it feels like your insides are going:
“Nope. Not safe. Not now.”
And then you:
Blame yourself
Scroll to numb out
Start three other things
Question your life choices
This is executive dysfunction + emotional dysregulation — and for ADHD folks, it’s often invisible until it completely takes over.
🧪 This Week’s Mini-Experiment:
Before you push through, pause. Ask AI how you’re doing.
Seriously. Try this prompt:
“Before I try to work, can you help me check in with myself? Ask me a few questions to figure out what state I’m in — and if I’m actually ready to focus.”
It’s not about getting permission to quit.
It’s about making sure you’re okay enough to proceed.
🤖 What AI Might Ask:
“How’s your body feeling right now?”
“Have you eaten recently?”
“Are you working from pressure, panic, or presence?”
“What are you hoping to feel once this task is done?”
“Would you like to name what feels heavy today?”
These questions aren’t productivity hacks.
They’re emotional self-safety checks.
🧠 Why This Works for ADHD:
We often try to override our internal state with willpower.
But when we pause to check in, we might discover:
We’re undernourished
We’re overstimulated
We’re lonely or anxious
We need 5 minutes of stillness more than we need “progress”
AI becomes a self-awareness amplifier — asking the questions we forget to ask ourselves.
✅ What to Do With the Answers:
If you are ready? Awesome.
Ask AI to help you take the first gentle step.
If you’re not ready?
Ask for something grounding:
“Can you walk me through a 2-minute mental reset or suggest a low-stakes way to pause?”
💬 Try it today before you start anything big.
Let AI help you co-regulate, not just execute.
Then let me know what you noticed.
– Jody