An Executive Dysfunction Sufferer’s Guide to New Year’s Resolutions

Jessica Pigeau

Beginning the year with a reflection on one’s goals and personal direction is an age-old tradition. It is a moment we take to ask ourselves what we want to do, what we want to change, and who we want to be in the coming lap around the sun. The entire concept of a calendar is largely arbitrary and socially constructed – what is a “week”, anyway? – But January is as good a time as any to take stock.

I have never before made a list of New Year’s resolutions, but I have recently developed a fondness for to-do lists. One of the trickiest barriers in my life is executive dysfunction: I struggle with planning, breaking down complex tasks, and responding flexibly when the situation changes. New and unexpected circumstances can derail my thought process entirely.

I therefore find it very helpful to take a quiet moment every morning and write down what I plan to do that day. I keep a running timeline of what needs to be done and when – tasks for the week, the month, the year. This gives me the structure I need to understand the overlapping, constantly moving web of my responsibilities and personal obligations. I write down everything I need to do and set myself constant reminders, even for “easy” stuff like buying groceries and making dinner.

To help you set, maintain, and achieve your New Year’s Resolutions, I would like to lead you through my process for creating a to-do list, using a goal I set for myself last year – to keep in touch better with people I care about.