4 Ways Automation Helps Reduce Executive Dysfunction

The gist: Struggling with executive dysfunction? Learn how automation can save mental energy and improve consistency.

When you hear the phrase “workflow automation,” the first thing to come to mind might be productivity bros obsessed with life hacks.

And honestly, I wouldn’t blame you, since that’s who tends to talk about it the most.

But that doesn’t mean that’s who can benefit from it most.

Done intentionally and not with a Hustle Culture, “do all the things, hack all the productivity” mindset, it can be one of the most helpful tools in your neurodivergence or chronic illness toolbox.

Here’s why:

When you’re dealing with executive dysfunction, whatever the reason behind it, automation can save massive amounts of mental energy.

And on especially “bad brain” days, when it feels like you can feel every bit of energy your body uses or thinking your brain does, it makes a world of a difference.

I’ve always loved automation (in fact, depending how long you’ve been here, you might remember our course on it!), but it took longer to figure out that this was why.

But now that I’ve realized it’s such an effective energy management and AuDHD management tool, I try to spend as much time as possible on “good brain” days to set up automations that help me out on days when the brain fog is heavier.

And today we’re talking about why I think you should do the same.

4 ways automation can reduce executive dysfunction

1. Reduced decision fatigue

One of the biggest benefits of automation for executive dysfunction is how it can reduce decision fatigue throughout your day.

Think about it:

Every task you automate (that you would otherwise need to do manually) is one less task on your to-do list.

One less thing you need to think about doing, remember to do, and decide when to do.

Even if something's not fully automated, having some kind of system or process for it means you need to think less about it when you do it manually. That way, you still offload the “thinking and deciding” part of the task, if not the actual doing.

For example, I use automated recurring tasks in my task manager to handle regular to-dos.

I don’t need to think about when I last did something, when I need to do it again, how to do it, or anything like that. The recurring task (and checklist inside it) handles all that for me.

2. Improved accuracy

Another huge benefit of automation is how it reduces human error in repetitive tasks.

When something's happening automatically instead of manually, you don't need to worry about messing it up when brain fog is high or executive dysfunction is worse than usual.

Instead, you can set up the automation on a day when you're better able to focus on things like:

• Double checking your work
• Testing technical processes multiple times
• Proofreading written information
• Other detailed tasks that feel way too tedious for high executive dysfunction days

For example, I used to manually update spreadsheets for my weekly metrics and reporting.

But between typos, putting numbers in the wrong cells, and forgetting to update certain fields, there was rarely a spreadsheet row without an error in it. There were also a LOT of blank rows for weeks where I just forgot to do the work at all. 😬

Now that the process is automated, the right numbers always end up in the right place without my getting in the way and messing things up.

3. Improved consistency

Something else I love about automation is that it helps things in your life happen consistently, even if you don’t have consistent energy.

Whenever I automate a task I was previously doing manually, I don’t need to worry about what will happen if I’m not up for work when the task is supposed to be done.

Going back to the example about analytics spreadsheets at work, it was always embarrassing to show up at the weekly metrics meeting when I hadn’t had a chance to collect the numbers I was responsible for yet.

We were supposed to collect them on Fridays, but by that point in the week, I was so mentally drained I was rarely able to focus on such tedious work first thing in the morning.

But once I set up an automation to run at 8am and pull the numbers I need, I didn’t need to rush and pressure myself to get myself to do it before the 10am meeting.

4. Less reliant on memory

Finally, automation helps because you don’t have to rely on memory as much.

It might sound obvious at this point, but if things are happening automatically, you don’t have to remember to do them. They just happen whether you’re thinking about them or not.

This is another case where my analytics spreadsheet story makes a good example.

Sometimes I remember to update the spreadsheet but made a mistake. Other times I remember I needed to do it, but couldn’t get it done early enough in the day.

But sometimes I also just flat out forgot until the notification that the analytics meeting was starting in 5 minutes. 🤷‍♀️

Automating the data collection meant that 5 minutes was more than enough time to quickly look at the new row that had been added before heading off to the meeting.

Time to start automating

Setting up automations and systems during your good days creates support systems for your bad days—it's one of the best gifts you can give Future You.

Start small by automating just one task and see where that takes you.

And if you liked this post, you'll also love:

• The False Promise of Productivity
• 4 Ways Automation Helps Reduce Executive Dysfunction
• How I Used Automation to Build Consistent Routines