theADHD Desk

Cold Start

Knows what to do, agrees it isn't hard, still can't start. Why the threshold — the moment before a task begins — is the single most expensive part of the whole task for an ADHD brain, and a five-step routine to get past it.

↓ Download PDFView / print2 pages · Letter · updated June 2026
Cold Start: printable ADHD action card for task initiation — the mechanism in plain language (page 1 of 2).Cold Start: printable ADHD action card for task initiation — the step-by-step routine (page 2 of 2).

Not medical advice

A practical, plain-language reference. It doesn't replace assessment or treatment from a clinician who knows the individual.