Inhibition and Shifting
- Energize. Puts little energy or effort into work on school tasks
- Initiate. Slow to get started with tasks; long pauses occur before a response is offered
- Inhibit. Blurts out comments in class; acts impulsively; can't wait for turn
- Stop. Continues even after being told to stop
- Interrupt/Pause. Does not return to work on a task after a brief interruption
- Flexible. Resists the idea of doing things a different way or feeling or thinking a different way; insists on doing things the same way
- Shift. Has difficulty going from one activity to another or moving from one thought or feeling to another
Strategies for staying present and managing inhibitions
- Think back to a conversation when you were feeling anxious while waiting to share your thoughts. Instead of focusing on how slow it was going and building tension inside, take a big-picture view of yourself instead. What does the big picture look like?
- S: Stop being on autopilot.
- T: Take a mindful breath.
- O: Observe how the conversation is going, where your attention is, your urges, and what's happening in your body.
- P: Proceed by either continuing or correcting what's happening in your mind and body.