Good Systems · public information library

How can I help someone when they perform under pressure and then crash afterwards?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Do not make crisis the main engine for getting things done.

What this can look like

They may produce a lot when time is running out, then be worn out, anxious or unable to do the next thing.

Why it can happen

Urgency may make a task feel clearer, but repeated last-minute effort can carry a recovery cost. Earlier checkpoints, a first-draft date and a stopping point can create structure without relying on panic.

What might help

Help create an earlier checkpoint: a rough draft, a first question or a ten-minute start. Notice recovery after the push as well as the result.

What the research helps explain

Australian ADHD guidance and international consensus evidence describe ADHD as affecting everyday functioning for some people, including attention, planning, memory, time and follow-through. Practical support can still be useful without deciding that ADHD is the explanation.

What can vary

Stress, sleep, health, environment, task design and preference can create similar patterns. Do not diagnose someone from a pattern or give support they have not asked for.

For this situation

For you, notice the recovery after a push as well as the output it produced.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.