I struggle more with open-ended tasks than difficult ones

This makes a lot of sense, and it is a very ADHD pattern. Clear, difficult tasks come with built in structure. There is a defined goal, a starting point, and usually a sense of “done.” Even if the task is hard, your brain knows what to aim at. That clarity reduces decision making and lets effort flow in one direction. Open ended tasks remove all of that. You have to decide what the task even is, where to begin, how good is good enough, and when to stop. That requires executive functioning at every step. For ADHD brains, generating structure internally is much more effortful than following external structure. So ambiguity does not feel neutral. It feels paralyzing. There is also an emotional piece. Vague tasks carry more risk of getting it wrong. Without clear criteria, many people freeze because they are trying to avoid wasted effort, mistakes, or criticism. The stall is often protective, not lazy. Clinically, this is understood as an initiation and planning load issue, not a capability issue. You are not avoiding work. You are stuck at the invisible step where structure is supposed to appear. What helps is externalizing the starting point. Turning “work on project” into “open the document and write one sentence.” Asking for examples, templates, or constraints. Giving yourself permission to start badly. These reduce ambiguity enough for your brain to engage. Your brain does not shut down because the task is too hard. It shuts down because the task is too undefined. Once shape appears, momentum usually follows.