hello !! so i never really see anything about trying to survive the hell that is high school when you’re trying to study with autism ?-?!? so i wanted to make one with my own tips !! it’ll be organized by section dw <3
part one: morning/night routines + going to school
it’s important to know what you can/cannot do! (the things i can’t do i call “land mines” btw bc if i do them it’s only a matter of time before i explode) for example: waking up before 6:15am for me is a landmine. studying in the morning is a landmine. being late is a landmine, etc.
also, for me mornings are usually overstimulating, so i read and i wear my comfiest clothes and use a blanket when i’m eating breakfast !!
basically the whole point is to make a morning routine that avoids your landmines! and gives you ample time to get ready to go out into the world.
at night, i give myself a hard stop time. i have to get things done, or at least partially done, by that time. for me, it’s 9:45 !! when i stop at that time, it gives me time to unmask in my room and stim before going to bed.
also keep your routines simple. i always have trouble remembering really complex routines! so usually i remember that i have to read, take care of my hygiene, pick clothes out, and go to bed.
i’m not saying you should go to sleep late or early, but if a lack of sleep causes you to meltdown the next day …. GO TO SLEEP !!!!!!
for the longest time i felt really weird bc i went to school w/o a comfort item before i realized … my phone is my comfort item … ANYWAY the point is being a comfort item to school ++ anything else to get you through that sensory hell.
most of the time, you can spend lunch in the library if the cafeteria is too much for you. also, go to the bathroom for a few minutes when you get overwhelmed during class. it’s helpful, and i promise you look normal. don’t worry.
my two main systems planning programs are google calendar + todomate. they’re easy to be flexible with and they’re easy to use!
i write my tasks during the day using todomate. it’s just easier. then, to motivate myself later when i’m working, i write them in my bullet journal.
i actually Don’t Timeblock because i tend to feel really stressed when i get off schedule by even just a minute.
instead i work in hour long blocks using a 50/10 work/break pomodoro thingy ;; and i don’t assign tasks to each block either i just do them as best i can. for me, it reduces stress bc usually i can look at my todo list where i’ve defined exactly what i need to do and then just work for as long as i need. my only concern is stopping by 9:45.
i use a notion calendar to plan my studying for tests. here’s how i plan for them !! :
i usually give myself (if possible) a week before a big test to study the material. under the event, i add a todo list that where i put exactly what i need to do on what day to stay on track. the important thing is to not overcrowd a day! NEVER !!! extend the amount of days you need to study if you have to, but never overcrowd a day. especially if you don’t know your workload before that day.
overall, keep it simple. planning isn’t actually doing, so don’t overexert yourself when planning. it’s important to understand yourself !!
part three: actually doing stuff !
lets be honest — assignments are actually hell and i hate them but i have to do them to get good grades
essays: break down the prompt or assignment task and outline your essay RIGHT AWAY. ik it’s hard to get an idea initially, but a little brainstorming doesn’t hurt. a lot of the time, you can actually implement stuff about your special interest in them to make arguments and points, etc. also, plan out when you’re gonna write what parts of the essay. and follow said schedule.
general homework assignments: usually these are completion, so honestly just sit down and get them the fuck done. the most important thing is that you actually understand what you’re doing. i mean, do you really understand how to solve that math problem? what that literature discussion question is asking?
projects: do your part of the project. break the parts down and delegate them to different days and actually do the project. also, i try to work alone most of the time bc it’s just easier, so do try to ask about working alone if you need to.
i can preach about actually doing shit but that doesn’t keep the demons that are executive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression at bay. here’s how i deal with them:
executive dysfunction: mine usually goes away with a plan. if i physically can’t bring myself to do something, i set a timer for 10 minutes, where i promise myself at the end of that time i’ll do something. usually something completely unrelated to work like making tea or tying my hair up. usually that’s enough to get me moving and actually get me to my desk, or at least pull something to do out.
anxiety: this is literally going to sound silly but i actually just make tea. the tea is warm and it grounds me, and it forces me to get up. i also get a blanket and wear something comfy. and usually on bad anxiety days i try to get done earlier, or just do the bare minimum.
depression: this is especially prevalent for me on the weekends. i am so lethargic on the weekends. the first thing i fucking do is actually shower. go take that shower. if you’re still not feeling it, make your favorite drink, even if it’s just drinking gatorade at 3am. go play your favorite instrument or do a puzzle. just do something. hopefully, it’ll be enough to get you to do some of your work. remember, doing bare minimum is completely fine. you don’t have to do everything at 110%. things can be 50%, 60%, or even 35% if that’s bare minimum.
part four: actually studying
here’s where i have to be like … this is what works for me. and you can adjust things as you need. also keep in mind that i go to a stem school lol
general and misc studying tips
body-doubling helps me a lot, so i study or work with study with me videos online. they come in all types, so it’s easy to find one that fits me for that day.
choose music your brain can take for that day. some days, i can study perfectly with lyrical music. but other days it’s too much so i need instrumental music.
oh, read textbooks like they’re books first. i swear. i usually go slower when i’m trying to take notes on the textbook. but if i read the textbook first like i’m just reading it for the sake of it, suddenly it gets less daunting and i can take notes later when i go through it again.
general review process (this is an everyday thing, usually.)
i collect the notes i took from my classes that day
i reformat them but make it fun style (ex: history notes are turned into a mind map or review questions, math notes are turned into me explaining a problem, etc.)
that’s literally it — these will be important for studying later.
studying process (basic process of how i actually study)
class notes — take notes and ask questions if you don’t understand smth.
general review (see above)
study for the assessment a week before.
ok this section is actually how i study for assessments
i always ALWAYS identify my weak spots first. to do this, i take one practice test or complete a review sheet my teachers gave me. if there isn’t one, i make my own review questions (these are usually for more concept based subjects)
then i ask my teachers questions if i don’t understand something. they should be open to helping you.
actual review methods now !! here’s what i do:
problem-based subjects (math, mostly):
i set a timer for 10 minutes and do as many problems as i can. idk why but i find this hilariously fun. i grade myself after and then reward myself with something — very often a sip of tea.
also most of the time i think of it like solving a puzzle, so i generalize solving into a process scheme, which i write down. (ex: step one: isolate y, etc.)
the bottom line is that practice questions are your best fucking friend. be buddies with those practice questions. so millions of them until you’re comfortable with the fact that you can do most of them.
content-based subjects (history, literature):
ok honestly i basically make a dnd game out of history. LISTEN ITS FUN OK like history is a series of events in your campaign and you can walk through the way things affected people and use fun dnd terminology if you need to.
also those mindmaps from your general review earlier? yeah those. use them !!! i do whats called blurting, where you essentially just dump everything you remember down. use the mindmap you made to check your understanding.
sometimes, like for art history, i’ll use flashcards to study. actually go through them — don’t just make them and call it a day and never look at them again. for me, i randomly separate them into piles. if i get through a pile without getting any wrong, i give myself a treat! if i don’t, i move on and just repeat that pile again later.
concept based subjects (like science):
science sucks for this but most of the time you need to understand and internalize the concepts so that you can apply it to questions. ap style questions do this a lot.
like with history, i do a lot of blurting. talking out loud also helps me think through how to explain things.
i also have this mind palace game where i assign a particular room in my house to a particular topic. then, i go to that room, recall everything i know and check myself. if i got it all right and didn’t forget smth, i take an item from that room and move onto the next. if i didn’t get it all right, i still move onto the next room, and i’ll repeat that room again later.
textbooks usually have good review questions. DO THEM!!!!!! and use the textbook to revise your answers and then answer them again.
ok i honestly think that’s it pls tell me if i can add stuff
