study tips for when you have ADHD and your brain feels like a crusty old sponge left stagnating in dishwater
DISCLAIMER: i did not come up with these ideas; these are just strategies I find work well for me! not every approach will work for everyone! it was very much a 'trial and error' (and error and error and error, etc.) process to find what works for me!
fake it 'til you make it
this might sound silly at first, but I'm going to need you to create a fake persona. this "worksona" is an incredibly productive and attentive character in a play/movie/tv show. they are smart and laser-focused. you can even give this person another name or backstory! whenever you need to focus, just imagine stepping into character and try to give it your best performance.
body doubling
grab a friend, a parent, a sibling, your cat, etc. kindly ask them to exist in the same space as you. you don't even have to look at one another or talk to one another. in a pinch, you can even use a stuffed animal or a mirror! i've heard that "study with me" livestreams on youtube can also be really helpful for some people!
change the vibe
change your surroundings. when I can't focus, altering my environment helps to introduce novelty, which then gives me the dopamine I need to keep going. for instance, let's say you've got a really boring thing you have to do and your brain is just not letting you do it. first, remember that it's okay; it's normal, and you don't have to feel ashamed or unproductive for not being able to do your tasks (remember, the idea that so-called "unproductivity" is in some way wrong is nothing more than a capitalist & industrialist lie). next, take your little workstation somewhere else. it could even be to the floor!! personally, i climb under my desk with my laptop and write papers from there when i can't focus!
hope this helps!! <3
