What having Inattentive ADHD has taught me about studying
Hi everyone,
This post is basically a run down of what I have found is generally the case when I’m studying and also the case for some friends with a similar type of ADHD.
1. EVERYTHING MUST BE PLANNED IN ADVANCE
And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Have an assignment due? Well you’ll need to schedule in sleep and food and your partner and a life if you want to get it done.
2. Extensions are bae
My university offers something called an Access plan which, when you have the proper documentation allows you to get extensions more easily than you would usually. If you’re studying with ADHD look into it.
3. Take into account that your ADHD is probably not going to want to conform to your schedule.
As such, try and stick to it as much as you can. If your focus wanders get up move around and shake it off, stretch, scream if you need to. Just do what you need to get around your feelings of frustration and or lack of motivation.
4. Don’t lose heart if your focus wanders!
It’s a thing guys. It’s going to happen. If you’re medicated it may happen less but, beating yourself up about it is only going to make you feel like shit and possibly make you frazzled.
5. Learn to successfully prioritise.
When you’ve made a plan and you’ve laid out what has to happen in order to succeed. Prioritise your health and wellbeing OVER your study. If you’re out of sorts and can’t deal with anyone because you feel so overwhelmed and tired, you’re not going to achieve your aims.
6. Don’t punish yourself if you can’t manage to get your work done when you aimed to.
Self punishment in any form is a bad practice. The fact that you are upset that you can’t finish your work when you wanted to says that you’re dedicated to getting it finished and finishing it well.
7. Don’t rush your work!
As much as our brains scream at us to cram the whole assignment in one night. Honestly, it’s likely going to be of poor quality. Start early, and go back to it. Set reminders in your phone. Work with a friend in the same class. Get someone you know and trust to look over it.
8. Don’t take constructive criticism about your work personally.
This is one I seriously struggled with. It wasn’t until I found out about RSD that I realised that every time someone was giving me constructive criticism it was setting me off. Now I know that, I can work around it.
9. Get enough sleep!
I cannot stress enough how important it is for our ADHD brain to get enough restful sleep. I know it can be difficult but a sleep schedule is probably the best course of action. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time regardless of your work.
10. You can do it!
If you’re studying and you really enjoy it but you feel discouraged by others or by your own ADHD mind. Realise that that is just a feeling and that no one can dictate to you what your life should hold. If someone says that you can’t do it and it’s something you have a passion for, try your hardest and ignore the haters. It may not always work out but at least you can be proud that you gave it a go.