Hello! I'm so glad I found this blog. I was wondering, how do you recommend coping with ADHD in college? any tips or recommendations on staying organized? I start off organized and motivated but end up staying motivated depending on the professor and passion towards those subjects. But also in general, what are some things you recommend for college students with ADHD ?
Yay I'm reaching an audience! Even with my sporadic timing lol.Half of the college struggle is making sure you trip your over-critical-worry-brain before it grabs on to the "H" in ADHD and you cant keep up with its distressing thoughts. Otherwise, first of alll,1. STOP BASHING YOUR BRAIN—GIVE BRAIN COMPLIMENTS INSTEADYou're married to your ADHD brain. In the 'til death do us part' kinda way. So beating up your ADHD brain &calling it names doesn't help the relationship. What we silently say to ourselves about doing a task has a strong impact on how (or whether) we do it. So try to say at least ONE positive thing about your working method/pace/style as you're doing it. You gotta work WITH your ADHD. 'Coping' with it is like trying to deal with your marital problems by smiling& ignoring it like a 50s housewife. It might work out for a while but you're only deluding yourself. Accept that ADHD puts you in certain limitations (many) but privileges you in other areas (many more).
2. PLAN YOUR PLANNERS WITH BACKUP PLANNING PLANNERSEvery semester, you should put the following into Google calendar: Every class time, room #, every syllabus test/quiz/paper date. If you drive to campus put the school address too.Put all the readings in Google tasks, where you can make separate class lists (it scratches them off when you're done so you can visualized what you've accomplished. Its like my grownup star chart &mini rewarding)
Why the Google overlords? Google is so accommodating among different systems without 'authorizing this device'. It's constantly syncing everything into everything &learning your habits.That stupid microsoft college email? BAM synced your professor's email info to the phone. The address you put with your class? It'll tell you when you should leave, adjusting for current traffic, weather &based on your habits (like if you're always arriving late, if you take transit etc).3. ACTUALLY JUST PLAN TO PLAN EARLYSpeaking of habits, all this will help you develop daily routines &rituals.
Get up around the same time EVERY DAY. Class or not. ADHDers take longer to do new schedules. But you only have 6 months before it switches again. The more practice, the less likely to forget.
Plan transition time: From waking up from morning grumpies to just got home unwinding time.Switching tasks for ADHDers takes longer no matter whut. Dont underestimate that you can always get ready in 12 minutes or even just 30.
Start getting ready for class 2 hours before your departure time.Walking/driving takes you 20 mins? Class is at 11:00? Then you should be getting up around 9. (see transition time) &leaving at 10:40
Set "ten minutes left" timers before "LETS GO NOW" timersThe "ten minutes left" timer is so that you stop & just grab everything you need to head out the door. Its go-go time. Not to be used as a wake up call.
Plan daytime study timeYou know, not an hour before the 11:59 dropbox due date.
If you take meds: Schedule difficult tasks for times when your symptoms are "fully covered"
ALWAYS REMEMBER BEING EARLY MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER THAN BEING LATEAt least when it comes to school