I apologize for slacking off on my blogging these past few months. When you're a full-time student taking seventeen credits of upper-level classes, with ADHD on top of that...you get the picture. I've also been struggling to get my ADHD and my sleeping schedule under control, and my classes suffered because I was in the middle of switching medications. I'm finally getting things stabilized, and now I'm back!
Conventional study habits and ADHD do not mix. I'm sure many of you have struggled with this. Sitting for long periods of time staring at a textbook, listening to a boring hour-long lecture...not very ADHD friendly. Now that I've almost finished my Bachelor's degree, I'm finally figuring out tricks to help me focus in class and at home.
In class, I've learned that I have to take notes--not for future study, but to keep me focused on what is being said. I've found that in especially boring lectures it helps if I doodle or fiddle with something, especially if there is nothing worth taking notes on. I've also found it easier to listen if I'm not actually looking at the teacher. It's strange, but true: when I'm looking at the teacher, I start to focus on their movements and forget to pay attention to their words. Another thing I've discovered is that I have the easiest time paying attention when the teacher uses a lot of visual aids and is very interactive.
At home I learned that I focus better if I have my headphones in with music running in the background. It can't be new music; when it's music I've listened to ten million times I can tune it out so that it becomes white noise. New music, especially new music with lyrics, doesn't work because I end up paying attention to the lyrics. I also do better if I study for twenty minutes and play for twenty minutes, and repeat that. I focus a lot better this way because I have something to look forward to, and it gives me some variety so that I don't zone out while I'm studying.
I've heard that color-coding things is really helpful for people with ADHD, like having a color-coded calendar or schedule. I haven't taken the time to do that, but I'm sure it would work really well. I've found that using colored highlighters when I'm marking up a textbook makes it a lot easier for me than just using a pencil.
Now I have to add a little disclaimer here. These are the things that I have found that help me. Just like no two people have the exact same ADHD, no two people have the exact same strategy to help them. You might find that none of my study helps work for you. To help with that, my next post will consist of recommended study helps given by ADHD experts.
Good luck in your studies!
EDIT: I just realized that I never fulfilled my promise for my next post. I'll write it eventually... If I ever get to it. (>>)
