ADHD Study Tips
The College Psychiatrist’s Tips to Conquer ADHD When Studying
ADHD stands for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a condition that encompasses difficulties with attention, increased activity, and impulsivity. This can definitely make it difficult to adjust to college life and the rigor of independent study.
Here we’ll discuss tips to reduce obstacles and set you or the student in your life, coping with ADHD, up for success!
Plan don’t cram. Simple, huh? Not so much! It can be hard to start on your assignments early, however doing so will diminish pressure and the chances that you will miss deadlines or due dates. Try working toward completing your work in small portions daily. (National Institute of Mental Health)
Take a short nap. Sometimes, small things go a long way! 20 to 30 minutes in the afternoon to take a snooze will extend your energy for the rest of the day. After a full day of activity, starting new tasks can be overwhelming to anyone, but especially those who suffer from ADHD.
Stimulate your brain. Try to use different colored pens and stickers with note-taking and going over information. This is a great way to break up the monotony of a study session and allow yourself to get creative. Gel pens, highlighters, stickers, and markers are all great tools to take notes, make to-do lists, and rank the importance of information for exams.
Add a little bit of stimuli! Think about listening to instrumental music or changing locations to a moderately busy coffee shop. While conventionally, this would be counterproductive for many people, those with ADHD can benefit from background noise in music or crowds. Research indicates that music strengthens areas of the brain that, in children with ADHD, are weak. (ADDitude Mag)
Exercise, get your heart rate up. Of course, your physical health is just as important as your mental health. If you’re not into sports, there are hobbies that will give both the mind and body a flex and stretch. Think of options like tai chi or yoga, even ballet. (ADDitude Mag) Breathing exercises, meditation, and stretching are all good tactics to employ while studying.
Take breaks! It is very important to reward yourself with a break while studying. Take time to clear your head and let the information register. Each time you check a task off your list, write down how long it took, and then reward yourself. (PsychCentral) One idea is to work for 30 minutes, rest for 5, and get back to it. Check out this Pomodoro timer extension for Chrome which will help you break up your time.
Sleep. Adequate rest is necessary to allow your brain to consolidate new learning. Sleep deprivation will derail your study goals and has a negative effect on learning for people suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Short-term memory, which is what you use to learn the materials when you study, suffers not to mention the reliability of your brain to convert this information to long-term for taking tests and skills assessments. (VeryWellMind)
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder can make studying difficult but these tips are catered to help minimize the roadblocks to a successful academic performance. The College Psychiatrist will provide guidance on how to apply these tips in a real-life setting! Making the decision to move forward with a study plan starts with a brief initial consultation with TCP is a noninvasive, responsible first step. You are not alone in your struggles and the goals you’ve set to pursue higher education are within your grasp. Schedule your free consultation, simply by clicking here to get started.
Resource Corner:
Check out 15 great journals and planners from additudemag.com.
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Dr. Russell Barkley
Pomodoro Timer Extension for Google Chrome
Sources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
https://www.additudemag.com/learn-more-in-less-time/
https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-study-tips
https://www.verywellmind.com/college-students-with-adhd-20820