When I’m allowed to talk about studying I can get excited about the subject — but I don’t commonly talk about the fact that I study with ADHD.

It’s actually to the level that when my school tried to test me for it I actually lost interest part of the way through the test. In my defense, they left me in a room by myself with a cassette tape asking me to spell the word ‘cat’.

I talk a lot about studying and studying technique because I don’t think it’s talked about enough. We have outdated models which have literally never had a basis in science which we still cling to in the US school system.

Having to study with ADHD and still wanting to be a top performer forced me to start looking at how I study. I couldn’t just coast by doing the same thing as everyone else — I had to start actually thinking about what I was doing.

I mean I had to try at least. The problem was I was generally trying to think about just about anything else.

Improving your studying technique makes everything else easier. Why spend 10 hours trying to study a subject when nothing is sinking in? We focus so much on how long we’re studying and nowhere near enough on how we’re studying.

That’s why I’m such a fan of proper studying trackers like this one (which you can download for free): The Ultimate Student Organizer Pack.

My approach to studying with ADHD should really be anyone’s approach to studying. And it boils down to question what you’re doing — and why you’re doing it.

Is there a better way?

For most people I know who study anything the answer is almost guaranteed to be yes.

For anyone I know studying with ADHD the answer is probably going to have to wait because they’ve forgotten what the question was.

The absolute key things I had to do was identify what distracted me and remove it as much as I could. I knew I wouldn’t be able to completely make my mind focus but that didn’t mean I gave up altogether.

I tried lists, I tried breaking up my studying into chunks. Sometimes things worked and sometimes they didn’t. My point here isn’t to tell you what works in studying with ADHD but to draw your attention to the fact you need to work on it. Whether you have ADHD or not — don’t accept what you think of as studying as the way you should do it just because that’s what you’ve always done up until now.

One of the scariest phrases ever is: I don’t know… that’s just how we’ve aways done it.

I’m sure different people have different strategies for studying with ADHD. I mean there are so many different types of strategies for studying when you don’t — but I’d like to share some great advice from Spahire Wyhte:

ADHD and an A+ student, so it can be done! I only found out I was ADHD as an adult when I went to counseling for time management problems. I’ve always been very determined, and I couldn’t understand for the life of me why I was never on time, organized, or was so easily distracted even when I was trying my hardest. It was a “eureka!” moment, but I chose not to be medicated because it’s expensive and I’ve gotten by just fine until now.

Here’s how I study:

Get oh-so-comfortable. I set up a little desk with everything I could possibly need, to stop me from getting up, wandering and getting distracted.

Minimize distractions. No TV in the background, don’t try to study with friends, don’t check social media, put your phone on silent. Remove anything from within hands reach that you might be tempted to play with.

Working in short bursts. Break it all down into bite-sized chunks, I find accomplishing a small part satisfying and I like the novelty of moving on to a new section.

Keep it engaging. Instead of books and pen-to-paper, watch Khan Academy videos, listen to relevant podcasts, find web-based activities that will enhance your understanding. Play interactive games, make up acronyms, make what you have to remember into a song, extra points if it’s rap.

Fidget. Jiggle, stretch, dance in your seat, clap your hands, stomp your feet, shift around, talk out loud, hum, whistle. Really stick it to all the teachers that told you to be quiet and sit still, because we don’t work like that.

Frequent breaks. If your mind starts wandering, or you feel restless just go with it. Take 5, have a snack, check your facebook, get up and have a walk. Having my workspace set up well acts as a visual reminder to get back to work, although it doesn’t always happen immediately.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Despite how it feels in the education system at times, educators are there to help you learn. There’s no such thing as a stupid question, some schools and universities even have extra provisions for students with learning difficulties.

‘Hey Look a Squirrel’ just about sums up the whole studying experience with ADHD honestly.

Traditional students can find a variety of resources at their schools, and many online programs are beginning to offer learning accommodation for students in need. Learning accommodations counselors will help you find access to disability counselors or doctors who can prescribe medication. Your school might have accommodations for students with formally documented learning differences, including extra time for tests. Find a counselor on campus to learn about your options. Several online schools like Oregon State, University of Connecticut, or American University offer academic support. These are only a few; there are more. Research your school and make some phone calls to determine what resources are available.

I can’t stress this one enough. If you’re struggling with ADHD this should be your first port of call. Just because it won’t stop you being a top-performing student doesn’t mean you shouldn’t turn down any help which is available.

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