9 Study Tips for Students with ADHD

I know from personal experience how hard school can be as a student with ADHD. I would forget assignments, do things at the last minute, and have a hard time focusing in class. It wasn’t easy, but I developed tactics that helped me do well in school.

These tips are certainly not “one size fits all,” but these are 9 things that work for me. I hope you find them useful!

Make school work engaging: The more engaging and enjoyable something is, the easier it is for me to focus. And let’s face it, with school, a lot of it is boring. So I do my best to make even the most mundane things fun! When I was in undergrad as a Theater major, I wrote a lot of papers and read a lot of plays. In order to keep track of everything, I color-coded my planner. This really helped me stay organized. I also used this tactic by using different colored pens to annotate the play I was studying.  This made it engaging, and I could remember a lot of details that way.

Create a structure: If you have a set structure or schedule, it helps with feeling overwhelmed by all the things you have to do, especially for college or post-grad students with heavier workloads. Try going to sleep at the same time every day, or setting aside a block of time for one specific task, such as studying or an assigned reading. Even after graduating, I have an alarm set for every day at 9 pm, reminding me to start winding down for bed. Proper rest and time management help so much with ADHD brain fog!

Try Body Doubling: Body doubling is when someone else sits with you while you do your own work. Try studying with a friend or in an environment where other people are working too. You could even video chat with someone. Seeing other people work motivates me to study because it makes me want to be as productive as they are.

Give yourself a time limit: Sometimes I procrastinate on doing things I know I need to do. If the task feels daunting and I don’t know where to start, I don’t get anything done. Meanwhile, I feel guilty for not starting. So I give myself at least fifteen minutes, put on some music, and see how much I can get done within that amount of time. Fifteen minutes is not a long time, and the task feels doable. It often takes less time than I set aside for myself, and I feel motivated to complete other tasks because I’ve already gotten up and am moving.

Eliminate as many extra steps as possible: When I wrote papers in college, I would make Google Docs a bookmark on my home page. Every time I opened my laptop, it eliminated the process of having to log in, sign in to the right Google account, and then open up Google Docs. If I didn’t have the energy to do that (because let’s be real, it happens!) I would go to the app on my phone because usually it’s already in my hands. In fact, this is how I’m writing this article! It makes any task less daunting because one thing is already done for you!

Do the smallest step first: This goes hand in hand with my last tip. Sometimes the sheer number of things I have to do makes me overwhelmed, and I find it hard to focus on one thing. I just pick one task, think of the smallest possible step I can take to get started, and do that. It often creates a flow of energy, and I feel more able to do the next small step, until suddenly I’ve gotten more done than I thought I would!

Try the Pomodoro Technique: My dad told me that when he was in school and preparing for a test, he would study one section for a bit and then take a break. The official name for this is the Pomodoro technique. You study for a certain amount of time, typically 20 minutes, and then you take a 5-minute break. Then it repeats (20 minutes of work, 5-minute break) until you’re done. There are even videos on YouTube that are designed with the time blocked off automatically, eliminating that extra step. Some channels have 30/10 timers, or 30 minutes of work with a 10-minute break, 25/5, and even 50/10. 

Set reminders in the moment: I’m definitely the “out of sight, out of mind” type. And with my ADHD, I often forget to do things that are not in my immediate line of sight. I’ve tried to get into the habit of setting reminders right when I think of something, so I can stay on top of my tasks. I’ve even typed reminders on my phone and made it my wallpaper. Since it’s always with me, there’s no way I will miss it.

Burst of energy? Go for it: Another tip that helps me is to take advantage of those bursts of energy. If I suddenly feel inspired, that’s when I do my work. Rather than fighting to focus, I give myself grace and take advantage of the motivation when it shows up! Take the time to rest when you need it to avoid burnout. But if you feel up to it, use that burst of energy to your advantage.

As I said, these ADHD tips are not one size fits all. Some people struggle with it more than others and in different ways. Perhaps they have even tried the tips I listed with no success.

It can be an overwhelming condition to handle, and it took me a while to figure out what worked for me. Researching on the internet and getting advice can help, but at the end of the day, it is best to do what works for you!

To everyone starting school and/or continuing school this semester, I’m wishing you the best of luck!