[Llama_Llama44]

Like the title says. Feel free to share yours here if you want. There are a couple threads that I wanted to answer by sharing this, so I thought I would just make a new thread.

I don't claim to have all the answers, at all! And I struggle with lots of stuff. But I just wanted to share a few strategies that have been helpful to me.

1) It might be cliche, but a good sleep schedule and exercise. These things don't fix the problem by any means, but they are a good baseline to help other strategies work.

2) An ADHD accountability buddy: if this is possible, it can be helpful. It helps if the other person has ADHD because then you don't feel ashamed / embarrassed and things don't feel so one-sided.

3) For ME, reading has always been hard. Text-to-speech has helped, kind of A LOT with this in recent years.

4) OK this one is more complicated:

Some of you might be familiar with the "tomato" or "pomodoro" technique. Basically, you work for a set amount of time, take a break for a certain amount of time.

I tried this in the past. It FAILED.

Then, I realized that one problem with that strategy was that I couldn't work just because it was time to work. I might sit and stare at the screen during "work" time. Then it doesn't feel like that counted as work. So, do I start over? Is this just a torture device to make me feel guilty for not working? Maybe.

Then I figured something out that helps a bit. I adapted this strategy for my ADHD brain, and it isn't perfect, but it is helpful. I "work" for a certain period of time (I use hour long blocks because it takes me a while to just get started). BUT, during "work" time, I don't have to work. Sounds silly? But I have "rules" I have to follow. I have to stay in my chair. I can't surf the internet. Basically, I don't have to work, but I can't do anything else, besides think! I can't force my brain to work, but I can make rules to set limits on what else I can do. At the end of a "block" (an hour in my case), I rate the block. If I just stared at the screen the whole time, it gets a poor rating, BUT I still check off that I DID the block, if I didn't break the "rules". If I focused on work, I get a better rating. Often, after a few minutes of thinking and screen-staring, I actually get going on work!

I hope that makes sense. I don't know if it will work for anyone else, but I thought it might be helpful to share. It feels kind of insincere to post this when I have been struggling this week. But just because I'm not having a great week doesn't mean these strategies aren't helpful. *sigh*

[smm275]

This was actually super helpful! I definitely plan on trying #4 because it is something I really struggle with. Thank you so much!!!

[Llama_Llama44]

Also, in case anyone wants to know, the adhd subreddit is a more active adhd community than here, I'd say.

[anushka]

Hi Llama_Llama44... Do you have an adhd accountability buddy? I struggle a lot with my studies so I tried the accountability method but since the buddies didn't have any adhd issue it always became 1 sided. Could you share your experience? Also can you share how to keep focus for more than 2days? I always lose my aim within 2days and repeatedly fail. I have became very discouraged now. It keeps me depressed all the time.

[Llama_Llama44]

I've had a few study buddies, all with ADHD. One I knew IRL, the others were from the adhd subreddit.

When you say keep focus for more than 2 days, do you mean you are working on the same thing for that whole time? I do better when I do work on one thing at a time, because starting is the hardest part for me. Momentum helps. But for others, they get bored really easily. If you are like that, maybe you could try switching back and forth between a few tasks? Or working for really short, timed periods, then taking short breaks?

Don't give up!

[muffin_stomper]

Habitica. It gamifies tasks. I've come a long way with this. Just make sure you don't cheat...

Vipassana meditation helped train my brain to focus, but it's a TON of work.

[anushka]

Originally Posted by Llama_Llama44

I've had a few study buddies, all with ADHD. One I knew IRL, the others were from the adhd subreddit.

When you say keep focus for more than 2 days, do you mean you are working on the same thing for that whole time? I do better when I do work on one thing at a time, because starting is the hardest part for me. Momentum helps. But for others, they get bored really easily. If you are like that, maybe you could try switching back and forth between a few tasks? Or working for really short, timed periods, then taking short breaks?

Don't give up!

I tried both the methods you know, changing subject as well as same subject, but nothing seems to help. After 2days i lose my vision. I dont feel the sense of urgency any more which i started with. Esp when there is no one to be accountable to. I lose direction. I am really depressed you know since i am caught in this cycle of unproductivity.

[anushka]

Originally Posted by muffin_stomper

Habitica. It gamifies tasks. I've come a long way with this. Just make sure you don't cheat...

Vipassana meditation helped train my brain to focus, but it's a TON of work.

Thanks a lot for the ideas. Will try habitica..

[muffin_stomper]

Originally Posted by anushka

Thanks a lot for the ideas. Will try habitica..

No problem! I really didn't like how meds made me felt, so I've been dealing for years on my own. It still can be hard and people that spend a lot of time around me can get frustrated, but I cope. If you ever have any questions or need anyone to talk to me, shoot me a PM...

[salsharia]

I was late walking into a very big work meeting simply because I misread the schedule and was not careful about confirming the plan with everyone, so I walked in as the president was speaking and 40 of my coworkers already seated in the room. I even tried! New method, always get two sources. Confirm with others attending so I can rule out any discrepancies. This is a tip derived from doing it the wrong way. lol