How I Manage my ADHD
Go easy on yourself
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is tough to deal with. Whether you’ve known it all your life or are newly diagnosed, here are a few tips that might just help in alleviating your symptoms. I’ve known I’ve had ADHD for 8 years as I was fortunate enough (and wild enough) to get diagnosed early, so have been managing my symptoms for nearly a decade.
I still can’t say I’m an expert, though. ADHD is an inescapable daily struggle, a constant battle between what you want to do and need to do. Your attention span is short and you have a million things on your mind — I know that all too well. The truth is, there’s no magic cure I can give that’ll make things significantly easier, only suggestions that might ease things marginally.
Having ADHD is a unique and personal experience, so I don’t expect all of this to help. However, if even a tidbit of my advice helps someone reading this then I’m happy to share.
1. Wear headphones.
If time zips by you like it does me, you might benefit by using music as time markers. Noticing when a new song is on can be used as a signal that time has passed and, if you were previously distracted, it can give you the message to move on to something else.
Along with feeling under-stimulated, ADHD can make you feel overstimulated, as well. That’s why headphones can also be used to help you focus in noisy environments. Block out distracting conversations and sounds by popping on a pair of noise-proof headphones; you’ll be back at your schoolwork in no time!
2. Use a planner.
Finished with school or enjoying a break? Keep using that planner! Try to write in it every day and maintain it as a daily habit — writing out your daily goals is a great way to remember what needs to be done and checking them off after is an incredibly satisfying feeling. You can also do what I do and have a point system — I give myself points per day and per week and compare them to other days and weeks. It helps me keep track of how productive I’ve been and know when to give myself a pat on the back.
3. Set alarms.
Setting an alarm for getting up is great, but doing it for other things can be just as helpful. For instance, when taking a break from work (whether it be for your job, for school, or jobhunting), set an alarm so you know when you need to hop back to it. If you’re busy enough to need to pick time slots for different things, you can have alarms for that, as well! This will help you not get stuck on one thing for too long.
Something ADHD does is make it easier for the average person to lose track of time. Setting an alarm will help make sure you stay on task!
4. Take your meds.
People prescribe medication for ADHD for a reason: it works wonders. And if you’re nervous about taking a stimulant, the coffee so many people drink in the morning is in the same category. The only major problem is that you can become dependent on it as it’s an addictive substance, and it can damage your body when abused. Conduct your own research first and weigh the pros and cons when thinking about whether meds are right for you.
Before being diagnosed, I’d start books and leave them unfinished. Then I was put on medicine and immediately, at 8 years old, I finished The Sorcerer’s Stone. It was the first time I ever fell in love with a book series and, because my meds help slow me down enough to read things that are difficult, it certainly won’t be the last.
5. Drink tea or coffee.
How caffeine impacts the ADHD individual varies: it can make some people sleepy, worsen hyperactivity or even exacerbate anxiety. But there’s also the chance that caffeine can help you concentrate on what needs to get done as it does me.
Especially if you take meds and get tired when they wear off, a cup of joe can really perk you up and give you that extra boost of energy to finish off the day. Do NOT try mixing your meds with caffeine unless you’re familiar with the effects it has on you. It can increase your heartbeat to an uncomfortable degree and even induce an anxiety attack! So, be careful!
6. Get extra help in school.
Telling your professors that you have ADHD might seem like TMI, but it can actually help them understand you better. Not only are they likely to be at least a little bit more patient, but they might be more lenient if you struggle with deadlines as I do. Ask for help early, too — don’t wait until the last moment and, if you can, get the help before you start floundering.
Meet with your teacher privately and ask for advice on how to stay on top of things. With a lot of students this is instinct, but having ADHD can make you more easily overwhelmed and a few encouraging words can go a long way. This will also show your professors that if you start missing deadlines that it’s not out of laziness, and you can even ask to receive more time on tests.
7. Go easy on yourself.
ADHD makes a lot of things take more time. It can be incredibly frustrating to have to deal with 7 days a week and can negatively affect your academic life as well as your social life, as disorganization can cause you to miss important dates and make schoolwork more time-consuming.
Accept that you have a permanent obstacle and do your best to get around it. Having to work harder than others will give you even greater satisfaction at the end and make your success all the more rewarding!
