Having ADHD has always been a struggle for me.
Though I have always found schoolwork difficult, it wasn't until I reached high school that I realized just how much of a problem my ADHD really is. When I started 9th grade, I was immediately weighed down by overwhelming homework and tests, struggling to manage it all like everyone else. I realized I would have to start changing some of my usual work habits if I was going to stay on top of all my schoolwork. Although freshman year was difficult, this year is much easier now that I have figured out what works best for me.
I understand how frustrating and stressful it can be to try and juggle ten assignments when everyone else seems to be managing just fine. So, here are some tips to help you handle even the heaviest workloads high school can bring. I know everyone is different, so I suggest trying some of these out and deciding which ones help you the most.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Minimize Distractions
For kids with ADHD, staying focused is always a huge problem which makes doing hours of dry and challenging assignments even more difficult. Constant distractions only make it worse. Distractions such as loud sounds, phones, music, significantly slow down your work pace and make you more susceptible to errors. They pull your focus away, cause you to forget things and make mistakes.
The Association for Psychological Science conducted an experiment, tasking participants to write three essays. One group was provided a diversion free environment and the other group was constantly interrupted by unrelated puzzles and problems. The results revealed that ninety six percent of the interrupted group scored worse on the rating scale, proving just how difficult it is to focus on a specific task when you are constantly being distracted.
Once interrupted, it takes a while for our brains to refocus on work. The best way to minimize all distractions is to find a quiet workplace, shut off all devices, and remove any other things that could potentially be distracting from the room. This optimizes your ability focus, your productivity, and ultimately, your workload.

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Take Constant Breaks
For me, this is the most important tip when managing large workloads.
It is extremely difficult for anyone to sit still and work for hours on end. After about thirty minutes, I begin to feel restless and my focus begins to slip. Whenever this happens, I find the best thing to do is not to force myself to keep working, but to step away and relax my mind.
Whenever I find myself constantly re-reading sentences and forgetting what I just read, I stop and take a break to reset. Oftentimes, forcing your brain to keep focusing, especially for people with ADHD, results in confusion and frequent mistakes. Pausing to reset your thoughts helps avoid this from happening.
In addition, whenever you feel yourself getting frustrated or overwhelmed, you should step back and take a moment to breathe. Remind your brain to relax and calm down before continuing to work. Consistent breaks significantly reduce stress and frustration, making work easier and less painful.
Plan it Out
When you have a lot of work, the key to finishing it all efficiently and on time is organizing it.
Splitting up your work improves your time management and productivity. By scheduling your work ahead of time, you have a better idea of what you need to do before you do it so you can stay on top of your deadlines and prioritize the most important tasks, making sure they get done efficiently and quickly. I find that making a plan motivates me to work more diligently, rather than procrastinating and pushing it off till the last minute. Organizing also keeps you from forgetting any tasks or assignments.
So how should you make a plan?
Always make sure to complete the tasks with the highest priority (meaning the ones with the closest deadlines or the ones with the most importance) first before beginning the others. Your schedule should include how much you want to spend on each assignment to ensure that you manage your time wisely. Remember, split up the work and do not forget to make time for brain breaks as well. With a planned schedule, you are sure to stay on task and be productive!

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Work With a Friend
Working with a friend can benefit you in many ways.
With large and time consuming workloads, it’s easy to lose attention or get distracted quickly. However, a friend can help you stay on task, and remind you to stay focused whenever your attention slips, whereas working on your own, there is not really anything to stop you from getting off topic. A friend can also motivate you, and offer their own take on how to best complete work. Having a friend with you can make something as difficult as homework, quick, easy, and even fun.

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Ask For Help
I have always struggled with comprehending new topics.
I find myself forgetting what I just read and constantly having to re-read sentences. Forcing your brain to understand and learn new, unfamiliar, subjects can get confusing and frustrating. Though pushing through it alone may work for some, I find it easier to understand something when it is explained to me instead of trying to come up with an explanation myself.
Sometimes, simply asking someone for help will give you a better idea of what exactly needs to get done. Better understanding your work makes it much easier to complete. Getting help can also significantly improve the productivity, speed, and quality of your work. Having someone else working with you and making sure you understand everything makes difficult problems more manageable, reducing stress and confusion.
Additionally, large workloads can take a long time to complete, and collaborating with a helper enhances efficiency and overall makes work easier to get through.
Rewards
When covering large workloads, it’s difficult to stay focused until the end, especially for kids with ADHD. What helps me stay interested and attentive are rewards.
When you set a reward, you provide the necessary motivation to push yourself and concentrate on your assignment. For example, my favorite thing to do in my free time is draw. Oftentimes when I feel my focus slipping, I motivate myself by thinking ahead to when my work is completed and I can relax and draw for the rest of the night. I find that it is significantly easier to focus on something if I actually want to do it, or if it is something I find interesting.
When I set these rewards for myself, I realize it makes me eager to complete work I would otherwise find dry or boring. Having something to look forward to makes completing large, time consuming workloads easier and also helps reduce procrastination.
Work Environment
Similar to minimizing distractions, it is important to have a quiet and comfortable workspace.
For example, a noisy and crowded cafeteria can negatively impact your work quality and ability. The constant distractions and discomfort of an unfamiliar place can cause overwhelming stress and panic, increasing pressure and anxiety. In contrast, when you work in a peaceful and calming environment, you also start to feel more relaxed and comfortable.
With stressful workloads and threatening deadlines, it is crucial to stay calm and collected. Busy and overwhelming spaces can provoke and stimulate stress and panic, often leading to mistakes and frustration. For me, one of my favorite places to work is my living room, as it is always quiet and cozy.
I will usually light a fire in the fireplace, and curl up on the couch with a blanket and computer. Doing this makes the work feel somewhat more manageable and simple.
So how do you find the perfect workspace?
A good idea is picking somewhere you are already familiar with. The comfort of a familiar place you know and love calms your mind and reduces anxiety and stress. Your work environment should also be quiet and distraction free.

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Avoid Multitasking
Although I am very good at multitasking, I must agree with this idea. There are some instances where multitasking actually helps me focus; however, it is understandable that avoiding it would be a better habit. As much as I love listening to music or playing a movie in the background while I do my homework, I have to admit it is very easy to get distracted by such things.
Especially when it comes to large, time consuming, workloads, multitasking would only slow down your progress. Though it may not seem like it, it is actually easier and more efficient to just sit down and focus on one thing at a time.
In addition, Peter Bregman explains how multitasking decreases your productivity by around 40% in his article from Harvard Business Review: “How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking”. Bregman also offers advice on how to stop multitasking, suggesting setting very short deadlines for yourself, and shutting off devices and distractions completely.
You Got This
I know having ADHD can be frustrating and somewhat unfair, but it is important to remember that you are just as smart (if not smarter) as everyone else.
You just have to find the right methods to stay on top of your work. While it is important to work hard, it is more effective to work smarter. Developing these types of executive function skills can help you do both successfully.
Don't forget to take the time to celebrate your accomplishments instead of immediately worrying about the next workload-- and finally, make sure to surround yourself with supportive and motivational people. You got this!!
