Non-Medication Tips for Struggling Students with ADHD

Focus mode on your phone.

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Exercise helps a lot. Exercise can help your brain produce dopamine. I like to go on long walks or hikes it clears my mind. I drank a lot of coffee off meds and it helps somewhat.I have pretty severe adhd so I have to take meds. I also heard therapy can work too and you can try studying with a buddy. The idea is that the buddy holds you accountable.

How To ADHD on youtube. Best channel I couldve ever come across. Loads of ideas on working with your ADHD not against it all in short video format that is straight to the point.

This might sound really silly, but when I was a tad bit younger, I had this method of reading the questions on my homework/test in my favorite character/YouTubers voice. And when I solved it, I'd imagine them saying something like "hey, nice one!" Or.. "Good choice! Okay, let's see what the next one says.."

I have to have something else going on to help keep my brain busy

Listening to music on a low volume helps me focus more with my hands and homework. Or just plain white noise.

Fiddle toys help me a lot, as does background noise. Instrumental music from video games seems to work wonders, as those are designed to sharpen focus anyway, but sometimes I'll throw on a show I don't care enough about to pay too much attention too (but I like enough to not get bored). That seems to help me.

I have to have everything in sight and realize that sometimes I can't get things done. another way I try and make myself hyper focus is by practicing a lot of self care and it usually boosts my mood

I am a college student & having a consistent routine helps me. I prioritize my study time for my best mental clarity "alertness" hours, morning for me. I work for 30-45 min & then take a break. I do something totally unrelated, I take a short walk, text a friend, ect. I don't allow any distractions when I'm studying, my phone is silent, a quiet room, no TV or music. If my mind is wandering too much, I stop & come back to it later because I won't be retaining much anyway, lol. Hope this helps ❤️

I believe seeing a therapist helps a lot. You can lower your anxiety and learn some behavioral coping strategies through therapy. Good luck!

Something i try is working on things for a set period of time before taking a set break time so that i don't end up distracted for hours and hours. I set timers for about an hour of working the like half an hour break before coming back to working, it helps me keep on track for a bit so i don't try and make myself focus which usually ends in me focusing on something completely off topic or about 12 different unrelated things😅

ADHD brains (from what I've noticed) love to hyperfocus. So if you try to hyperfocus on a part of your homework or schoolwork, it might help?