Mid-semester drift | ADHD Information
For everyone in school:
Do you experience what I call mid-semester drift?
It's a phenomenon I experience every semester, and what happens
is that I start out the semester really well, and then somewhere
towards the middle I just seem to lose track of things and then, before
I know it, I'm over my head in work. Familiar?
How can I avoid this?
Try getting tutors and set regular appointments. You may not need the academic help but the one-on-one will help maintain focus. That describes me pretty well. Unfortanetly I was just diagnosed so I
have been coming up with a plan to combat it. I'm spent money on a
descent PDA recently and so far its working pretty good (I just have to
remember to use it and form the habit). Pretty much what happens with
me is that I get large projects at the begining of the semester and put
them off until they are near due. And when they are due; there are alot
of test, other projects and homework which just piles up and stress me
out. Just a lack of planning and motivation for me I guess.
I've actually planned out a cheesy system (sounds really childish). I
made an award system where I plan to do some amount of school work each
night that I can (some nights other obligations interfere) and try to
keep on top of things. If I do the work I was supposed to, I put some
of my spare money towards something I want to buy or put it to a nice
dinner out, etc. As a bonus if I get done relatively early in the night
I can then go hang out with some friends or do something fun with the
money I earned (even though I already worked for it, guess I have to
work twice as hard to spend it). If I don't do what I was supposed to
do I can't touch that money. It also helps me control the impulsive
spending that I tend to do. I try to kill 2 birds with one stone with
that plan.
Thats just my plan. Might sound stupid but it works for me. What is
important is to make notes of whenever things are due and make sure you
leave ample time for it to get done. I always get distracted and need
breaks often when I get frustrated so I need to plan for that.
Oh yes, I remember that in school. Always starting the year with good intentions - 'this is the year I am going to get it together and SUCEED!' but yup it always went to the curb.