#nd tip

((tw: swearing))

my dumbass butt cant stay focused on homework without getting distracted by watching youtube, changing playlists on spotify, reading my books on wattpad, working on my stories and books, scrolling through tumblr, stemming, playing with the kneady dough in my fidget drawer, and more.

i know for a fucking fact that im not the only neurodivergent who does this.

i saw a youtube short a while back about a strategy for neurodivergents. it was to give yourself rewards for completing any tasks that you needed done---whether that be homework, cleaning clothes, sweeping the floors, taking your dog on a walk, et cetera. rewards would be such as eating a snack, going thrifting, taking a bike ride, getting a new book, going to Starbucks and buying a coffee.

but what if you dont have the ability to do things such as that? or what if you still find yourself falling into the temptation to get distracted by nonproductive things? or what if you dont know what kinds of rewards to give yourself for different tasks?

i had those exact issues. i cant go out to do something when i do something productive. i often found myself falling into distractions, or boredom-induced executive dysfunction, or procrastination. i also dont know what rewards i should allow myself to have when i do something productive.

and then i had a thought. definitely not an original one, but it works. it gets the job done.

personally, one of my biggest issues is staying motivated, especially when doing homework.

when my idea is implemented, i give myself thirty minutes to work on my homework. not to get it all done in those thirty minutes, but to just work on it as much as i can.

as soon as my thirty minutes are up, i give myself ten minutes of doing whatever i want---so long as i dont leave my working space. this means using my laptop to scroll through tumblr, or opening wattpad and working on one of my books, or grabbing my tablet off of my bookshelf and drawing, or opening picrew and making a bunch of photos, or watching my favorites playlist on youtube, or reading my book. so long as im still at my desk, i can have ten minutes of it.

ive been really liking this idea of mine. it works really well. keeps me motivated, but gives me too little time to get distracted. also keeps the ball rolling without slowing it down too much. you know?

so!

here are instructions on how to use my idea:

write down any and all tasks you need done

set a thirty minute timer but dont start it

grab anything you need to complete your tasks and put them in a place where you wont lose anything

grab anything you love to do---a book for reading, a sketchbook for drawing, a notepad for writing, et cetera---and put it within reach

start the thirty minute timer and get to work

when the timer goes off, set a ten minute timer and start it, spending those minutes doing something you love

when this timer goes off, go back to step five and keep repeating until all of your tasks are done

hope this helps anyone who needs it!!!