So I know that when I have appointments or classes to hold me accountable, I create a daily/weekly routine in order to help myself get everything done. It works every time and I get things done. However, the moment I don't have classes anymore, when I don't have to do anything.... I don't do anything. I can't get anything done unless I'm told I have to.

This has endlessly frustrated me, because I want to be able to accomplish something on my own terms. I also run out of energy (or "spoons") easily since I have to work around adhd, chronic pain, and other issues.

So what's the solution? How do you become productive on your own terms when you're stuck with executive function issues and addicted to short term satisfaction?

A routine.

I used to hate them, because I could never actually stick to them. I found them boring and a waste of time. But there's a way to do it right.

A Five Step Process to Creating a Proper Routine

GUYS I HAVE AN AMAZING STUDYING HACK

IDK HOW IVE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT:

Ok so this hack sadly requires you to know 2+ languages to work

Now usually i would study by reading the material more than 3 times and memorizing it perfectly and just writing it the same exact way it was in the books. But now that im in uni, stuff are harder to memorize, i need more time to study which i never do cuz i suck at managing my time and procrastinate and think that ill have time later

Well instead i found this way of memorizing by understanding, memorizing in simple ways without leaving out keywords and I think its a pretty engaging activity (mostly cuz i love English and am obssesed with english)

The way is to take the thing you need to learn/memorize/ study and translate it into the medt language you feel comfortable with. For example Im studying Culture Nutrient Substrates and in the Greek langauge. so instead i tranlsate it into English.

Now you dont need to translate it perfectly. Also you dont need to translate every single word. especially since some key words are important to remember and you dont wanna forget them in the target language.

So instead I have some keywords that I leave the same and translate very basic parts that wouldnt affect my memorisation this way

Ill put an example:

Original text:Τα θρεπτικά υλικά είναι μείγματα ουσιών που χρειάζονται τα μικρόβια για να αναπτυχθούν και να πολλαπλασιαστούν in vitro

My Translated version: Θρεπτικά are μείγματα ουσιών that are used as food/nutrients for the reproduction and growth of microbes in vitro.

While translating this part, i realized that the important parts to know are what Θρεπτικά υλικά are in Culture Nutrient (nutritional ingredients) and I also realised i didnt know what in vitro was so that lead me to research it instead of just memorizing it and forgetting it later.

I've realised that one method that helps me with the procrastination is the Pomodoro Method. It's when you set a timer for 25 minutes (this is totally customisable) and then you focus for that entire 25 minutes. Then, you have a 5-minute break and the process repeats.

I've noticed that as a teenager with varied school work, I like using my twist of the Pomodoro Method instead, and I find it better than the original. First, estimate how much time you'd need for a task, and then break it up into manageable chunks. For example, for a 1-hour task, I might split the time into three 20 minute chunks of time, and I do the Pomodoro Method with 20 Minutes. I find that I focus easier if I don't switch to a new task in the middle of a time period.

Also, word of advice. I started doing the Pomodoro method with an ordinary timer, but I've realised that doing so is very boring, especially when you have to write essays and post stories (no worries with that one, though). Instead of that, I use Sprinto, which is a discord bot. 

You can add it to a server and then run a race by typing in _sprint # (# being the number of minutes you want to write for). Then, it’ll give you instructions on how to proceed further.

Studying tip: Studying is less hard with the correct soundtrack.

I haven't done much with this blog since I've created it, but I want that to change. In the past I used it only as an archive of useful language learning posts, but I don't feel like that has actually helped me in the past year. I've always been a knowledge-oriented person, and by that I mean I inevitably become infatuated with learning anything. Even in classes I hate I still love learning the content, because learning is my one true passion.

However, as someone with incredibly pervasive adhd, I have always found it difficult to remain consistently organized and motivated. In the past, adrenaline is what aided my work ethic, not true discipline, and that has only begun to somewhat change this past semester. With the introduction of online classes, I had to actually develop real strategies to hold myself accountable and quit procrastinating. It wasn't perfect, but many of these strategies really helped and I am ready to move to the next step.

With that in mind, I felt that using this normally dormant blog to my advantage would be crucial to this step. I'm going to bring it out of its habitual hibernation and begin to use it hopefully daily.

My strategy is to use this blog to be helpful towards myself and hopefully others. I've developed many tactics to combat adhd and to help learning and studying. As Covid-19 seems to be getting worse in many areas, many upcoming semesters will be online again, mine and my girlfriend's included. Knowing that, I assume many people might benefit from tips and tricks to help study or hold oneself accountable while learning online. I want to give advice to anyone who could benefit from it, as well as become more active in the studyblr community.

Here's to turning over a new leaf! If you liked this post and actually read to the end, thanks! Consider following my blog if:

You're interested based off of this post

You're learning Mandarin Chinese (I am too!)

You have adhd and would like study tips

You're learning online and would like study tips

You like learning languages and would like facts/tips about language acquisition

You have adhd, spd, dyslexia, messy handwriting/carpal tunnel/arthritis, and would like helpful facts or tips about these conditions, and how to successfully study with said conditions (I have all of these issues and have made strategies to myself with all of them)

You just want to interact with another studyblr blog!