So, I decided to go back to college. I already have a BS in Global Business and an MBA, both from Arizona State University. This time, I’m trying to get a Master’s in Accounting and Data Analytics. I’m still working full-time as a CFO for a medical device manufacturer. This additional Master’s degree would allow me to sit for the CPA exam in Arizona.
I worked full-time while earning my first two degrees back in the early 2000s. So, working a day job while I return to school is not a new experience for me. However, what is new, or rather old, is my age. I can’t pull all-nighters studying for exams like I could when I was younger.
My day job is also significantly more complex than delivering pizzas, which was my day job back then. That said, delivering pizzas back in the 1990s was challenging without GPS-enabled phones. We had to look at the map on the wall and memorize how to get to the customer’s house. However, to our advantage, the 1990s had better music to listen to while working. Grunge and Ska, what could be better?
So, my day job is mentally exhausting, and now I’m stacking up more responsibilities. This is all on top of my ADHD and OCD. However, in the last 20 years, I have found several productivity hacks that work well with ADHD.
I wish I had many of these productivity hacks back when I was working on my first two degrees. If I did, then I would have probably spent the additional time partying. It is college, and partying is a fundamental aspect of higher education…right?
That was my attitude 20 years ago, when I first went to college. Now, my idea of fun is writing about ADHD while reconciling spreadsheets.
Anyways, the first ADHD productivity hack that I’ll mention relates to time management. This type of time management doesn’t involve scheduling or planning. It involves limiting my study time to 20 – 25 minute sessions, followed by a 20-minute break. This concept relates to ADHD and its effect on short-term memory. If I attempted to study for any amount of time past 20 – 25 minutes, I would begin to forget what I was reading and lose track of my studies.
Re-reading pages because of distraction is something that I imagine many with ADHD can relate to. To avoid this scenario, I limit my study sessions, and I make sure to take breaks.
The break is necessary because it allows your brain to process information without being overloaded. Once refreshed, I can go back and study for another 20 – 25 minutes. The key here is that I can repeat this process several times. This means I can study for hours, as long as I break up the study time into 20 – 25 minute chunks followed by 20-minute breaks.
Another productivity hack for ADHD is taking a lot of notes. The notes effectively augment my short-term memory and executive functions. As long as I have updated and accurate notes, I can pick up my studies exactly where I left off.
Of course, an obvious advantage that I have is my twenty-year career in finance and systems development. It always helps to have prior experience in your area of study.
I have already found that taking exams with time limits is challenging. I had forgotten how hard it was to maintain focus long enough to complete an exam. For many people with ADHD, including myself, the exam time limit itself becomes a distraction. Exam time limits also create anxiety.
To combat the exam time limits, I am trying to complete the exam faster. The faster I complete the exam, the more I can maximize my limited focus. Of course, to complete an exam faster, I need to be more prepared. To be more prepared, I need to study harder and smarter. Of course, to study smarter with ADHD, I need to study in time blocks with breaks to really get the most out of my limited study time.
Another ADHD skill that is very beneficial for studying is the concept of hyperfocus. Many people with ADHD think of hyperfocus as a super skill. The ability to focus for extended periods of time without distraction can be powerful. However, hyperfocus also has a component of time-blindness.
Time blindness can cause disastrous results. If I get stuck on a single task or exam question, I may not notice the passing of time. This time-blindness is a characteristic of ADHD that relates to our sense of time, and the passing of time.
This is where my Apple Watch comes in to assist. I can set custom timers for several ADHD traits, such as study sessions, hyperfocus sessions, and exam time limits. These timers can be set for audible alarms as well as quiet haptic alarms. There are also dedicated focus-timer apps such as Focus Keeper.
The next hack is not really a hack, but rather a habit. Meditation. The calmer you become, the better you will perform. Meditation can be very effective in reducing anxiety.
Really, these ADHD productivity tips can work for anyone, but they are especially useful for those with ADHD.
