Mastering ADHD: How To Study And Succeed

Summary

In this video, Andrew from Brainscape challenges the conventional view of ADHD as a hindrance, instead presenting it as a potential advantage for success. He offers strategies and cognitive 'brain hacks' to help ADHD individuals excel in studying and life. Andrew emphasizes creating a distraction-free environment, planning study tasks in detail, matching study activities to attention spans, and maintaining healthy habits for better focus. The video also celebrates famous individuals with ADHD who have achieved greatness, inspiring viewers to see their condition as an asset rather than a liability.

Takeaways

• 🚀 **Reframe ADHD**: Stop viewing ADHD as a weakness and start seeing it as an advantage that can contribute to success.
• 🎓 **Strategic Studying**: Use brain hacks and strategies to make studying more effective despite ADHD challenges.
• 🧠 **Cognitive Science**: Leverage cognitive science research to understand how to learn better and perform at a higher level.
• 🌟 **Famous Role Models**: Recognize successful individuals with ADHD, such as Walt Disney and Will Smith, to inspire overcoming challenges.
• 🏛️ **Evolutionary Advantage**: Understand that traits associated with ADHD have been beneficial to human evolution and survival.
• 📚 **Environment Matters**: Create a study environment that minimizes distractions to maximize focus and learning.
• 📅 **Plan and Prioritize**: Use a checklist to break down study tasks into manageable milestones to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• ⏰ **Match Study to Attention**: Align study activities with the attention span available at different times of the day.
• 💪 **Physical Health**: Maintain good sleep, diet, hydration, and exercise habits to support brain function and concentration.
• 🌱 **Long-Term Destiny**: View studying as a means to an end, with the ultimate goal being to fulfill your larger life purpose and potential.

Q & A

What is the main perspective the video aims to change about ADHD?

The video aims to change the perspective of ADHD from being a weakness that holds people back to being an advantage that can help them be more successful in life.

What is the role of Brainscape in the context of the video?

Brainscape is an adaptive flashcard study app built on cognitive science research, which the speaker, Andrew, uses to provide strategies for studying effectively despite ADHD.

Who are some famous individuals mentioned in the video as having overcome ADHD?

Famous individuals mentioned include Walt Disney, Will Smith, Simone Biles, Emma Watson, and Richard Branson.

What evolutionary advantage does the speaker attribute to people with ADHD?

The speaker attributes the evolutionary advantage of being creative, thinking outside the box, and having heightened awareness to people with ADHD.

Why does the speaker suggest that traditional schooling might be particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD?

The speaker suggests that traditional schooling, with its requirement to sit through long lectures and readings, is challenging for individuals with ADHD because they are not equipped to handle such monotony.

What is the first tip provided in the video for someone with ADHD to improve their studying?

The first tip is to put oneself in an environment that minimizes distractions, such as a quiet corner in the library or a cubby without a phone.

Why does the speaker argue against studying in a noisy coffee shop or in front of the TV?

The speaker argues against it because scientific evidence shows that humans cannot multitask effectively, and such environments lead to a lack of focus and require more study time later.

What does the speaker suggest as a method to combat the feeling of being overwhelmed by too much to study?

The speaker suggests creating a written checklist with bite-size milestones to break down tasks and make them more manageable.

How does the video recommend matching study tasks with available attention?

The video recommends creating a checklist of short-term, shallow, and deep tasks to allocate study activities appropriately based on the time available.

What are some of the life habits mentioned in the video that can support better concentration for individuals with ADHD?

The life habits mentioned include getting enough sleep, eating right with limited sugar and processed carbs, drinking plenty of water, and engaging in physical activities that work the core and glutes.

What is the final message of the video regarding individuals with ADHD and their potential?

The final message is that individuals with ADHD have an evolutionary gift and should view studying as a means to achieve their greater destiny in fields like entertainment, teaching, managing, creating art, and more.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Embracing ADHD as a Strength

The speaker, Andrew from Brainscape, challenges the traditional view of ADHD as a hindrance and instead encourages seeing it as an advantage. He acknowledges the difficulties ADHD presents in focusing and studying but introduces the idea of using brain hacks to enhance studying efficiency. Andrew shares his personal experience and admiration for successful individuals with ADHD, such as Walt Disney and Will Smith, who have made significant contributions despite their condition. He emphasizes the evolutionary benefits of traits associated with ADHD and suggests that the modern educational system is not well-suited for individuals with these traits. The speaker advocates for a change in attitude towards ADHD and offers practical tips for managing it effectively in daily life and studying.

05:03

📚 Study Strategies for ADHD

Andrew provides actionable strategies for individuals with ADHD to improve their studying habits. He advises creating a distraction-free environment, such as a quiet corner in the library or a home study space with minimized distractions. He stresses the importance of setting up for success by eliminating potential interruptions. The speaker debunks the myth of multitasking, asserting that it is scientifically proven to be ineffective and that focusing on one task at a time is crucial for learning. He also suggests planning study sessions during periods of high focus and creating a detailed checklist to break down tasks into manageable milestones. This approach helps in overcoming the feeling of being overwhelmed and provides a clear path forward, making study sessions more effective and less daunting.

Keywords

💡ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In the video, ADHD is initially presented as a potential hindrance to success but is later reframed as a strength that can be leveraged for personal and professional growth. The speaker encourages viewers to stop viewing ADHD as a weakness and instead see it as an advantage that can aid in achieving success in life.

💡Brain hacks

Brain hacks refer to strategies or techniques designed to enhance cognitive function or improve focus and productivity. In the context of the video, brain hacks are suggested as methods to help individuals with ADHD 'crush' their studying by maximizing their potential and making their study sessions more effective.

💡Cognitive science

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind and its processes, including learning, memory, perception, and problem-solving. The video mentions that Brainscape, the app discussed, is built on cognitive science research, indicating that its strategies for learning and performance are grounded in scientific understanding of how the brain functions.

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to the act of being drawn away from a task or goal due to external or internal stimuli. The video addresses the common challenge faced by those with ADHD, which is the tendency to be easily distracted. Strategies are provided to minimize distractions during study sessions, such as creating a conducive environment and managing digital device usage.

💡Study plan

A study plan is a structured approach to organizing study sessions and breaking down learning objectives into manageable tasks. The video emphasizes the importance of creating a written checklist and setting small, achievable milestones to combat the feeling of being overwhelmed and to maintain focus on the study process.

💡Flashcards

Flashcards are a learning tool consisting of a set of cards, each containing a question or a fact on one side and the answer or explanation on the other. The video suggests using flashcards as a method for studying, particularly for individuals with ADHD, as they can be easily accessed and reviewed in short study sessions.

💡Milestones

Milestones are significant points or stages in a process or project that mark progress towards a goal. In the video, the speaker advises creating a checklist with specific, measurable milestones to help individuals with ADHD stay focused and motivated during their study sessions.

💡Multitasking

Multitasking is the act of attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The video script clarifies that humans cannot effectively multitask, as it leads to divided attention and reduced productivity. It suggests focusing on one task at a time for better learning outcomes.

💡Circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms are the natural, internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and repeat roughly every 24 hours. The video mentions the importance of aligning with one's circadian rhythms by getting adequate sleep, which is crucial for maintaining focus and cognitive function.

💡Nutrition

Nutrition refers to the intake of food and the way the body uses it for growth, maintenance, and energy. The video highlights the role of proper nutrition, particularly the limitation of sugar and processed carbs, in supporting brain health and the ability to concentrate.

💡Exercise

Exercise is physical activity that helps maintain or improve overall health and fitness. The video script includes exercise as one of the key habits for improving focus, emphasizing the importance of activities that engage the core and gluteal muscles to enhance posture, power, and confidence.

Highlights

Reframe ADHD as an advantage for success rather than a weakness.

Use brain hacks to enhance studying efficiency for those with ADHD.

Andrew from Brainscape shares insights based on cognitive science research.

Famous individuals like Walt Disney and Will Smith overcame ADHD to achieve success.

Human evolution has been influenced by the creativity and non-conformity of 'daydreamers'.

ADHD individuals struggle with traditional educational settings like lectures and readings.

Seek professional help if ADHD severely impacts life and relationships.

Create a distraction-free environment for studying to set up for success.

Avoid studying in noisy coffee shops or with the TV on to prevent self-deception.

Acknowledge the inability to multitask effectively and focus on one task at a time.

Use peak focus times for planning study sessions and creating a detailed checklist.

Break down study tasks into manageable milestones to combat overwhelm.

Match study tasks with available attention spans to optimize productivity.

Prepare study materials during focused times for easy access during distracted periods.

Ensure good sleep, diet, hydration, and exercise to support concentration.

Embrace the unique strengths of ADHD and view studying as a means to a greater destiny.

Subscribe for more advice on building attention span and habits for success.

Transcripts

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that  if you clicked on this video title,

you may be someone who struggles with ADHD.

Well today is the day that we're gonna stop  thinking of ADHD as a weakness that's holding

you back and instead as an advantage that can  actually help you be more successful in life.

Yes, ADHD happens to be annoying when it  comes to studying or focusing in general,

but we're going to give you some  strategies to help you crush your

studying with a few brain hacks that will  help you get the most out of studying,

get it out of the way, and apply your gifts  to what you were meant to be doing in life.

I'm Andrew with Brainscape, an  adaptive flashcard study app

built on decades of proven cognitive science  research into how we learn and perform better.

And not only have we at Brainscape suffered from  attention problems ourselves, but we've worked

with thousands of students with ADHD which has only increased our admiration of all

the famous people that you might not  have known had ADHD and overcame it.

Like Walt Disney, Will Smith, Simone  Biles, Emma Watson, Richard Branson,

and other hugely successful people who didn't let  that scary diagnosis label them as unproductive.

The truth is that human civilization  itself have evolved because of,

not in spite of the brilliant work of people who  are daydreamers, who are creative, who hate rules,

who think outside the box, who don't accept  the status quo, and who are easily distracted

by saber-toothed tigers wrestling in the bushes so that they survive because of that awareness

and pass on that evolutionary  advantage to their offspring.

It's only in the last few centuries  that the confines of school have been

voiced upon us in childhood and we  ADHD people are just not equipped

to sit through boring lectures and readings.

Now all of a sudden if we can't sit still through 30 minutes of geometry, society decides we're  just bad at learning without doing much to help.

Please! Yes, there are doctors and there  are medications and I should say that if

your attention problems are severely  affecting your life and relationships,

please do seek professional help.

But when it comes to your attitude and your, your day-to-day activities, we can  give you some tips for working with

and around your ADHD so that you can  focus on your studying and actually make

all that knowledge stick, make  that study time worth it.

This first tip might sound like a no-brainer, but  if you struggle with concentration, put yourself

in an environment where that's just not gonna be an issue.

I'm talking basement of the library, in a cubby  facing a corner with white walls without your

phone even on you or if that cubby in the library  basement is impossible, at least something like

studying at your kitchen table with your phone set to airplane mode, the tv off,

music off preferably and nobody else around.

Set yourself up for success  and not for distraction.

I can't tell you how many people with ADHD I  see go to a noisy coffee shop to try to study.

Or who study in front of the tv, maybe  taking breaks from their studies from,

for Instagram and text messages along  the way and saying things like, “Oh,

I need the tv on to study, I need the  distractions of a coffee shop to study.”

No you don't.

I promise you if that's you, you're lying to yourself.

It is scientifically proven that we cannot multitask effectively as we could focus on one thing.

The truth is that you just  want to watch tv, that's okay.

But admit it to yourself and understand that if  you do, you're just gonna have to end up spending

more time studying later and kind of  relearning the stuff that was only

surface level uh deep there.

I've learned this the hard way myself.

Seriously, even just knowing that your phone is on and that you might have some shiny notifications

waiting for you if you were to look at your phone can be occupying valuable mental bandwidth

and preventing you from really devoting your focus to that work.

If you can keep your mind  concentrated on the task at hand,

then you will both learn faster and you'll  get this studying over with more quickly.

Our second tip is to use that  time when you're most focused.

Not necessarily to study but to actually  plan the things that you're going to do to study.

Really review that study plan, make an

actual written checklist and break your tasks into  as many bite-size milestones as you can think of.

I know we've talked about this same  concept in our videos on motivation

and procrastination but the same principles  work here and they're really important.

The biggest blocker of our  ability to start focusing,

that can be that overwhelming feeling that I have  so much to do and I don't know where to start.

So once you've made that checklist with the  individual items for say, reread chapter three;

download the lecture notes for chapter five; make  flashcards for chapters three, four, and five;

study those flashcards while finally doing  my laundry for the first time this month.

Whatever the tasks are of the big homework project or study project that you have in front of you,

you need that measurable milestone that is  always just in front of you, keeping you

focused on moving forward toward that next goal  and earning that next little reward for yourself.

Which brings me to the next tip, which is to match  your studying with your available attention.

And your checklist is really key here.

You need to have a list of all the different short term, shallow, and deep tasks that you need in  front of you in order to allocate appropriately.

For example, let's say you have a half  hour or more right now to devote your

attention to studying. Well if you have your book and a computer,

that's a great time to, to dive in.

You have 30 minutes, maybe you know make a bunch of flashcards in  Brainscape that you can study later.

In other words, you're using this focused  time now to organize your flashcards.

Think about what may, might make  good questions and answers so that

future you who is distracted, who only has a  couple minutes to concentrate in between shows

on tv or conversations with friends or whatever,  can easily whip out your phone, study a few

flashcards in Brainscape, rate your confidence  and how well you knew each one so Brainscape can

work its magic to help you increasingly focus on  your weaknesses and then you put your phone away.

Future you is distracted so set up all  the things that future you will need

to do those bite-size study sessions.

Whatever tools you're using. Because the better you're able to sneak  in the right study activity at the right

time in your life, the less of a chore it  will ever feel like to start studying.

The less you have to think, “Hmm,  what should I study now?” because

that occupies too much brain power,  thinking about what you want to study.

You need to be able to match the study  task to the time you have available.

Our final tip is to make sure  your other life habits aren't

sabotaging your ability to concentrate.

We've got tons of literature on brain health and habits over at the Brainscape  Academy, but the big ones that are important

for your ability to focus are: number one: get some sleep.

I know this is hard for some of us including  me, but preferably get some sleep before the

sun starts coming up again and you will  be aligned with your circadian rhythms

and able to crush the task at hand.

Number two: eat right.

The most important part of which being  to limit sugar and processed carbs.

Sorry. I love those oreos, too. I know.

Number three: drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Your brain needs those nutrients that you

just ate to circulate and good hydrated  blood is the best thing for that.

Number four: move your butt especially  things like squats or jumps or lunges or or

planks or other things that really work your  glutes and core because that's where all your

posture and your power and your  confidence comes from, is your core.

The more confident you are, the  better you're gonna be able to focus.

At the end of the day, if you have that  evolutionary gift that modern society calls ADHD,

you probably aren't meant to be  studying for your whole life anyway.

So just think of all this  studying as an inconvenient means

to a more exciting and that is your destiny.

One day you're gonna be entertaining people or or teaching or managing or creating art or  producing or starting companies or treating

patients or winning cases or designing or building  things or saving lives or leading countries or any

number of bigger things that you were made for.

If you like advice like this, please remember to subscribe to this channel.

Check out the Brainscape Academy especially all those articles that help you build your attention span

and build great habits like a warrior  and get ready to rise to your challenge.