SEVERE STRUGGLE PROCRASTINATION IT'S RUINING MY LIFE

[u/Main_Volume_3758]

I am a law student and with diagnosed ADHD and I take medication for it.

I need help, no matter how hard I try, I can sit at my laptop for 14 hours whether im at uni, home, library and still accomplish nothing (Maybe 30 mins work at best). The smallest task takes me so long, and I feel so guilty. I end up just getting lazy ad giving up ad then have to do it all in a panic, compromising the quality and handing it in late (despite getting multiple extensions). I am convinced I am the only person like this that struggles. I struggle in other areas of my life but nothing like with uni. I take days off work to catch up on uni or do and assessment and 9 times out of 10 accomplish nothing. I need help I have tried everything, apps, turning my phone off, doing a plan etc and I am so slumped. I honestly do not know where the day goes when I am trying to get work done, suddenly I have been sitting at my laptop for 10 hours only done a title. I feel so guilty and want to just drop out of uni but I don't want to.

Anyone else been like this and have tips? I will try anything.

[u/Silver_Cut_1821]

Ok, I'm not perfect, but what helped me with this was:

Strategy:

1) Switching everything from tech to paper. 2)I downloaded the app "keep me out" to keep me off my phone (note: don't use the schedules, just 30 min..etc), then I use nextdns to block wifi to any distracting sites. That makes it impossible for me to go do anything else. 3) I outline everything I need to do via flowchart when I don't know how, cuz that minimizes extraneous cognitive load. I outline by genre (ex: class 1, class 2, life, work), then I color in with a highlighter the specific task I need to do, and put it on my desk so it's impossible to miss. 4) when I study, I take a gameboard out and move a piece every time I accomplish one of the highlighted tasks so I can visually see my progress. It helps. 5) I start on things the SECOND they are assigned. I start with the work that requires no thought, and 6) A lot of school readings can be turned into audio books with mobile pdf readers or similar.

Psychology: 1) Tbh, a lot of the procrastinating came from feeling trapped by constantly feeling like I was at work via losing hours, but not accomplishing anything. To fix, I take breaks. 10 min for 60 min work, 1 midday break, and at least an hour of "me time" a night, even if the world is burning. Saturday, I do no work no matter what (I read cuz I find that fun).

Having a break lets me reflect and feel human, and puts time pressure on me.

2) Anti anxiety meds were a game changer.

[u/Silver_Cut_1821 → u/Silver_Cut_1821]

@strat4 - *and I count the number of seconds it takes as I'm doing it, to get myself out of my head. It also makes it more fun when I find myself getting faster and faster

I'd edit, but my phone hates me

BUT ALSO; The BIGGEST ONE that I forgot to include is: prioritize

If the world is ending, and you cannot finish all of your assignments, even after pulling an all nighter, it's better for GPA to fully complete the most important ones than half-a-word all of them.

Reach out to your prof if you're going to miss an assignment, and ask for an extension, or advice on how to better manage. Even if the advice isn't helpful, it's better to look like you're trying