Student Blog: How to Get It Done!

This month, I am supposed to write about how I manage my workload. I’ve thought a lot about how to write this article. As someone who went through most of their life with undiagnosed ADHD, this has never been my strong suit. I fall behind a lot when things get tough. If it hadn’t been for the kindness and leniency of my professors, I may not have gotten through it as easily as I did. However, that means that what does actually help me is even more important.

The first thing that makes managing work easier is taking my ADHD medication. When I first got my prescription, it felt like the floodgates of productivity had been opened. I was able to motivate myself and suddenly get work done not just on time, but before the deadline, which is something I’d only been able to do a handful of times before in my entire life.

My next tool is going to therapy. I happen to have the world’s greatest therapist, and they help me plan out my week when things get tough so that every task is accounted for. That brings me to my third tool, which is my calendar app. Once my therapist and I have figured out when I’m gonna get everything done, I put them into my calendar on my phone. I always have my phone with me, so it’s easy to check when I’m going to do what and to stay organized. Make sure you also schedule yourself downtime and time for self-care, so you don’t get burnt out.

Going another step farther on my phone brings me to my fourth tool, my reminder app. If there’s something I need to remember to bring for a class or in order to do a task, I put it in my reminder app so that I get a notification that tells me to grab it before I leave. This can help with remembering props or dance shoes, or even to put a book in my backpack. My fifth tool is giving yourself little rewards to motivate yourself to do a task. The less I want to do a task, the bigger the reward I schedule for myself. This may sound expensive, but these rewards don’t have to be something you buy for yourself. You can reward yourself by watching an episode of your favorite TV show or spending time with a friend. My favorite reward is taking a nap after a big project.

My penultimate tip is to communicate with those around you. If there’s just no way you will be able to do an assignment on time, talk to whoever gave you that assignment in advance to see what you can work out. Ask friends or family members for help on your assignment or just to be a body double so you can get things done. Lastly, remember to take care of yourself first, because if you’re not doing well it will be even harder to do assignments or tasks outside of the bare minimum. 

Sending you lots of love and luck with your tasks!