Here are a few articles from the website that might help:

This article is geared toward little kids, but it might provide some strategies and it addresses some of the issues you mention: Homework without Tears

Here are some articles geared toward college students:

College Survival Guide

Organization Help for ADHD College Students

ADHD Freshman: Making the Grade

I hope this helps, Dena

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I doubt that it's motivation that you're lacking. I've found that using pressure or anxiety to get things done just doesn't work long-term. It may be that your meds need to be evaluated, or perhaps an ADHD coach would be helpful.

In my personal experience, lack of motivation either meant my meds weren't working or something else, like anxiety or stress, needed to be addressed.

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First is to find away to motivate yourself to do the things you have to do because you have to do them. And “motivation” rarely has anything to do with it. It’s a check list. You have certain classes you have to take in order to move on to the classes you want to take. No matter what we do in life, work, school, home or play there are always be those things you just have to do. Sometimes, they are interesting, most of the time they are mundain. You just accept it. That is where checklists, and calendars, and self discipline skills are very helpful. Plan your day do a little toward your project each day, set goals, that kind of thing. You are right anxiety is not a good long term motivator it’s not really a good short term motivator either.

Second, I would ask you, What motivates you? What are you interested in? What is your passion? ADD/ADHD or not that is ultimately what is important for your long term success.

I was diagnosed when I was seven during a time when ADD and ADHD didn’t have a name. I was taken off medication in the beginning of junior high because “I should be cured by now”. I know that feeling of constantly trying your hardest so your teachers, family and friend would be proud. I know that feeling when trying your hardest isn’t good enough. Nobody believed I’d graduate high school let alone college. So my thought was if I’m not going to college then why bother? So, here is what helped me.

1. I met someone who asked me those questions. I was about your age. I had no idea how to answer. This person said “Well, start looking. Try things, explore, find out what you are interested in. You may start something and decide to change your mind, that’s okay.” It took me several years to “focus” on one area of interest. I have the attention span of a gnat and I’m a very curious person so everything looked interesting. So, I am passing that question on to you to think about. “What motivates you?” "What is you passion"

2. Once I found what I wanted to do, or more like an area I wanted to pursue then the motivation came from me. I wasn’t doing it to please anyone. I wasn’t doing it to prove anything to anybody. I was doing it for myself. That is where the motivation to follow the path and do the tasks comes from. Again, even this path is filled items from point one (checklist, mudain, do because you have to, etc) but it makes those tasks easier if you have a goal in mind.

3. Then you enlist help. Make sure your meds are working, make sure you use your organization tools EVERYDAY, EAT HEALTHY, GET ENOUGH SLEEP. You enlist the help of the services offered at your school, use study groups, tutors, maybe peer coaching, use technology (but keep it simple). Enlist the help of your friends and family. Just by the fact you have joined this sight and asked the question shows you are of seeking mind and willing to do the work necessary. Keep searching, you will reach your goals.

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That's a great post Peepul. I am going to print it for myself.

As a side note, I've found that my rewards are not what most people would consider rewards. Until I realized that the opportunity to clean, organize, cook or do other work could be a reward itself I was rewarding myself with typical rewards that didn't work. Giving myself permission serves as a great reward.

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I haven't started college yet... I'll start @UCSD in September. I have struggled with ADD though for as long as I can remember, I was diagnosed in the 3rd grade and have been medicated ever since. Although the medication helps, it does not cure the disability.

In High-school, I tried to hold myself to the academic standards of everyone else [even if I had my brain working against me]. I constantly reminded myself "I have ADD, it does NOT have me!"... eventually though, it became increasingly difficult for me to concentrate [my friends had no dreams or ambitions and had grades that were WAY lower than mine] I started to slip and decided I needed a fresh start - I needed change. I began to hang out with the top kids in the school and studied with them from time to time. They were my support system and helped me to push myself further than I had ever imagined possible.

The harder I pushed myself, the more gratifying the results [eventually... you might feel like you are grasping in the dark at first though]. I found that if I started my school work early [during whatever free time I had at the end of classes, during my photography class, before school, etc.] The more effective I was [after all my medication was working in me at its peak in the day]. Highlighters and flash cards saved my life and I am proud to say I was the only person in my school to have a learning disability and graduate in the Valedictorian Circle. :)

I know I haven't been to college yet but I do identify with your struggles. Motivation needs to come from within but inspiration is the key to starting [perhaps with a new medication too].

Short term goals [as well as long ones], good friends, and a study area conducive to my needs is how I survived these past four years. The next 4 years I'll probably have to kick it up a step though.

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