ILFM Correspondence Course Study Advice for ADHD

Noise and ADHD

If you like a bit of academic research on ADHD and whether white noise helps with focusing or not, this 2022 survey found that students with ADHD performed better on cognitive tasks with white noise than they did with music. Students with “typical” development, on the other hand, worked best in silence.

Some of our colleagues work well with one earphone or Airpod in one ear and the other ear without, their brains being able to cope better with focusing on different noises whilst studying.

How about noise apps? You might focus better with white noise, whilst another person with ADHD might prefer music, or nature sounds, whilst others might need silence that then is broken up through, say the Pomodoro Technique (mentioned above).

You may also like to try noise-cancelling headphones or ear loops to reduce the amount of noise around you.

Are you a Night Owl?

Some research says that those with ADHD are more likely to be night owls, focusing better on night-time. From the research we have read, the conclusion is that each of us need to work out our own personal distractions and thereafter decide on the most productive time in the day to study.

There are more distractions within the daytime, so that would be a big part of understanding why those studying on a correspondence course with the ILFM, whilst working in a busy law firm and parenting too, would find it increasingly hard to focus.

Here is a classic day for those working in legal finance and law firm management:

• Emails, internal meetings, calls, texts
• Focusing on double ledgers and balancing the books
• Maintaining compliance and regulations
• Taking care of kids, partners, and family members
• Chatting with co-workers, and even those working remotely will have distractions from internal “Teams” messages or Notifications.
• Chores, meals etc

If you are a night owl and find yourself studying more at night, please be mindful not to upset your circadian rhythm as this can lead to insomnia, sluggishness throughout the day, restless leg syndrome and other symptoms.

Night owls should:

• avoid social media, especially the pointless scrolling
• remove any clutter from your study space
• set an agenda for the evening of what you will undertake and how you will achieve this
• choose a time limit meant just for studying

Procrastination

There are some magnificent quotes surrounding the subject of “procrastination”. One of our favourites is

"Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well."

Mark Twain

We don’t advise Mr Twain’s quote, but we hear him!

Procrastination isn’t just the bugbear of those with ADHD of course, but it can be stressful for those that do.

Our tips for battling your inner procrastinator when it comes to studying on an ILFM correspondence course is to:

• Organise your study guides and materials at least 10 minutes before you hit the timer with the Pomodoro Method, i.e., do not impact on the workflow by remembering to login to your workspace or remembering you needed that folder from your car. Get it all ready before you commence that chunk of time.
• Behind on a tricky tutorial? The more you put it off, the more you’ll forget what you learnt about it previously or what the tutor spoke about. It’s ok to find it hard or think it might be wrong. You have started it and can go over again. Make a note of the parts you don’t understand and email your tutor.
• Procrastination often is the time management’s demon. Remember that there are many ways to get started:
  • Make your correspondence course a priority, you or your law firm have invested in this course, because you are worth it, and so is your career!
  • Make use of forums and colleagues who are studying the same course or have studied the course.
  • Make a study plan if you don’t have one supplied. The ILFM’s Diploma Course, for example gives a study plan after Tutorial 3 when the tutor can assess how you are doing, so it’s more personalised.
  • Put away your phone unless you are using it for noise (see above), no to social media and scrolling.
  • If you have a partner and home, ask them to support you whilst you stay focused, especially if you have children.
  • If you are a single parent, and working flat out, be gentle on yourself. Do not burn out because you will resent it and then never put aside time to study. Work out chunks of time when you know your child/children will be in bed, or at the weekend, maybe have an activity.
  • Ask for help! Our tutors at the ILFM are there for you, they want you to progress and do well. If they don’t know you have ADHD, please tell them as they can help put a study plan in place for you.
• Reward yourself when you have studied and felt focused. The important thing about ILFM correspondence courses is that they are flexible with exceptional time frames to suit the lives of working professionals, but with flexibility comes putting off! So do schedule and use a diary of work BUT make sure you enjoy those dog walks, gym sessions, night out with friends or time with family.

Make Your Own Practice Papers

If study materials are heavy with text and it’s hard to keep focused on the constant reading, why not put together a practice test of your own? Knowing which your best way of learning is key too, here are the main four:

1. Visual
2. Auditory
3. Written
4. Kinaesthetic

It won’t surprise you that many with ADHD aren’t fans of the written/reading way of learning. The majority of ADHD students we know are visual (which is why this year we will be integrating our tutorial written guides into video format along with infographics).

Although someone with ADHD might prefer listening to music or their choice of noise whilst studying, many prefer not to learn by listening. Kinaesthetic seems like the perfect way to learn for those easily distracted and fidgety, however, legal finance courses would be hard to set up via a correspondence course in this learning style.

Ultimately, some of us do not know we have ADHD, but reading the above might just help you concentrate with your studies because you and your colleagues want you to do well! Be driven, stay positive and find ways that help you stay focused and be alert to when you get distracted.

If you have any questions about the ILFM’s correspondence courses, please do get in touch with our Training & Qualifications Manager via email: helen@ilfm.org.uk

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We hope this blog has been of some use!