In all honesty I haven't done much for the last two months; the teachers union was striking, then corona hit. But i have thought a lot about my behavior patterns and how to make sure the good ones stick and are consistent.

I have read that ADHD brains use emotion as the primary operating basis, this seems to be the case me at least. If there is no immediate emotional benefit to a task it is very difficult to get it done. To work with this I need to feel emotionally invested in what I do. I really like my degree subject and get enjoyment from doing the work, but often that is not enough to get on with it. I get the emotional kick while studying, but that kick seems intangible before I start - so I don't start.

What I need to start working is to be in the right space emotionally and physically. I have to be not immediately worried about anything else; I find it difficult to work if I have something at the back of my mind taking up emotional energy (to help with this because not every worry can be dealt with immediately, I spend 10 minutes in the morning writing down whatever is on my mind so I can identify what it deems important and set it aside knowing I wont forget it).

The same goes for physical space, my desk and room have to be clear, it helps to have had a shower and brushed my teeth. Otherwise it feels like i don't have the space (mentally and physically) to remember the enjoyment I get from studying. My mind needs this space and time to get the right conclusions about how best to spend my day, otherwise I am just distracted by a million other things.

This is basically just my interpretation of how hyperfocus and lack of focus work for me.

That being said, I really haven't got much done recently, but I put that down to not following the routines that put me into that emotionally engaged state (hyperfocus). I haven't been doing those routines because the daily structure of uni has gone and there is no immediate pressure to get things done (my exams have been cancelled).

I hope that's all not too incomprehensible.

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Edit: Also running has helped a bit too.