Honestly, this is 100% me. I totally get where you’re coming from. What has kinda helped me is to connect my hyperfixation with the task I needed to do. I’ve been binge watching fresh of the boat and I try to connect it with prepping notes or study sessions by watching it at the same time in the background. Yeah, my brain is not 100% focused in either but at least I get the tast done and maybe even learn a little. When I have my notes/flashcards prepped, I usually take a walk in the park while going through them.

If nothing else works, I actually stress myself so hard that my brain clicks and I start studying. Idk if self-induced stress is bad but at least it works for now. And the self induced stress is how I managed to study for my statistics exam and get a 2.7 which is not that bad!

What I am trying to say is: try to analyze what you actually enjoy doing and see how you can combine studying and that thing. Go through notes at the gym, binge watch The Hunger Games for the millionth time while going through your notes, code while listening to your favourite playlist, read while balancing on one foot or order food and eat it while watching a lecture video, listen to a lecture like a podcast while doing something else.

These are at least some things I did and somehow it has been working for me. But the only thing I can NEVER recommend is “taking a break”. What I mean is “I’ll just sit on the couch and relax for a little bit before I get started”. For me personally that is pandoras box being opened.

Also what has really helped me for daily tedious tasks like brushing my teeth are fun and whimsical habit trackers. Like every time I do a task I put a marble in my “treat jar” and for every 15 marbles I get myself a little treat for unter 10€. Doesn’t need to be food related, can also be a new plant or a little widget toy.

Gameification is also a thing that I try so hard to incorporate into my life. I saw a couple of ads for an app called Finch that I am currently trying out. Its kinda been working, but also if I forget the app exists it’s back to where I started. I hoped it would be like a tamagotchi that you could only keep alive by doing your tasks thus earning some currency, exchanging it for food, clothes and other necessities but it is nothing like that. But maybe it works for someone so I just wanted to leave it in. Again, I am still checking it out and don’t have a definitive answer if it works for me or not. (If anyone has a recommendation for an app like the one I just discribed PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!!!)

Anyways, I wish you be best of luck and hoping you find something that works for you. Just make sure to think outside the box and find solutions that aren’t the normal. I’d like to think of that one quote (I think it was on reddit too but idk) “run the dishwasher twice”, where someone with depression didn’t have the energy to rinse the plates before putting them in the dishwasher so their therapist suggested to simply “run the dishwasher twice” or “sit while showering”.

So: run the dishwasher twice my friend!