~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsletter for College Students with AD/HD
Fall Quarter - New Beginnings
September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- How To Make Yourself Study
-- Ideas for Exercise: A Crucial Part of College Life
-- Book of the Quarter and a Service to Help You

 

Greetings!

I've written this newsletter to help college students experience a great year. Whether you're a nervous freshman or a more seasoned student, I hope you find lots of tips, ideas, and encouragement to help you along the way. Since academics aren't 100% of your life, and a number of you are living away from home, every issue will also include a section on daily living.

A JOKE FOR YOU: "I think I've forgotten this before. Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time." Steven Wright

 

 

How To Make Yourself Study
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you were in high school, your parents or teachers may have provided the structure you needed to study. Your parents reminded (even bugged) you to work and your teachers noticed if you didn't turn something in or were unprepared for a class discussion. In college, you're expected to keep up with readings on your own, be prepared for infrequent and important tests, and manage your own progress in completing papers or long term projects. In order to meet these demands, it's essential that you develop a plan for studying. The bare basics for a plan are knowing what you need to do, how much time it will take, when you will do it, where you will do it, and what is required to get it done. Another important aspect of planning is figuring out your study preferences. Homework will be much less of an effort if you become aware of how you like to study, and then allow yourself whatever environment or situation you choose.

Study preferences are unique to each individual and what works for your roommate may not work for you. Figuring it out is a process of self-observation and trial and error. Here are some self-coaching questions to ask yourself: What time of day or night is best for studying? How long can I read or work without losing focus? What kind of environment do I need? Do I learn best alone or with other people? Should I go back home to study or work at the library? How often should I take breaks and how long? What should I do on my breaks? What external structures will work best to remind me of what I need to do? (asking friends to help keep me on track, using a pda or cell phone to cue me, etc.) Do I need to sit at a desk or table or lie on my bed? Do I need noise or music to concentrate or total silence? Sometimes it helps to write down the answers so you won't forget. If you find yourself frustrated or stuck, it might be because you aren't studying in the way that works best for you.

 

Ideas for Exercise: A Crucial Part of College Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For good health and peace of mind, you have to find time to exercise at least three times a week. Aerobic exercise is great for your brain and your body. It increases the levels of neurotransmitters that provide mood stability, focus, and calmness. What more can a college student need?

If you enjoy sports, you could join a team. If you're non-competitive, most colleges have a gym where you can participate in classes or work out on the equipment. Is there a pool on your campus? Yoga classes are always popular and work great to relieve stress. Can you ride your bike to class? Other options that can increase your heart rate and relax you at the same time are the hard and soft martial arts. Can you find a teacher of Kung Fu, Karate, Tai Chi, Aikido, or Qigong? Even short sessions of exercise like jumping rope, running in place, or taking a fast walk have been shown to reduce stress. No excuses! Get on that treadmill NOW. (And then eat some cookies to reward yourself!)

 

Book of the Quarter and a Service to Help You
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The book for this quarter's newsletter is called: Learning Outside the Lines: Two Ivy League Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD Give You The Tools for Academic Success and Educational Revolution by Jonathan Mooney and David Cole. It's a wonderful book - funny, wise, and full of ideas about how to make it through college in spite of learning disabilities and/or ADHD. Some topics are: Beating the Exam Game, Less Reading, More A's, and Cram Like a Pro. The book was written by two "academic failures" who ended up graduating at the top of their class. You can find it used for under $5.00 at Amazon - either at their website or mine: www.addstudentcoaching.com

If you find that self-coaching is not so easy and you need more support, I'd be happy to talk to you and/or your parents about my coaching services. You could look at the website again, www.addstudentcoaching.com to read about coaching for college kids. You'll learn about me, what coaching is like, and how it can help. I offer a free consultation either in person or over the phone to discuss the possibilities. Although I'm located in Seattle, I do work with college students all over the country. (I pay for all long distance charges.) If you'd like to talk, you can either call me at (206) 579-8274 or email me: addfamilycoaching@gmail.com. I hope you have a great fall quarter!

 


Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone: (206) 579-8274
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~