Easily Distracted? Here are a few tips to cope with ADHD symptoms

Distraction – or lack of attention – is one of the common and obvious symptoms of ADHD. In fact, this inability to focus is usually one of the ways that ADHD is identified in kids.

When ADHD children can’t focus, their mind wanders continuously, flitting from object to object. It can be an open window, a bird chirping, music from a radio, bright color on someone’s shirt, a conversation in the other room, or a ray of light or shadow in front of them.

Distraction occurs for a variety of reasons. The major cause is that the physical wiring (chemicals carrying electrical signals to and from the brain) of the ADHD brain is different from the average brain. Hence, ADHD children are less able to distinguish between what is relevant (to listen to the teacher) and what is irrelevant (the sound of birds chirping outside the class).

ADHD treatment help alleviates this problem. But, in order to reduce distractions in school or at home so that you can study properly, you will need to adapt a few strategies and changes in your routine. Here are a few ways to prevent distraction. Try them:

• Be organized: Organization leads to clear thoughts that prevent distraction. If your desk, books, papers, and other useful items are organized, your thoughts will be more structured and clear. For example, if you are making a science project and need multiple objects to finish it, neatly lay all the items in a regular, grid-like fashion on the table. During tests, before you answer any question, organize your thoughts first and create an outline of what points you want to cover rather than just jump in. You can use notes to remember tasks and stick it onto the wall of your room.

Also Read: 10 ways to deal with ADHD at home

• Create a distraction-free environment: For ADHD children, it is important to create an environment that is simple and soothing. Do not create a background with bright colors, pictures and decorations in your home. Encourage your child to make the study space interesting by asking their opinion for designing it.
• Quiet rooms/ light music for more focus: Every ADHD mind is wired a little bit differently, so for one child music may help them focus and study while another may need to sit in a quiet room to study and focus. Find out what works best for the child!
• Refuel your brain with short breaks: It’s obvious to feel exhausted after a week’s preparation for exams! But, for ADHD children, it’s even more difficult to concentrate on a task for more than an hour or so. Being tired distracts them more and hence their concentration levels go down. So, break down your work into smaller, more manageable chunks. You can even set a timer for 45 minutes of work followed by a 15-minute break (can be used to listen music, have a snack, etc.)

Also Read: How does homeopathy work for ADHD?

• Find a routine or pattern of study: Routines are good for your body as well as for your mind. Just as it’s good to have a routine bedtime for adequate sleep, it’s good to have a routine for study. Routine reinforce what you’re trying to do. If you set up a pattern, you’re training your mind to think, “Okay, now I am getting ready to study.”
• Take your medicine: It is very important to take ADHD treatment. Appropriate ADHD treatment helps students remain focused and improves their overall quality of life. You can take help of homeopathy for ADHD. Homeopathy believes in individualized treatment for ADHD, wherein healing is targeted at the entire child, not just at a specific disorder, or illness. It takes into account the unique, distinctive nature and characteristics of each child, no less, and prescribes treatment accordingly.

To know more about ADHD in children, watch this video by Dr. Mukesh Batra, Padma Shri recipient (Homeopathy) and Founder - Dr. Batra’s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAfH4C2syi8