Make It Interesting!
The ADHD brain thrives when engaged in a highly interesting task. It is easier to focus, and impairments almost melt away. If you would like to stay engaged with the task at hand, make it interesting!
What Does “Interest” Mean?
First, let’s define what interest means. Interest, as used in this blog post, is anything that excites and engages the brain. This can be positive or negative.
A positive would be working on a school project on a topic that interests the student. For example, I loved making YouTube videos when I was in junior high and high school. Anytime a teacher assigned a project where making a video was an option, I leaped at the opportunity to make a video. I could be making a video of a section of a book I hated, and I would still be interested in the project. There were at least two times where I shot and edited a video for a group of students in another class.
An example of negative interest is when a person will subconsciously do something to make things harder or difficult. A prime example of this is procrastinating until the last minute to do an assignment. Sometimes, people with ADHD will say or do things to anger others without thinking. The ADHD brain craves stimulation, and drama can be stimulating. When making tasks interesting, it is imperative to do so in a positive, healthy way.
How Do You Make it Interesting?
Yes, you can focus better on an interesting subject, but how do you make boring subjects interesting? One way is to pair it with another interesting activity. For example, when my kitchen is a mess, I will watch TV while cleaning up my kitchen, preferably something fun and/or exciting. When I exercise, I watch a TV show I love but only watch while exercising. The key to making something interesting is not necessarily the task itself but the environment in which it is done.