Time Management Tips for Tutors to Help Students.
Why can time management be so challenging?
Time management is one of the most common challenges faced by students with and without ADHD – it is a skill that must be practiced and refined over time. Writing down deadlines and test dates is only the first step – what follows is building a time management system unique to your lifestyle, strengths, and weaknesses. Struggling with time management has a number of consequences and often a source of stress and/or anxiety. This can also lead to feelings of low self-esteem, guilt, or shame related to declining academic performance. Whether a student has ADHD or not, a positive, compassionate environment, with patience for some trial and error, is key for supporting long-term success.
Importantly, struggling with time management is distinct from avoiding tasks out of disinterest or lack of care. Instead, people who struggle with time management have yet to solidify a set of skills, which is a normal part of development for a growing brain.
Time Management Challenges in ADHD:
Students with ADHD often experience specific time management difficulties due to how their brains process time, tasks, and priorities. Here are some common challenges:
Time Blindness:
The ADHD brain has difficulty sensing the passage of time, leading to underestimating or overestimating how long tasks will take.
Difficulty Prioritizing:
Determining which task to tackle first can feel overwhelming, leading to avoidance or bouncing between multiple tasks without completing them.
Trouble Transitioning Between Tasks:
Shifting from one activity to another—especially from an enjoyable one to a necessary one—can be tough.
Procrastination and Hyperfocus:
Tasks may be postponed until the last minute, or, conversely, students may become so absorbed in one task that they lose track of others.
Accountability and Motivation:
A habit takes about 3 weeks to form, and practicing a habit consistently turns it into a skill. There is no single time management system that works for everyone, but the following evidence-based tools can help students with ADHD develop better time management habits:
Body Doubling:
For some of your studying sessions, choose someone who you know can stay focused well and work alongside them. Doing this, even silently, can increase motivation and ability to regulate attention.
Accountability Partners:
Having a friend, family member, or tutor check in on progress encourages students to stay on track (Blog on Agenda-Use and Deadline Tracking).
The Pomodoro Technique:
This method involves working in focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by short breaks.
Prioritizing Tasks:
The Urgency-Importance Matrix (Eisenhower Matrix): This method helps students categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, making it easier to decide what needs to be done first and reducing feelings of overwhelm.
Create a simple priority grid with four sections: urgent/important (first priority), important/not urgent (schedule these), urgent/not important (delegate these or save for later), and neither urgent nor important (don’t do these).
Refer to course outlines and determine the weight of the coursework items; indicate heavily weighted items as more important than lower weighted items.
If a student is behind in a course, set firm and realistic goals based on the urgency and importance matrix. If a student has a missed assignment worth 5% of their grade, and a deadline nearing for an item worth 20%, prioritize the latter.
Study Tips to Boost Productivity:
Many students with ADHD struggle with studying effectively, often feeling unprepared for exams or lacking confidence in their study skills. The following evidence-based strategies combine insights from learning, memory, and motivation research:
Spaced Repetition:
Instead of cramming, students review information at gradually increasing intervals to reinforce learning.
Example of Spaced Repetition in Action
Scenario: Sarah has a biology test in two weeks. Instead of cramming the night before, she uses spaced repetition to retain information more effectively.
Day 1: (First Exposure)
- Reads and highlights key points from her notes.
- Writes down 10 key terms and definitions on flashcards.
- Tests herself once.
Day 2: (First Review)
- Quickly reviews the flashcards and self-tests.
- Writes a short summary of a key concept from memory before checking her notes.
Day 4: (Second Review)
- Self-tests again, but only on the flashcards she got wrong last time.
- Practices active recall by explaining a concept out loud.
Day 7: (Third Review)
- Takes a short, self-made quiz covering the material.
- Checks her notes only if needed.
Day 10: (Final Review Before the Test)
- Runs through all her flashcards.
- Writes down key points she still struggles with.
- Does one final practice test.
Active Recall:
Shorter periods of engaging with material deeply, like in active recall methods, is more effective than studying passively for hours. Passive studying, like rereading notes or a video, minimally engages the brain’s long term memory circuits. In contrast, active recall involves deeply engaging with material, challenging the brain to retrieve information, with minimal or no cues. Used with spaced repetition these reinforce optimal learning and memory processes.
Active Recall Examples:
The Feynman Technique: If you are tired of writing or typing, or unsure if you truly understand a concept, try teaching it to someone else. You can also use voice memo applications to record yourself, this way you can listen back and do quick-study sessions on the go, such as on a walk or commute.
The Blurt Method: Writing down everything one remembers about a topic before checking notes helps identify knowledge gaps.
Self-Testing: Regularly quizzing oneself strengthens memory and recall. Free online programs like Quizlet and Anki are ideal for self-testing with flashcards and practice questions, as well as tracking studying progress.
Emphasizing Rewards Over Punishment:
ADHD brains respond more positively to rewards and incentives than to negative consequences. Rather than punishing missed deadlines, focus on reinforcing good habits through positive reinforcement.
Set small, frequent rewards for task completion (e.g., a break, a snack, or screen time).
Celebrate progress, not perfection—acknowledge small wins along the way.
Final Thoughts:
Time management is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. For students with ADHD, the key is finding the right strategies and systems that work for them while maintaining a supportive and encouraging environment. By leveraging effective tools, building productive habits, and emphasizing positive reinforcement, students can develop stronger time management skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Hi! I’m Gabrielle Lau, but feel free to call me Gabby. I am delighted to join the Totally Tutors team as a guest writer.
My educational journey has been filled with challenges that have shaped my passion for learning and advocacy. Growing up I had a complicated relationship with school – despite my love for learning, I struggled to keep up and feel prepared, particularly as expectations and the business of life increased. My diagnosis of ADHD Combined Type in 8th grade provided clarity and became a turning point in my life.
Embracing this diagnosis, I pursued a holistic treatment approach that included medication, therapy, and organizational coaching. This fostered confidence and acceptance for my neurodivergent identity.. Now, at 22, as I approach the completion of my Bachelor of Science in Neuropsychology, I am eager to support others on their journeys similar to mine.
My goal is to highlight important ADHD research and provide support for the well-being and success of students and their families. I firmly believe that understanding our brains enables us to navigate challenges and leverage our strengths. I look forward to sharing valuable research insights to inspire and empower positive educational journeys!
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