Why Study Tips Alone Won’t Fix Deeper Struggles with ADHD

When people come to me for coaching, they often arrive with a sense of urgency. “I just need a few tips,” they say. “Something to help me stop procrastinating,” or “Maybe if I had the right calendar system, I’d finally get things done.” And I understand. I've been there myself, convinced that if I just found the perfect method, everything would fall into place.

But after working with numerous clients, especially those with ADHD, I’ve come to realize that what looks like a simple productivity issue on the surface often has much deeper roots. That chronic procrastination? The inability to get started even when we care deeply about the outcome? The shame that creeps in after yet another unproductive day? These aren’t just quirks or bad habits. They’re signals from a nervous system that’s overwhelmed, or a brain that’s wired a little differently.

People with ADHD often feel like they’re fighting an invisible battle. They want to focus, but their attention slips away the moment they sit down. They care deeply about their goals, but their brain resists starting, especially when a task feels too big or too boring. And then there’s the emotional weight: the guilt, the frustration, the fear of letting others down.

One conversation with a client really brought this home for me. She told me, with tears in her eyes, that she used to be an excellent student until she started university, when everything started to unravel. She thought she just needed better time management. But as we talked, it became clear that she was suffering from insomnia, depression, and social anxiety. She was feeling completely overwhelmed, almost unable to function. It turned out that what she really needed was permission to stop trying to do it all: taking too many classes, getting into her favorite sorority, working out every day to make the swim team, shopping for and cooking healthy meals, etc. Once we started talking about her struggles on a deeper level, she became more and more aware of what was actually going on beneath the surface.

In fact, I often see my clients dealing with those hidden hurdles above: anxiety that makes it impossible to settle, depression that drains motivation, perfectionism that paralyzes. For many, the act of studying is less about discipline and more about survival. They’re already carrying so much, and then we expect them to push harder, focus better, be more productive.

It doesn’t work that way. And it’s not a lack of willpower. It’s a lack of support, of understanding, of tools that actually meet people where they are.

Perfectionism + ADHD = Paralysis

Take perfectionism as an example. Perfectionism is a hidden struggle for many ADHDers. Because their brain doesn’t always cooperate the way they want it to, they often feel like they’re falling short. To cope, they set very high standards for themselves, believing that they need to be perfect to compensate.

But perfectionism often leads to procrastination. If you’re afraid your work won’t be good enough, it’s safer not to start at all. This creates a vicious cycle of shame and avoidance.

So when a client comes to me saying, “I just need a better routine,” we pause. We explore: What are you afraid will happen if you get it wrong? Where did that fear start? It’s only through understanding these patterns that meaningful change becomes possible.

What actually helps

What does help - at least in my experience and in the stories clients share - is starting with compassion. Instead of asking, “Why can’t I just do this?” we begin to ask, “What’s getting in my way and how can I work with it, not against it?” Sometimes that means creating new routines that include rest, movement, and breaks for emotional regulation. Sometimes it’s letting go of our fantasy of a perfectly productive day and learning to recognize small wins instead.

I think one of the most healing moments in a coaching relationship is when someone realizes they’re not broken. That their struggles make sense. That their brain isn’t flawed. It just needs a different kind of support. I’ve seen people transform not because they mastered a new strategy, but because they finally stopped fighting themselves.

Final thoughts

Productivity issues aren’t always about willpower or discipline. They’re often about simply not having the right kind of support.

It’s hard work. And it often requires more than a few study tips. But I truly believe that with the right support - whether that’s a coach, a therapist, or a supportive community - change is possible. Real, sustainable change that honors who we are, not who we think we should be.

If we’ve tried every planner, app, or tip out there and still feel stuck, it doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It probably means our struggles run deeper and that’s not a flaw. That’s human.

We can give ourselves permission to go deeper. We can ask not just how to study better, but why it feels so hard right now. Then we start there.

We don’t need to be “fixed.” We need tools that respect who we are.

And when those tools are grounded in understanding, self-compassion, and support, real transformation becomes possible.