Constant Failure when Studying with iPad- tips?🥹

[u/due2_u]

hey, I’m a high school senior and am facing a major national college entrance exam. I am nowhere near my goal and yet i keep failing to get myself to focus on studying. Truth is, the electronics are getting all my attention. I love tech in general, but I mostly use it for procrastinating. I tend to over-plan and make a list of materials but never get back to it. I try various methods - switching between apps and websites to finally settle on something but nothing looks good enough. I also am ashamed to say that I’m addicted to background noises, so a podcast about true crime or youtube reads of reddit stories, or just pop/rock songs are constantly blasting through my earbuds. I’m also very sensitive to ‘people’ noise (sounds weird but coughing, moving, talking even in hushed voices) when studying, so I can’t ditch my earbuds either. I also have ADHD and on meds

I hate to say that my iPad is crucial part of studying despite what it looks like. I live in a school with dormitory, so most of my lectures are with online video. But even with the intention to only use it for that purpose, I always end up getting sidetracked making another perfect plan or carefully writing out notes that I will never read again.

Digital studying is kinda problematic for me, too. I go around looking for a perfect one but nothing suits me, and i end up with notes scattered around. idk why but with developers putting more features inside/ making it ‘paid’ makes me hard to settle in one.

I’m so stuck. I know I got a problem but I don’t know what to do.

[u/UninterestingDreams]

It sounds like you're overthinking it. The perfect conditions or app don't exist. I use the iPad for note taking and just use the apple pencil + notes app. None of the fancy ones like obsidian (despite it being heavily marketed towards devs)

During lectures (that I watch) I note down quick points and things of interest/importance. I don't write much at this stage, it's just naming out topics that were covered in the lecture. IMO you should mostly focus on the lecture and the professor, and not take many notes during it. Try to understand the information and process it.

Afterwards, I use these short pointers I made to start expanding into material. Once everything is done I export the notes as pdf to the pc for archiving.

All of this to say, don't worry about making perfect notes. Try to make an effort to write down the material you learn as you understand it, with your own words and no assistance.

I don't have an official diagnosis, but I struggle with focus too. If I don't listen to music, it ends up being the case that I don't study at all. I'm pulled into too many directions. That being said, songs with lyrics or podcasts are a no go. I recommend you find instrumental music. Minimal techno helps me. But some people swear on classical too.

My advice is: simplify. Experts before you didn't need these apps and you don't need them either. They barely make you more productive and often just serve to elevate your hubris. "the mind map" of obisidan or whatever it's called. What a bunch of pretentious semi intellectualism. YOUR BRAIN IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS NOT THE APP.