Study Skills for Neurodivergent Students

Identify distractors: Minimise noise, clutter, and notifications. Consider noise-cancelling headphones or white noise machines for auditory sensitivity.

Try fidget tools: Fidgeting can help channel energy and improve focus. Explore fidget spinners, stress balls, or other tactile objects.

Movement breaks: Schedule short bursts of physical activity (star jumps, stretching) to refocus and release energy.

Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between to maintain attention and avoid burnout.

Many of the tools and apps below are available free from DSA.

Time Management & Focus:

• Focus Keeper: Pomodoro timer app with customisable intervals and break notifications, promoting focused work sprints.
• Forest: Focus app that uses a virtual tree-growing mechanic, where distractions lead to losing your "forest."
• Freedom: Blocks distracting websites and apps on all your devices, promoting digital detox and focused work.
• Cold Turkey Blocker: Powerful website and app blocker with scheduling options, perfect for blocking specific distractions at set times.
• Serene: Customisable focus app with ambient sounds, white noise, and nature sounds to aid concentration.

Organisation & Planning:

• My Study Life: Organise classes, schedules, and assignments, set reminders, and track progress towards goals, reducing overwhelm.
• Todoist: Task management app with robust features like recurring tasks, projects, and priority levels, keeping you organised and on track.
• Trello: Visual collaboration tool with boards, lists, and cards, ideal for visualising tasks and deadlines.
• Evernote: Capture notes, organise research, and access information across devices, streamlining information management.

Engagement & Movement:

• Stand Desk Converter: Allows you to stand while working, promoting movement and potentially improving focus.
• Fidget Toys: Tactile fidget tools can help manage restlessness and improve focus for some individuals.
• Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Block out distracting sounds and create a calmer work environment.
• Short Activity Breaks: Integrate short bursts of movement like star jumps or stretches into your study routine to refresh the mind.

Mindfulness & Relaxation:

• Headspace: Guided meditation app with various courses and exercises to reduce stress and improve focus.
• Calm: Offers guided meditations, sleep stories, and breathing exercises to promote relaxation and mindfulness.
• Insight Timer: Meditation app with a large library of free guided meditations and a timer for personal practice.
• Nature Soundscapes: Apps or websites with calming nature sounds like rain, waves, or forest sounds can create a peaceful environment.

Assistive Technology:

• NaturalReader: Text-to-speech tool for reading documents aloud, helpful for auditory learners or those with reading difficulties.
• Immersive Reader: Built-in tool in Microsoft Edge and OneNote, providing dyslexia-friendly reading features and focus options.
• Balabolka: Text-to-speech tool that can read from several document formats and export to many audio formats.