7 Powerful Way to Tackle Revision Procrastination: Emotional Anchoring with Simon’s Story
Simon had a rather strong opinion about revision: he’d rather hoover behind the fridge.
On paper, Simon was bright. In practice, he was often found building underground railways in Minecraft while his revision timetable sat untouched, judging him from a safe distance.
Every time he tried to revise, something more appealing popped up:
- The cat looked like it needed emotional support.
- The bathroom tiles were practically begging for a wipe-down.
- The toaster had never looked so fascinating.
Now, with exams looming like a disapproving relative at a wedding, Simon felt paralysed. The more pressure he felt, the harder it was to start. And the harder it was to start, the more pressure he felt. You see the problem.
The Turning Point
One Thursday afternoon, Simon had a call with his ADHD coach — a calm, upbeat fellow who listened closely and then said:
“What if you just did half a paper?”
“Half?” said Simon. “Is that even legal?”
“Not only legal,” said the coach. “It’s smart.”
The Strategy: Break It. Anchor It. Repeat.
Simon was introduced to a deceptively simple idea: emotional anchoring — linking small wins to real, internal rewards so your brain starts associating revision with good feelings, not dread.
Here’s what Simon tried, and how it started to change things.
🧩 Step 1: Break It Down
Rather than attempting a mammoth two-hour paper, Simon booked just one half into his diary.
- Not a floating idea.
- A proper appointment, like seeing a mate:
“5pm–6pm, Monday – Paper 1, Section A.”
It took the pressure off. Suddenly, revision didn’t feel impossible. It was just the first half of something he could handle.
🎉 Step 2: Celebrate Progress
When he finished, Simon didn’t minimise it. He celebrated it.
- Ticked it off on his calendar
- Played his favourite tune
- Said (to no one in particular): “That’s a win.”
This anchored the act of revision to positive emotion. Not guilt. Not panic. But a real, inner sense of achievement.
And, crucially, it made it easier to start the next session.
☕ Step 3: Take Proper Breaks
Simon learned that breaks should be refreshing, not immersive.
Bad break idea:
- 30 minutes down a TikTok rabbit hole
- A “quick” Minecraft build that turned into an hour-long architectural project
Good break idea:
- A walk to the park
- Stretching on the stairs
- Making a coffee downstairs and actually enjoying it
No phones. Just time to move, breathe, and reset.
And while on the break, he’d visualise nailing the next task. What it felt like to write a strong answer. What it felt like to walk into the exam with confidence. That feeling became the reward he was working towards — not just a grade, but a sense of control.
🧠 Step 4: Use Your Brain’s Wiring — Not Someone Else’s
At some point, Simon confessed something: “I just can’t revise like everyone else.”
And that was the moment the lightbulb went on.
ADHD brains don’t work the same way as neurotypical ones.
They’re not broken — just wired differently.
So Simon stopped trying to make himself fit a mould and started exploring what worked for him:
- Mind maps instead of reams of notes
- Voice notes instead of endless handwriting
- Drawing diagrams or watching short videos
- Talking things through out loud
- Revising in short bursts with someone else in the room (body doubling!)
The key? If something wasn’t working, he changed it. No guilt. No shame. No “I should be doing it this way.”
It turns out, the best revision technique is the one that actually works for you.
🛑 Step 5: Know When to Stop
Simon learned to stop before he hit the wall.
If he planned 30 minutes and had a bit left in the tank, he might keep going. But if not — that was okay too.
Ending with energy left over meant that next time he sat down to revise, he didn’t dread it. His brain remembered the feeling of success — not burnout.
✅ Step 6: Set “Good Enough” Targets
Simon stopped aiming for 100%. He started aiming for good enough.
“Done is better than perfect,” he reminded himself, often with toast in hand. “And something is better than nothing.”
Perfection wasn’t the goal — progress was.
👥 Step 7: Build Accountability
Finally, Simon added accountability.
He asked his friend Theo to message him every evening:
“Did you do your paper?”
Just being asked gave Simon the push he needed. He didn’t want to let Theo down — or lie about getting distracted by dishwasher limescale remover again.
We often do more for others than we do for ourselves. Simon used that — and it worked.
Simon’s Golden Rules (Try These Yourself)
- 📅 Put your revision in your diary like a real appointment
- ✂️ Split tasks in half to make them manageable
- 🎯 Visualise yourself succeeding while on breaks
- 🚶 Take physical, screen-free breaks (walk, coffee, stretch)
- ⛔ Stop before you’re knackered – leave energy for rewards
- ✅ Celebrate small wins – they build momentum
- 🔄 Adapt your revision style – mind maps, audio, videos – do what works
- 🤝 Ask someone to check in – accountability boosts action
The Result?
Simon didn’t turn into a revision superhero overnight. But he found momentum. He built his own structure. He made revision something he could do.
He didn’t walk into exams hoping for luck. He walked in knowing he’d shown up for himself — in his own way.
💬 Call to Action: What’s Your Next Small Win?
If you’re like Simon — smart, capable, and endlessly distracted by your own imagination — you’re not broken. You’re just an ADHD brain trying to use neurotypical tools.
Stop fighting your wiring. Start building a strategy that works for you.
That’s where ADHD coaching comes in.
💡 A coach can help you:
- Discover your best ways to revise
- Build routines that feel natural — not forced
- Use accountability to make things happen
- Anchor your wins so momentum builds
Ready to get started? Book a free ADHD Coaching Discovery Call today.
Let’s talk about what’s in your way and how you can build your own version of Simon’s success.
👉 Book a free ADHD Coaching Discovery Session today 📅and take the first step towards developing ADHD revision strategies that really work
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