I’ve never attended any of my high school reunions. I didn’t hate school; in fact, I look back on my high school years with fondness. Unlike elementary or junior high, in high school I finally felt like I had found my tribe. I had a tight-knit group of close friends, many of whom I’m still in contact with today. I had the social side of school down. If there was a problem, it was that I was a terrible student.

Maybe you, your partner, or one of your children has heard variations on the following bits of feedback:

They’re very smart but lazy

They start assignments but rarely finish them.

They seem to daydream a lot during lessons

I’m firmly in Generation X, and it wasn’t very common for teachers or parents to recognize the symptoms of ADHD. As I got older, I found ways to cope and ultimately did well in post-secondary, but it often felt like I had one arm tied behind my back. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that I was able to find tips and tools that worked for me instead of against me.

In a previous post, I talked about my love of journaling and how it’s greatly benefited my life. And this is a tool that can benefit everyone, not just those of us that struggle to pay attention. And I have another one I'd like to share.

Doodling

This is something I used to do constantly in class and often got in trouble for. What my teachers didn’t realize was that I wasn’t doodling because I didn’t want to pay attention; I was doodling because it was the only way I could pay attention to what was being taught. It wasn’t mindless, my drawings became my notes, helping me retain the information.

Doodling Sketchnotes

Fast forward a few decades and doodling has a new name: sketchnoting: a structured, visual way to take notes that helps with memory and comprehension. The same thing that once got me reprimanded is now taught in workshops and praised as a “creative learning strategy.” I was ahead of my time and didn't even know it.

When do I Sketchnote?

The short answer is when I'm attempting to process a large amount of potentially complex information. This comes often comes up in the following scenarios:

• Reading a non-fiction business book.

• Listing to a lecture

• Taking notes for a course

My Tools

I do have sketchbooks, notepads, and an assortment of pens and pencils. However, I tend to gravitate toward my iPad and Apple Pencil for my sketchnoting needs. Going digital has the advantage of letting me access my notes from any device I’m using.

There are numerous apps both free and paid you can use. Here are a few that you can try to get started:

• FreeForm: If you’re an Apple user this app is free and comes with your Apple device. I personally use this app for most of my sketchnotes.

• Noteability: This is a paid app that goes well beyond just taking notes. You can also record audio and use it for math equations.

• GoodNotes: This app is free with the option to pay for more features. If I’m not using Freeform I’m using this app.

Rebrand

It’s funny how often behaviours associated with ADHD like fidgeting, doodling, and jumping between ideas, get labeled as problems until they’re reframed as innovation or creativity. Sometimes, it’s not the behaviour that needs to change; it’s how we understand it.