Discover Your Favorite Learning Style

By Dana Rayburn , Adult ADD Coach

ADDed Success Is The Monthly Online Ezine for Adults with ADHD from ADD Coach Dana Rayburn.

Welcome to ADDed Success,

I had a great time in September. My dad and step-mom bought a new car before they visited us: a Subaru with a turbocharger. I gotta tell you, driving that turbocharged Subaru was FUN. But it was more than fun.

Driving was much easier when I could go really fast really quickly. Without breaking a sweat, I was could zip past slow semis on the Interstate and dart safely back to the slow lane with plenty of time to catch my off ramp.

No, this isn't a car ad. I'm merely illustrating the benefits of making something easier to do. Just as driving is easier with a fast, nimble car; living is easier when you can pay attention and remember at will.

You are about to read the second in a series of three articles about learning styles. Last issue we discussed the basics of learning styles and their role in learning, remembering and paying attention. Here's the article if you need a refresher: The Magic of Learning Styles.

In this issue you'll learn the next crucial step: You'll dig into your past and discover your favorite learning style.

Next month I'll wrap up our series by letting you in on my favorite secrets for turbocharging your learning style.

Let's get on with it, shall we?

Discover Your Favorite Learning Style

Your favorite learning style is the one you are naturally drawn to. To discover your favorite learning style you'll need to dig into your past a bit.

First, I'll ask some questions to get you thinking. Please don't stress out. Remember, nearly everyone with ADHD has problems learning and most of us struggled in school. Don't beat yourself up about your past and present challenges!

Take a moment and consider.....

In what types of situations do you find it easiest to pay attention? Consider lectures, speeches, reading, watching, participating, or any other situations that apply to you.

What kinds of things do you tend to remember more easily than others? Consider facts, feelings, sounds, movements, talks, movies, books or anything else that resonates with you.

What are you often doing when a clear understanding of a problem or situation dawns on you? Brushing your teeth? Talking to a friend? Pondering the issue? Listening to music? Looking at a view? Anything else?

Think back to your school days; what topics were easiest for you to learn? How were they taught? What were you doing as you learned?

What kinds of things distract you so much you can't get past them?

Okay.

Next you will answer some easy questions designed to reveal your favorite learning style. The questions are grouped by learning style; the one with the most yes answers will be your favorite learning style.

(Most people lean heavily toward one particular learning style. Don't worry if you answer yes or sometimes to questions in more than one style. That merely means you are able to tap into more than one learning style. Lucky you!)

Ready? Answer yes, no or sometimes.

Visual

• Can you read a book or watch a movie and remember the details?
• Are you distracted and confused by untidiness?
• Are charts and drawings usually easy for you to understand?
• Do you remember details of how people look and what they wear?
• When starting a new project can you see clearly how it will be when it's finished

Auditory

• Can you listen to a lecture or speech and remember the details of what was said?
• Are you distracted by noises and sounds?
• Do you prefer being told what to do rather than reading directions?
• Can you usually remember what someone said?
• When doing something new do you find verbal instructions helpful?

Kinesthetic

• Do you need to write things down or be emotionally involved to remember or pay attention?
• Does movement in the background distract you?
• When doing something new, do you prefer to jump right in and try it?
• Do you remember the feelings of a conversation more than the words?
• Are you better at figuring out a project as you go instead of trying to plan it in advance?

Verbal

• Do you get clearer about a situation by talking about it?
• Are you more likely to get distracted if you're not the one talking?
• When doing something new do you like to talk it through?
• When someone else is talking are you often impatient to speak?
• Are you sometimes accused of talking too much or going off on verbal tangents?

Cognitive

• Do you need time to think something over before you can understand it or form an opinion?
• Do others think you are cautious or slow to make decision?
• If someone asks you a question do you have to think for a moment and get clear on the answer before you say it aloud?
• Do you have trouble understanding details until you've worked out the conceptual framework in you mind?
• When doing something new do you find it helpful to think it through before you start?

That wasn't hard, was it! Did you figure out your favorite learning style?

Next month I'll show you how to boost your learning style so you can remember and pay attention more easily.

Until then your mission is to take advantage of a major payoff of knowing your learning style: acceptance. I want you to accept and embrace who you are and how you are made.

Would you expect a cow to fly? Then why would you expect a verbal person to stay on topic or a cognitive person to make a snap decision or a kinesthetic person to sit still and pay attention?

Accept who you are and strive to improve where you can. But don't expect that cow to fly.

The Last Word

I'm incredibly kinesthetic. Remember last issue I mentioned how I need to drive a car with a stick shift? Shifting gears keeps me engaged. Even at high speeds, just the dim anticipation of changing gears does the trick.

I vividly remember discovering my learning style during an ADD coach training class. I felt as though I had uncovered the secret key to me. Suddenly many things became clear. It allowed me to let go of many negative self-judgments.

I realized why movement or juicy conversations distract me so easily. Why I have to take notes during a class or lecture to stay engaged. Why I can spend hours reading the Sunday paper and not remember anything when I finish.

With the knowledge I'm kinesthetic I can employ tricks to stay engaged and remember when I want to. And I can calmly let stuff slide the rest of the time. Knowing I'm kinesthetic makes it easier to be me.

To Your ADDed Success,
Dana

PS - Don't let procrastination, hesitation or fear stop you from improving your life. If you haven't taken the time yet to discover your favorite learning style, do it now.