ADHD Planner Disillusionment
First written April 2021
Planner disillusionment : the moment your new planner is added to your exisiting collection of barely used planners…
I thought it was worth revisiting the video I made in April 2020 & these posts (this one & this one) I made.
FYI : This is a system that works best for me, you may find your needs are different to mine!
In The Past
I used to buy journal style planners with the best of intentions to use them, and with the hope it would save me from procrastination.
I’d start off optimistic, using the new planner for a day or two - sometimes I’d even make it to a month! But eventually I’d find myself back where I started.
The new journal would be added to my collection of previous “organisation attempts”.
Then came the shame.
“Look, you failed again!”
”You never learn, you always mess up”
”You can’t stick with anything”
It took me a really long time to work out that the reason why so many of my planner systems were failing me wasn’t because I was a terrible person.
It was because I was using a system that didn’t work with my ADHD.
I needed to stop fighting my brain and trying to change it, and instead focus on changing the system I was using.
FYI - no ADHD solution is universal, and I only share what works for me and my brain.
Why Was The System Failing?
Simply put, planners would end up closed on my desk and once the tasks weren’t in my sight, the inattentive side of my ADHD made it too easy to ignore.
I know the obvious response to that is, “so… why not leave it open on your desk then?” . It’s a fair question!
Having the awareness to keep it open, the subconscious pull to check in with it, or to even set or follow alarms to check in with it - that is the part that I struggled with.
So I brainstormed how to fix this;
I needed to get rid of the front cover which was hiding the information I needed to see.
I needed to ditch the weekly planner idea because seeing so many tasks at once was overwhelming!
I changed to a single sheet of paper on a bright colour clipboard so I could see exactly what I needed to do in a quick glance.
I then adopted a daily planner. It kept me focused on just the tasks for the day ahead, reducing so much overwhelm. I added a monthly planner alongside it to document everything else I needed to do that fell outside of the daily plan.
A Closer Look At My Planner
It’s very simple to draw up, only requiring a single sheet of paper and a few lines/boxes drawn to add sections.
For that reason, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy. But I do get requests from people wanting to use my version. If you do want to use the one that I use - I have them in my online shop available as a digital download for $2.
PS - I recently updated the design from the one pictured above!
-
Some of the reminders that I put in this space include;
Details on a delivery arriving
Birthdays/Important dates
Phone calls I am waiting on
A big note when I haven’t slept as not sleeping causes me to struggle more with my ADHD.
It’s up to you what you use it for - but you could easily use it to write a quote or word of the day, affirmations or any goals.
-
Sometimes I’ll use them to note down a ‘when all else fails, do this’ task. Other times, I’ll highlight the most important task in that block of time.
Other uses it can have include;
Titles of the task you’re breaking down (see point 4)
Progress bar for water, work, or anything you’re measuring.
A mood check in
Habit tracker
But there are many more options!
-
I think of the day broken into 3 columns; 6am -12pm, 12pm - 6pm, 6pm - midnight. Midnight to 6am is time I’m definitely not scheduling things for!
Sometimes I need structure, so I use a version with times listed. Sometimes I keep it blank with the 3 columns as morning, afternoon and evening to structure my day.
Other ways I’ve used it have been;
Using the 3 highlight boxes to write down 3 main tasks, with space underneath for brainstorming or writing out steps.
Using the first column as a morning routine step by step and the last column as an evening routine with the middle one as my to do list
Keeping it flexible with different options helps me to keep the planner interesting and not have it feel too structured!
-
I need room to make notes & doodle if I need to. Somedays the space helps me to feel less overwhelm from the tasks listed!
-
My "check this out later" space is for any thought / idea that pops into my head and threatens to take me off task!
I’ve found writing the thoughts down means I'm less likely to hyperfixate or 'hold the thought'. My brain seems to acknowledge the point is important enough to write down, helping me to move on.
More of my personal preferences
-
Buying An Expensive Planner!
There's so much pressure to use it & I don't find this (or the guilt from not using it) very motivational!
Using A Bullet Journal
I think they're great, but I hyper focus decorating them instead of using them! I know that the system is the main point to them, but I can’t help myself!
Using Apps & Digital Planners
I find the notifications and reminders overwhelming!
Digital products aren’t helpful for me because like a journal, it requires me going into an app or program to use it.
-
Working With My Energy Levels
If I haven’t slept, I’ll use the reminder section of my planner to add in a note that usually says,
Tasks will take longer today - you will get more frustrated because you haven’t slept!
Keeping Things Fun & Interesting
Sometimes I use a more structured daily planner with the hours marked out. Other times I keep the loose idea of morning, afternoon and evening with the 3 columns.
I Make My Peace With My Struggles To Measure Time
I can only do so much. My ADHD means that I won’t just struggle with measuring how long things will take, but also with how much to put on my list.
I am more likely to overload my to do list, and get discouraged when I can’t do it all.
Even though there was far too much on my list.
Now I’ll put just the minimum amount so that I’m likely to complete it all on time, and in the rare situations where I finish early I can add more to the list after the win.
BTW,
Whatever planner system you use, there will be times of inconsistency & feeling discouraged. This is normal! Especially if you have previous planner shame.
A big part of why I’ve been able to stick with the same system and planner for so long has been focusing less on being productive, and more on building up my confidence and self esteem.
Undoing the negative self talk from years of planner shame hasn’t been easy. But it’s been made easier by having people around me who understand and encourage me, who remind me to be kind to myself in the midst of my "organisation failures".