If you’re anything like me, you know how hard it can be to find the best planner for your ADHD brain. As a busy mom with ADHD, organizing my daily life can be overwhelming. I’ve used them all.
- Daily planner,
- Weekly planner,
- Digital planner,
- Paper planner
There was a time when I swore by my bullet journal. However, as circumstances have changed, my specific needs have changed. The good news is that I’ve found the perfect planning system for this season of my life and I’m sharing it with you today.
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Why Planners Fail the ADHD Brain
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is synonymous with disorganization. (I’m not saying that all women with ADHD are disorganized, but there’s certainly a connection.)
Before kids, I had no problem balancing my schedule and responsibilities. However, like many high-masking ADHD women, as the demands on my time and energy increased, my ability to compensate decreased. (This is why I didn’t realize I had ADHD until the age of 41).
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that we went through years of upheaval. Since then, I’ve struggled to find the best way to stay on top of my daily tasks and schedule.
ADHD Planning System
After all these years of searching for the perfect ADHD planner, I finally figured out my problem. Organizing my ADHD life requires more than the right planner. It requires me to utilize a “system” and use that planner regularly.
I used to buy planners, calendars, to-do lists, and the like hoping that they’d magically work. The problem was that I didn’t have a planning process.
Having a process or system has made all the difference in my ADHD life. Here’s what’s been working for me. Maybe it will help you.
Get the Right ADHD Planning Tools for Your Goals
When choosing the right ADHD planner, I had to start with the right tools for my ADHD brain. That means when looking at planners and calendars for my ADHD planning system, I looked for the following key features.
- Lots of white space
- Having too much information on one page stresses me out.
- No clutter
- For me, it’s important to have a minimalistic design.
- Weekly Layout
- Monthly Layout
- Daily Task List
- Habit Tracker
- Undated
- Paper Planner
- Writing things out by hand helps me remember
- Multi-sensory learning
- On-the-Go Digital Planning Option
- I need the ability to capture dates, notes, to-dos, etc. when not at home.
My ADHD Planning System Essentials
After considering my list of wants, I created a planning system that worked. My perfect ADHD planner was not just one tool, but a combination of three.
- Google Calendar App on my iPhone
- Magnetic Refridgerator Calendar
- Weekly Paper Planner
1. Digital Calendar for On-the-Go ADHD Planning
Like most of us, I’m constantly on the go. It seems like I’m never home between homeschool classes, various therapy appointments, errands, and extracurriculars. This means I need a portable digital planner to capture appointments when I’m not at home.
Step 1 of My ADHD Planning System- My Phone
Whether I’d like to admit it or not, I always have access to my phone. So my Google Calendar is always with me. It works.
Why Use Google Calendar with an iPhone?
I use my Google Calendar with my iPhone because we are a PC family. We all have PC Laptops.
The Google Calendar iOS app integrates beautifully with my iPhone and desktop. I only have to enter an appointment in the calendar once and it’s in the system.
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2. Magnetic Refrigerator Monthly Calendar
Because I’m a busy working homeschooling mom, I need to keep my family’s schedule organized. This magnetic monthly calendar has been the perfect option for my ADHD family of five.
- Ample space on the page which is easy on the ADHD brain
- We cross off each day helping my son develop a concept of time and other calendar skills.
- Plus, crossing off tasks gives us an often-needed boost of dopamine.
Step 2 of My ADHD Planning System: Paper Monthly Calendar
Every Sunday evening, I grab my phone and fill out the larger calendar one week at a time. I do this because if I fill out the entire calendar once per month, none of us will look at it. Breaking down larger projects into smaller manageable chunks is an excellent strategy for the ADHD brain.
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Keep Writing Tools Organized
I get so stressed when I can’t find writing tools. Because my system relies on my green highlighter and pencils, this magnetic pen and pencil holder has been perfect.
3. Weekly Paper Planner
This weekly paper planner has become one of my all-time favorite paper planners ever! Here’s what I like about it.
- Undated
- Week-at-a-glance
- Two-page spread gives me lots of writing space
- Weekly Focus Section
- Priority Task List
- This section helps me keep track of tasks that I can’t miss
- Notes Section
- To-Do List Section
- Habit Tracker
- This helps me set goals and track my progress
Step 3 of My ADHD Planning System: Weekly Calendar
After filling out the week’s scheduled events on the family refrigerator calendar, I fill out my weekly to-dos in this planner.
- Choose a Weekly Focus
- Lately, I’ve been focusing on regulating my nervous system.
- When I’m my best self, I’m the best I can be for my ADHD family.
- Top Priority Goals
- This section has helped me complete tasks that are essential each week.
- Follow Up Tasks
- Any important tasks, emails, or phone calls I need to follow up on
- Habit Tracker
- I love this habit tracker and track the same essential habits each week.
- Yes. I track my bowel movements.
- Pooping is crucial for detoxification and hormonal issues, ADHD Ladies.
- The habit tracker also helps me get into a morning rhythm which helps set the tone for the day.
- What habits would you like to establish?
- I love this habit tracker and track the same essential habits each week.
How I Use the Weekly Calendar
Once I write all these tasks down, I fill in the dates and appointments for each day of the week. Then, I slowly lay out each daily schedule by assigning tasks from the to-do lists on the right-hand side.
This planner has been so successful for my ADHD brain that I recently bought a second one for my teen daughter. With a neurodivergent brain, she does very well when she has a visual way to “see” time.
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Heads up. Life always gets in the way. When something doesn’t get accomplished, I move it to another day or record it the next week.
Recap: My ADHD Planning System
I’ve been using this three-step ADHD planning system for three months now and am thrilled with how it’s working for me. It’s given me:
- Better control over my family’s daily lives
- Helped me increase productivity
- Reduced my anxiety and stress levels
- I haven’t missed an important event since I started using it.
- You ADHD adults get this, right?
- Improved my family dynamics
Again, the key has been working the “system” and not so much finding the one perfect planning tool. We all have individual needs. Use what works for you, but remember that the process is just as important as the planner you choose.
So, Friend. What ADHD planner and system works for you? Questions? In this with you.
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About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…
