ADHD Friendly Planners (Planning- Part 1) #15

Thank you for Watching this episode of the ADHD Friendly podcast with Patty Blinderman!!
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Today’s episode is the first in a series of 3 podcasts on planning. In this episode, I am sharing some tips on how to pick a physical planner to manage time with more ease. Physical planners are “In Sight/In Mind” which supports our executive function skills! I share my favorites and a few “Planner Tips”.
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Highlight Reel:
1:02 Physical planners + ADHD
2:15 Where to explore planners
2:55 No perfect planner
3:28 Academic Planners
4:25 Planner Tip- Binder clip
4:51 Spiral vs. Bound Planners
5:41 Planner Tip- Use Post-it Notes
8:46 Prioritizing Tool
12:05 Out of sight Out of mind
14:00 Experiment with planners

[@planningandpowerlifting]

I like your suggestion about going to a store and looking/touching the planners. I have ADHD and I have been using a planner and/or a notebook since high school. I would recommend that people also read Ryder Carroll's book on the bullet journal method or watch some of his videos. Even though I don't use a bullet journal, I use some of the methods in my planners. I would also suggest to not be afraid of using a combination of digital and analog methods. Sometimes I need my planners, phone alarms, and digital calendars to get through the day and I make no apologies for that.

[@adhdfriendly]

I agree about not apologizing for using the tools that best support you! While analog is my go-to when I am planning, I also use a combination of analog and digital tools. It is important to give ourselves permission to use the tools that support us with the most ease. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@nas10iris]

I never thought about the feel of a planner being a hindrance or attraction to a planner but it makes sense for neurodivergents. I used to try so many planners because they had pretty covers, but I discovered the happy planner and have been using it now for over 5 years! I can pull out months and add note pages, etc. I have a yearly tracker for forward planning, month at a glance, and week on two pages. The layout, I am still trying to figure out which I do best with, but I think columns are good for me. I use stickers and try to color code. Some weeks I do better than others. But overall, it has been the only one I have stuck with since I've been a grown up!

[@adhdfriendly]

Yay! I loved reading how the Happy Planner works for you. 5 years- that's amazing!! I too found a disk-based planner system works best for me. The flexibility is so ADHD-friendly! Thanks for taking time to share the details that work for you and your planning system.

[@MissTamma]

And I MUST have a paper planner every year

[@adhdfriendly]

Me too!!

[@Serenaif]

I think we have more success if we make our own planner: we can choose the size that works for us, the best binding, paper and then design our own layouts. That's what I have been doing for +5 years with a super simple 2 rings notebook... I can experiment the best fit for me, incorporate new systems, add or remove sections, without spending huge amounts on premaid planners that are always a compromise. (also the bullet journal has many good ideas to try and KZbin has the best teachers !)

[@adhdfriendly]

I make my own planner too- so I tend to agree. But I also know a lot of us will struggle to make a planner on our own, so finding one that is flexible is important. Thanks for taking the time to share what works for you- we all learn from each other!

[@MissTamma]

And sticky notes on pages

[@ednamartinez6129]

Omg I found the perfect planner guide! Ive struggled so much the past 2 years. I struggle with anxiety and managing my time. I feel burnt out and It’s because I wanna do everything at once or in the same day. I get behind in weekly and daily tasks.

[@adhdfriendly]

Yay!! Pinning down time with external, concrete and visual planners is a game-changer! :-)

[@MissTamma]

I love this!!! I use different color paper clips then move them once I no longer need to go back to a page

[@adhdfriendly]

Sounds like you have a sparkly system that is working for YOU! Love it!

[@MissTamma]

Thank you for all this and thank you for this video and I am grateful KZbin brought your video to me

[@adhdfriendly]

I am glad you found it helpful! Thank you for checking it out and commenting! 🙂

[@phyllisgerich4035]

Have you looked at the Hibonich Cousin…it has month..weekly..and daily, future planning..all in one. Spent last year trying different ones…have found this one works for me. The daily pages are great for me to take notes from phone calls, etc. and to do list. They have made the English version this year.

[@adhdfriendly]

I've never heard of them... so of course I had to immediately stop everything to check them out. There are many versions, so I will need to check them out more when I have the time, but I can see what you are describing in terms of the space to take notes. It is so important to have a planner that works for you. I have a bit of an addiction to planners and these are very interesting planners. Thanks for sharing them with me!

[@laureygreider7617]

Passion planner has free print outs, dated or undated, daily spreads too, and you can use them with disks if you like that. I also like the unplanner. Home goods/Marshall’s are good places for a variety of planners to look at, and a little less expensive. I have a weekly for to dos and what I do each day, and a lovely peony daily from target for morning brainstorming. I do use sticky notes of all sizes, and enjoyed a sticky note kan ban board...Good luck!

[@adhdfriendly]

These tips are great- I too have had good luck finding some planning tools at Marshalls over the years. Such a great tip!! Thanks for taking time to post it so others can benefit from that information!

[@sherrycohen1824]

My younger son has ADHD. My older one doesn't. For years he's put everything on his phone. One day he saw my paper planner and now he uses one.

[@adhdfriendly]

I love that your son uses a paper planner! Yay!! It may be that you were modeling how using a physical planner as a time management tool to support yourself allowed him to see how it could help him to have one too. Congratulations!

[@nas10iris]

What planner did you get him? I have gotten my son several planners but just recently he forgot to write stuff down and now we have to reschedule our annual vacation :(

[@mai_world]

I've spent so much money on my search for the right planner. I LOVE the Passion Planner because it's SO pretty. The paper is luxurious and there are quotes for inspiration and... it's SO pretty, I couldn't write in it. My hand writing did not do it any justice so I just used it to hold notes & stickies. Made me sad. For 2024, I've chosen the Planner Pad. I think the layout will encourage me to commit to using it. I hope you find the right one for you. Wish me luck that I have.

[@adhdfriendly]

I wish you the best of everything in your experiments to find the right planner for YOU! I have tried almost every planner out there and have come to accept there is no perfect planner. I too have resisted writing in brand new planners and need to give myself permission to use them so I can notice what works and doesn't work for me. I have one that works really well now, but I continue to tweak it as I notice what work work even better!

[@mamascrafts13]

I actually prefer a daily view type of planner, and that part where you said when the planner is closed, that’s it, it’s out of mind. Forever. Ha. Do you know what’s called, the planner that’s in between academic and passion planner? Also… How is your planner developing going?

[@adhdfriendly]

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (OSOM) is a thing. It is why I created my ISIM (In Sight, In Mind) room, where everything is visible! I am not sure what the planner you are referring to is called, but if you find out, I would love to know! As for my planner- I have the tools done, and am going to be putting the basic version of it up for sale for what I hope will be an ADHD-Friendly price soon. I am also going to create a deluxe version with written instructions and visual filled-in examples included. That one will take awhile, but I don't want to wait to share the basic version until that is done. That's why there will be 2 versions! ;-) I am also creating an ADHD-Friendly Planner Course in 2024... I can't wait to start recording it!

[@mamascrafts13]

@@adhdfriendly now that’s an idea! In sight in mind, how did you come up with that? I actually legitimately just brought a new planner today! This one is academic buuuuutttttt it’s a bigger one so i can write more in it! Meaning the weekly view has more space in each day! It’s really pretty too!! I’m actually about to set it up now!

[@adhdfriendly]

I literally just reversed the out of sight, out of mind saying to reflect what my brain actually needed (In Sight, In Mind- then used the acronym ISIM and then made a room I call my ISIM room. It was all very sparkly! 🙂Have fun setting up your new planner!! @@mamascrafts13

[@fergusont83]

Do you feel a daily planner is better for people with ADD or characteristics of ADD?

[@adhdfriendly]

Daily planners are a great tool for anyone, but that's especially true when ADHD is in the mix. It's essential to keep in mind what works for you. I encourage analog planners whenever possible to make time more concrete.