ADHD Planner Hacks - Say Goodbye to Planner Hopping For GOOD!

[@JBick-hu7rq]

You are one of the only creators who actually offers detailed, actionable advice, tools, and specific steps that can be implemented immediately. This is so helpful. So much ADHD advice is nothing but "Be gentle with yourself" or "Self-Care" or "Be accountability" or other equally vague and (even if well-intended) useless advice. Thank you!!

[@Amanda_panda28]

Omg yeah, she is literally one of my favorite coaches... With most other ADHD-fluencers i am like goddamit woman/man i don´t even know what self-care is due to masking and exhausting coping strategies, how should i be gentle to myself

[@lucindabreeding]

Notion overwhelmed me!

[@Drubuu]

Notion scares me. I’ve tried it multiple times but always get lost.

[@OwnYourPowerTV]

At least I am not alone with having to do digital and hand written. It’s something about checking things off, crossing out or highlighting that helps me feel that win lol. Thanks again for all of your videos. I am going to try your template and finally get started.

[@CarenMagill]

It's SOOOO hard!

[@nangarcia07]

Caren is sooooo comforting to know that we are not alone, that there’s nothing wrong with us (even if the world around us think we are crazy, lazy and good for nothing)😢. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your experiences and your awesome tips and knowledge to help cope with our daily roller coaster and help us move forward. ❤❤❤❤

[@johnroekoek12345]

1. Routines (shower, breakfast, make bed) 2. Daily chores (dishes) 3. Tasks (what occurs. I can do one task a day) 4. Appointments (dentist, friends) 5. Groceries to buy 6. Work/school project 7. Study 8. Neglected repairs 9. Neglected clutter 10. Todo list (plant seeds, sort papers, clean car/bike)

[@angelicbonifacio5271]

It would be really nice to see you and Mel Robbins doing an interview or talk together. You guys are soooo relatable!

[@CarenMagill]

That would be cool!

[@LaurenJohnson-nn9lu]

i have to see my to-do WITHOUT the step of seeking out the list. for me that means i have to have a white board right in my line of sight at my desk. if i see it, i do it. if i need to do it, i write it down. i write major goals on the "bigger picture" bc i lose sight of that SO easily. and the other side is actions i need to take, which often moves the needle on my bigger picture. its been the only way. i got a giant poster frame for 15 bucks, and made it into a white board (bc the big ones are like 100 bucks).

[@LindsiHawkins]

Hi there! Tip for you, if you have access to a Home Depot in your area, they sell something called marker board (it has a blackboard and marker board side) and its basically a whiteboard and they're pretty big and only cost $7! Super helpful for me and my STEM degree haha

[@inkbugdesign]

Visual, Kanban type apps like Trello or Kanri have been helpful for me that way.

[@amberjohnson4287]

I’m so glad you mentioned the different ecosystems!! I work from home and use a Microsoft/outlook ecosystem and my outlook calendar is my lifeline! BUT Where I struggle is the transition of my system outside of work. Scheduling appointments (which are currently on my work outlook), budget, to-dos, etc. etc. but because it is a work tool and system I don’t want to use it for my personal life-even though I do use it all day when I am working. But AS SOON as I log off my work computer for the day or weekend, all is lost, and the memory loss begins! So now it’s how do I have these systems be separated enough for privacy but also manageable for me so I don’t have multiple ecosystems I use?! I’ve worked from home for a year now and still cannot seem to find a system that works for me!! Ugh! So happy you made a video on this.

[@CarenMagill]

I know that struggle well. I would do a search for ways to integrate google cal and outlook. There must be a way to integrate them.

[@Alan_Duval]

It seems that it's a common problem getting Outlook to play with Google, and vice versa, but I can think of one way you could do this, with a couple of options for how you want to use it. You mention privacy issues, so the invite you send will potentially contain details that you don't want "shared" with your personal calendar. Which makes sense. There are two ways of addressing that problem that I can think of: 1. Create a Gmail account with a name that is close enough to your name and/or your business name that it won't raise eyebrows - a personal-business account if you will - then make sure that every calendar entry in your Outlook calendar invites you, as represented by that personal-business Google Calendar. It is key to ensure that this Google account is only used for this, or it will get messy. If you do an end-of-day session where you look at the work you've done and/or look at the next day's work, do it using the Google version of the calendar and take a second to replace each invite you received that day with an edited version and delete the one you received from your Outlook account. That way, you've checked your calendar for the next day and made your personal calendar a faithful but non-sensitive copy of your work calendar. This would work well if you don't change your appointments terribly often. 2. Alternatively, and especially if your appointments have a tendency to change frequently (or just because this works better for you), use your end-of-day session to send a duplicate entry from your Outlook calendar directly to the above personal-business account or just your regular Gmail, with a brief, redacted reminder of the work to be done. This has the benefit of being double-entry in your Outlook system, so every event you've done this with will have two invites for the same time period, one for the actual thing and one for the redacted version that you've sent yourself. Either way, you solve the problem you've mentioned and adopt the good habit(s) of looking at what you've achieved that day (The Gap and Gain approach), and you've reminded yourself of what you have to do tomorrow.

[@kaiolowen5788]

I know this was a year ago and you didn’t mention your personal ecosystem - I will add my personal email to a “meeting” in outlook and put whatever dump I need to there, mark it private, and you can also update the status to “free” so it doesn’t show that time as busy/away/etc. you can also make a whole separate calendar from your main calendar in outlook if you want multiple, I prefer mine on the same. Doing this will allow you to see it in google calendar or ical. You lose some functionality, but may be worth the trade off. I also do the reverse and email my work self with things I think of that need done or a reminder. I could schedule a meeting but that’s too much work lol I’ll review the email in the am and then either time block that or mark for follow up. Hopefully you already found something that works for you!

[@JuliaOsso]

Caren, you just blew my mind... Or should I say, you just lit up my ADHD brain. 🤩

[@brightpage1020]

Love "external executive function".

[@manifestingmagic4702]

Whew! I switched to digital this year and I have purchased about 10 planners so far! I don’t even know where my last daily note was posted. 😂 This was so helpful!

[@TheHolisticHerbivore]

I wish there was something as good as this in PAPER version!! I cant stick to anything if I have to go onto the computer each time for it. I need to find something I can quickly jot down a thought etc.. if anyone knows an amazing planner/journal like this pls hit me up!! Literally needs everything from meals, tasks and to-do list, goals, all the above ! 🙏

[@tiffanypatton9293]

In the same way, I need to physically write it down. It would be awesome if some of the pages could be printed out.

[@lucindahayes5632]

I use a Teacher’s planner because there are so many sections and list areas. They’re large enough to have room for all your notes.

[@kimvantassel7237]

you described my issue with planners SO well. I have always hated having multiple 'apps' and 'platforms' to manage things and I never thought it was because of transitions. But it makes so much sense. I have notion, and i'm going to give it another try. Their calendar feature has really been bothering me because it isn't really even close to google cal or apple cal. (i REALLY want a day only view), but it is really helpful for everything else.

[@xxpadmoondaze1282]

AMAZING VIDEO. I've planner hopped multiple times this year. Some videos I would love to see: 1. Your personal experience with ADHD, and since when you were young and how you overcame struggles (if you are willing to share) 2. ADHD hacks 3. Ways you improve or work around executive functioning struggles in addition to having a planner (ex. time management, task initiation etc.)

[@CarenMagill]

hey there! thanks for your feedback. I have several videos like that on my channel already. Hope they help!

[@deborahdaviesdd-artist1059]

I think you really are my most favourite person. When your books are open again I want to be a client. Thank you for all your care and help with this community.

[@xxpadmoondaze1282]

When you release your memoir, I'm SO buying it!

[@iamSydneyElese]

I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE THIS!!!! Just found you and just got diagnosed w/ ADHD and this is SOOOO helpful!

[@messagesofmercedes2352]

OMGosh! I recently came across your content less than 24hrs ago and the Universe already gave me the answer to my prayers through You! As an Autistic ADHD single mother who started working on the outline of my book a week ago I was so overwhelmed on 'how to' I was standing still for days... Thank You for sharing! I'll be able to have my book done before my birthday 🙏🏾

[@bree9016]

Genius!…. That week spread is amazing, Iv adapted this way of planning in my own notion…..I’m so much more productive

[@mary-anneknight1911]

🎉the FIRST coach to understand planner hopping!!!

[@quatrevingthaha]

i tend to use a paper planner for daily tasks after dumping in notion - i'm excited for the new "tasks" feature with AI but it's hard to find something i'll stick to. i wish notion had alarms or notifications, i know that you personally use alexa to help supplement this, i wish it was all in the one platform. by the way - i love the new editing style you've been using ! especially the sharp cuts to different crops to emphasise different phrases. the previous two videos with ken burns/zooming in and out was a bit too distracting, this video is super good :)

[@CarenMagill]

Thanks for noticing the edits. I finally outsourced it :)

[@CarenMagill]

BTW - notion does have notifications!

[@christinedisneyqueen5746]

Love this! I will have to check out Notion! 💜

[@dreamwisher0279]

I just recently found out about my ADHD in my late 20s. I grew up with two other siblings that displayed the Hyperactive kind. And since I didn't display the typical Hyperactivity, I was never checked. In fact, because of my chaotic childhood, I masked my symptoms subconsciously. For two decades I was pretending to be who I thought I had to be in order to have a normal life. But something always told me I was missing something in my life. This lead me into a depression spiral for many years as I struggled to figure out what it was I was missing. And no matter what medicine I took, nothing seemed to help. It wasn't until my Dr prescribed me some medicine to help my weightloss that I finally found what I had been missing. The med, while used mostly for weightloss, was also an off label stimuli used to treat ADD and ADHA.

[@amydonnellan3237]

I have probably bought 7 planners in 2024. I I wish I would have the education you provide at eight earlier time of my life. It seems as post-menopause my symptoms are out of control. I don’t know where to start and when I think about starting, I go lay down. It is definitely starting to cause issues with my work, life and family life. I’m in Recovery as well and I work for a Recovery Center . A glass of wine is not an option for me ! LOL

[@CarenMagill]

I feel your frustration!! menopause definitely makes ADHD worse in every way.

[@NorthernAuburn]

Honestly, I had never thought I have ADHD until now, and I definitely and struggling ten fold with things that were masked before. I think I'm starting the peri-menipause phase.

[@ranikster9955]

Omg. Thank you so much. Will definitely check out Notion. I already have it but never used it I have been jumping back and forth between planners for years. I seem to prefer a weekly vertical planner (paper) that has a schedule combined with different checklists and to-do lists ❤

[@brightpage1020]

My planner in college when I 1st learned about planners and that I have ADHD - was amazing!!!! It was just weekly day runner compact size binder but the outside was like something I've never seen since: it was bright blue stainless steel with a pen holder built into the spine. I loved and adored it. It changed my life and became my Bible. But then came... Adult life. 🙀 😆 Some times more structured, sometimes less... Working out of the home and then from the home (about 15 years before Covid, if you can imagine, before Google Drive existsd). Then, my needs began changing... Many times going without a planner at all. Fast forward to having 4 kids and meeting to track their doc appointments, friends' bday play dates, after school events, school calendar wonky days, along with my own biz assignments, project management, meetings, events... Family budgets, journal, and personal habit trackers... Oh my! Lions and Tigers and bears! 🦁 🐅 🐻

[@askittenlove13]

Lol relatable is an understatement! Just downloaded 5 apps yesterday to test them all 😂

[@phil2768]

I want to use planners and schedules to be organised but I cannot stick to them. It starts off well for a week or two maybe, while the novelty is there (because it is new), but then I start disregarding it. I even used to set reminders on my phone but again, I just ended up ignoring them. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I've been so disorganised for so long, tried so many new things but now I've just given up trying.

[@Freak80MC]

I'll be completely honest, as someone who easily gets overwhelmed, seeing all that information in there makes me think Notion isn't for me lol But idk I guess it could be as simple as you want it to be. Currently I'm settling into a new physical todo system that is sorta kanban based, sorta my own, but it can still feel a bit aimless because I don't have any overarching long term plans or anything for the day, week, month, etc. So I do wanna try a planner out, but the last few times I have tried them out, they haven't worked great for me tbh. Maybe it's because I'm indecisive, or because I hate stuff that feels too artificial and arbitrary, or maybe it's the combination of both (since I hate setting a specific plan because it's like "Well, what if I wanna do this other thing instead?"). I like fluidity in a system, where I don't have to hold to a rigid thing that I *have* to do. That might be because I get bored of doing stuff and wanna change it up. Anyway, so yea, idk, my current system of mostly todo items is basically some spreadsheet stuff but mostly paper/physical based as I found I get distracted easily in a digital system and idk, writing stuff down genuinely feels better to me than typing it in. I can move stuff around in a way that feels a bit too artificial digitally. My brain works better on paper, though I know for the longest time I sorta fought against a full paper system because "digital has so many more features!" so I'm still sorta in the middle of both, though more engrossed in my physical system. But sorry for rambling, I enjoyed the video and definitely subbing and checking out your other stuff!

[@prescillagcon]

I’ve been bullet journaling for 5 years and last year I started using notion but got stuck with the set up. I finally figured it out a year later 😂 been using it since January and I’m doing the second brain and PARA method. Still can’t figure it out but I like using Notion now. It has to be very minimalistic otherwise my brain hurts when I look at it 😂

[@shaunaferguson6102]

I just found your channel and i think your content will be a game changer for me! Do you have any videos on how to be on time?

[@CarenMagill]

Yes, I have several. Just search timeblindness. It should come up. welcome!

[@shaunaferguson6102]

@@CarenMagill ok I will! Thank you!

[@kimse1919]

Hi Caren I got diagnosed with ADHD/ADD two years ago. I'm 30 years old and I'm currently looking for a system that can manage my time and remind me of appointments so that I will be on time! I always wake up with 'perfect time'. Off cause I don't. I feel that I'm living on a constant run-mode and I'm always precisely on-time or 1-5 minutes late.It's not that I can't wake up with a lot of time but everyday I get distracted with stupid things until the very minute when I have to run out the door. So my question is. Can this system remind me to shower and put on my makeup on specific hours (with soundable reminders) and also tell me when to drive to be on point? And what about traffic? I also want to create some lists with reminders, to remember checking my email and other apps to get rid of all the 'remember stuff'. Lastly I really want to be motivated to get things done, so I can have more time daily and not be in a constant stress mode with absolutely nothing done. November 2022 I got diagnosed with PTSD due to a terrible working environment and due to that I'm now this person that have no control of my life. I want to be a better me. The old me! Can you help me? I'm desperate to get the control back of my life. Sincerely Kim

[@l.c.b78]

That AI hack!!! WOW 🤯

[@esthervonhoffmann3429]

First time viewing. I subscribed.

[@LazzarrusLong]

05:30 Amen sister 🤓

[@victoriarushing4842]

What about full time working moms? My schedule can not be loosey goosey! 😢 I suck at time management!!! Even at work and even medicated! What suggestions do you have?

[@brightpage1020]

Love this. Thank you! I am a writer. This is for me.

[@ckatheman]

I use Obsidian. I also prefer the Mac ecosystem and integration between all my devices via iCloud. Everything just integrates and I have no setup to do (for the most part). At work, no choice but Outlook.

[@veronicamartinez4917]

Thank you

[@jdstaz1873]

- such great tools ideas -but- I was lost even before getting through your use-case descriptions at the beginning of the video, and the ocean of words after that quickly turned into total white noise, ugh. I’m sure it’s great content so I’ll try again tomorrow after sleep and meds 🤪

[@dseils]

I find that not all portions of the template are working exactly right?… For example, in trying to add the results of my Karic strengths, your video shows you dragging headings from the left-hand column over into each of the rank columns… That does not work for me I can’t figure out how to set those up, is there someplace I can get more specific help?

[@ashleynoel2509]

How do I get my hands on the book template?

[@denavoorhees7859]

I just found you and you're amazing. Is this course that you sell include your personal Notion planner template? As i was reading through your sale brochure, i wasnt sure if its more of an ADHD course, sale od your everyday Notion planner or for a business Notion template. Im atruggling to find an everyday planner that works for me and ive spent thousands over the years trying to find something that works. Watching one of your older posts with your everyday Notion planner did it for me. Is that the template you're selking as part of the package on your brochure? I apologize for my confusion. ❤

[@CarenMagill]

Hi there, Distraction to action is a course on productivity from an ADHD perspective. If you're looking for the Notion Planner, you can find that here: bit.ly/3XEAYZc

[@brendalg4]

How is the template any different from a neurotypical template?

[@trishmcelderry4762]

Hi Caren, How long did it take you to set up the Notion Planner when you started it? The planner video was very helpful when thinking about how to select a planner. I was just wondering what would be a good planner for ADHDers that are also dyslexic? I'm sure, as you demonstrated, that a lot of the selection process trial and error to find the one that works best for each individual. Thank you for the content and your sense of humor. Trish

[@CarenMagill]

I think the best planner is always the one that resonates with you the most.

[@Jletsgetalong]

Thank you for your video but I have a question. I know Goodnotes doesn’t work with my iPhone and iPad with windows. I have research notion and it doesn’t seem like it does communicate with iOS and windows. Is there a note application that does this?

[@brightpage1020]

This go from laptop to phone app transfer?

[@iamSydneyElese]

Caren in your video which planners of the ones you have to shop are you using by chance?

[@CarenMagill]

yes!

[@amyfrancis9423]

Has anyone used Notion for lesson planning as a teacher?

[@johnroekoek12345]

I typed in Notion Lesson Planner here in KZbin. There are videos about this.

[@asdfasdfasdfae]

Good video but i work the opposite way. I dont organize my notes and todo, period. Instead i rely solely on keyword search or tag to organize. I'll put due date or reminder on my todo tasks but that's it. I don't have the bandwidth to organize my organizer.

[@CarenMagill]

That's awesome! We all have to find what works for us individually.

[@asia89572]

Notion and google calendar… the only issue is being able to access both on work computer 😢. I am longer tempted by paper planners …😅

[@meko3089]

Omg this isnt JUST me?!?!

[@0Milena_aneliM0]

Are those little jumps cuts? Or is it her editing style? I find it so distracting 😂 is it just me?

[@MyLifeInTheDesert]

It’s you