How to Structure Your Work Week for Efficiency, Flow and Follow Through!

[@tranquilADHD]

This was incredibly helpful thank you, I also struggle with demand avoidance and once i put something on my calendar at a set time the more resistant I become to doing it... exhausting...

[@handleisunknown]

Caren, this was by far your most helpful video! I've binge-watched so many and while they've all been great, this one is especially applicable to what I'm going through at the moment. I've just come to the realization that I need to structure my week based on my energy because it is so highly fluctuating, and by doing that I can actually follow through on my commitments to myself and others. I need to commit to this to rebuild my broken sense of agency and autonomy caused by years and years of undiagnosed ADHD. I didn't understand why I couldn't follow through like other people could, why I would get stuck in these paralysis episodes, and why I wasn't able to anticipate the consequences of my actions like neurotypicals could. Add in my lack of impulse control, and I was the recipe for stagnating in life and living in a constant state of self-infantilization. I'm struggling to believe that I have the skill to accomplish literally anything, but I know that this is just the story I tell myself and once I learn more about my brain and how to help it do what I want it to do, I will feel very differently about myself. Your videos help teach me that I can succeed with hard work and constant self discovery. Thank you for all you do! Your work is helping me change my life for the better.

[@CarenMagill]

thank you for the kind feedback!

[@magdazofia2474]

Caren is our new adhd QUEEN 👑

[@rheahalona]

This was incredible. So helpful for me, as I have been trying to figure out how to organize my time. I have so many plans but get paralyzing at the execution phase. I’m probably also trying to do too much, which I realize is half the battle. But it’s so hard to narrow my interests.

[@emilynicholson2060]

same, girl, same. I love Caren's positiviy and concrete takeaways.

[@rheahalona]

@@emilynicholson2060 glad it’s not just me!

[@a.l.dowdall1097]

Yeah, narrowing interests is a real sacrifice. I'm trying it, though. At least for now.

[@YazWhyNY]

So many thoughts on this awesome video! - using AI tools with ADHD, I think that'd be an awesome video idea! - I absolutely love the idea of task blocking because yeah, time blocking just is NOT for me - I 100000% put too much on my plate without thinking of priorities nor energy. That energy is such a big part and I've only recently realized that. Awesome video 💜

[@brittanyszymankiewicz7324]

None of this is really relevant, but I find it so relaxing to hear how meticulously planned out this is 😊 down the rabbit hole I go 😅

[@taukirsyed1769]

A couple notes here 1. Set 1 day of the week to plan. 2. Identify big rocks, Caren has a. Content creation b. coaching c. Project work 3. Breakdown project into tasks 4. Theme everyday a. Mon - research day b Tue - Recording etc.... 5. 10,:00 Do Task blocking instead of time blocking ( Tasks are created in Project work 2c) 6. Ensure your tasks are added in a calendar or calendar like notion template which Caren has created. 7. Create real deadlines or create a commitment so that you have to get done. 7. 14:00 Avoid rabbit hole. It's a review! Checkout Carens Notion setup for Reflection Challenges Lessons.

[@loubainarajah-peer8825]

Thank you 😊

[@deborahdaviesdd-artist1059]

'How the sausage is made ' is very important! This video was amazing, I cannot thank you enough.

[@hivyfalou1393]

before, I reached a point where I constantly avoided doing anything, it became a pain for me to follow my ambitions, but when you said to work on what will make us reach our goals, thngs totally changed

[@kamilekapel]

It's hard to believe this woman has ADD. She's so organized and motivated.

[@phrolique]

im turning 40 soon. Just got diagnosed earlier this week, anxiety+depression and ADHD. I'm having so many aha moments and immediately looked for solutions. I feel so understood, and I feel a huge sense of relief that there are tools so we can be successful in life. While I'm grieving the what could have beens...im so excited. Thank you so much for this video

[@amylocke5666]

Liked the designation between time vs task blocking!

[@kamilekapel]

Me too

[@HaleyStruxness]

Thank you for sharing this! I have my own business and struggle all the time with execution in a timely manner, and it has definitely contributed to not trusting myself when I say I'll "get it done".

[@glennarichards2933]

I’m in that mode right now. Do everything but that which really needs to be done!

[@10_Roads]

Good point about the time blocking. I use it. But mostly as a tool to make sure, that there is physically enough time in the week, to do what I plan to do. And as sort of a reminder/template of the stuff I would normally do through a week before all the big rocks come and I have to prioritise. I will rarely follow the time blocking. I just choose the quest of the day that I want to/have the energy to/can do and drag them to the "Done" field in my task planner instead (I use Trello). I can really relate to the resistance to seeing a back-to-back filled calendar of appointments 😅

[@noblethoughts4500]

I love "quest of the day"!

[@GilliMarieMoody]

With respect, “how the sausage is made” is the most popular topic on KZbin(!). Note that Ali Abdaal just wrote a whole encyclopaedia about this. This is the first of your videos that makes me want to try Notion though, I STill highly value having a calendar in every room + my handbag. …By the way, post-intro, your volume shot up a bit. Cheers.

[@logiclight]

Wow. Now I understand why timeblocking also does NOT seem to be possible for me. I LOVE the visual appeal of it, so clean, so orderly but have yet to ever follow it, even for a day. I need to really reflect on this.

[@kathrynschumann5254]

7 minutes in I was completely overwhelmed and confused. Ill try again.

[@saz695]

This is some of the best advice I’ve seen in a long time - I relate so much!!

[@hoteluytihouseofmorel5541]

This was extremely helpful. It's very strange to hear someone else have so many of the same Issues that You thought were unique to yourself.

[@katewolfe1904]

I love this!!! So glad I found you!

[@IslandIntellectual876]

So glad I found you! Thanks for committing to sharing these with us.

[@CarenMagill]

You are so welcome!

[@mcqueenbrown]

OMG! I HATE appointments too and they mostly make me go into freeze mode. It’s so nice to hear it’s not just me and that time blocking is not always the most effective. Thanks for sharing🙌

[@taukirsyed1769]

I've adopted to this system so well that's it's becoming a part of me especially Task blocking Proje task breakdown Non negotiables Literally dragging things so I've now created review meetings with with people so I have to deliver

[@eatyourveggies4808]

I can't gush enough about how awesome this video was. Thank you so much!

[@3dchick]

Omg. I'm coming back to this over and over. Also double checking I'm on the list for the Entrepreneur program. So excited!

[@angelicbonifacio5271]

Caren, Thank you!!!! As a working from home mom with ADHD, I am a messed all the time, I have so many TRVIAL things I do daily, but when I go to bed, I realized I was not able to accomplish the most important tasks of the day. I will for sure give this a go! Thank you so much!

[@noblethoughts4500]

Loved this! Took notes. Thank you. Now for some juicy rituals!

[@jefffuhr2393]

@12:00 DEFINITELY raising my hand to that one.

[@cajunqueenartist]

Omg..Yes! I NEEDED THIS KIND OF HELP!😊

[@earth2jade]

I am SO grateful to have found your channel. Thank you for making SUCH valuable content. I’m medicated and STILL have been struggling so hard lately with my ADHD and staying organized and efficient so that I can finally achieve my freaking goal of changing careers and starting my web design biz 😅

[@katherineblakely7142]

Omg, this is so helpful. I'm guilty of magical thinking and never realized it affects my confidence. Why are we time blind?? I guess I'll do more research! I'm a real estate entrepreneur and love that you are working on a program. I've just recently found that my adhd affects more in my 59 year old life than I ever dreamed! I love lists and put my tasks on my google calender... all of them, including showering. I do "big rocks" and thought that planning ahead and giving myself a certain time for everything would give me the structure i know we need. I shuffle them as they expand and/or change. What is the advantage of the time blocking vs. calender? I thought I would be redundant to do two and like I said, calender won to impose structure 😂 Thank you!

[@FoxBodyFitness]

So I realized I have a lot of stuff. All related to different hobbies I’ve wanted to start, but never executed. 😅😅😅 I’m narrowing down to one real “hobby” (photography) and finding ways to prioritize weight training as part of daily self care. Your videos have been so helpful for me. Also, this is the best video I've seen on streamlining content creation.

[@natashahein4310]

This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been trying to create systems around getting started and feeling stuck (stuck= scrolling 😂). Going to give this a try. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@sylviegartner7284]

soooo helpful!!!! thank you soo much 💝💝💝

[@MichaelGreen-i8s]

Very Strong video Caren and soooooo needed!!! Structure is my Achilles heel......

[@terryduperon4354]

Resonating with this. Exquisite and helpful content.

[@SimoneEppler]

Wohoooo, great timing, will start doing that from today! 👏❤️❤️

[@lmw1009]

You brought up so many good points and tips. I like the closer look at time vs task blocking. I didn’t understand why I struggled with that. Also, how the way your days are categorized. And, how you feel and mood could effect the plan. I loved it. Thank you so much!

[@katarinam2434]

Love your videos !!❤ Thank you!

[@CarenMagill]

Glad you like them!

[@thecreativemastermin]

Thank you for talking about time blocking in a realistic way. It's shit. It's utter crap. It breeds pathological demand avoidance - basically what you described - that feeling of dread on seeing a fully filled colored calendar

[@CarenMagill]

LOL.... YOu had me at "It's shit". Perfect description.

[@Heyu7her3]

I wouldn't mind time-blocking if I knew how long something would take me to do. Instead, I get frustrated that the task is requiring more time

[@nikkictech]

This was a game changer 🎉thank you so much! ❤

[@Goldendoodle78]

I’m the same way, love my Microsoft To Do task list but I often resent and ignore tasks I’ve scheduled on my calendar!

[@crystalsimagination]

This was SO HELPFUL. I turn 43 this month. I found out maybe a few years ago, I had ADHD and while that was great to know it's been such a challenge now to figure out how to work with my brain. I am a hyper ambitious creative prenuer and the struggle to get things done ugh. I need to do what everything you've suggested in this video, but the thought of more rocks in my backpack is like ugh. Gonna break this down into steps too LOL. But thank you for sharing your process, it REALLY helped me.

[@cath5396]

Oh i just found your channel with this video. I loved this video. I tried time blocking and needless to say it didn't went well for me. I had so much things planned out and at the end of the day i just did like one or two things and got frustrated. I actually work as it systems engineer but started an etsy shop. So this is relly helpful for me. Thank you so so much. PS.: I would absolutly buy even as a presale that course :)

[@randydegner]

This was so helpful for me. Thank you!

[@AnyArabic]

This is a good one, Caren! Keep up the good work!

[@lorimoulton17]

I tried time blocking the last 2 weeks, but my time was so off. Like you said, my energy wanes or flows at different times. I do find that having certain days for certain tasks helps keep me organized and focused.

[@jez-bird]

So helpful thanks. How can you schedule all your client sessions in 1 or 2 days, because sometimes clients can't do those times. I would love timeblock/ringfence my consultations but clients can't always do those times.

[@tnk4me4]

11:10 I recently discovered that I have Extreme Demand Avoidance and I can see time blocking being a real drain on my momentum.

[@Rajgitaa]

Thank you for this. I use a calendar to block out time for categories of work (or whatev) and Todist for Tasks in various categories. The one BIG thing I struggle with is doing my Weekly Planning for the following week - which I attempt to do on Saturday mornings. But I get frustrated. I know there are many things to do, but when to do them ... and then many times I get working on something and miss when I'm supposed to start on something else. Does that make sense? Eventually, tasks get backed up, and I feel like I'm drowning, and pretty soon I have all these tasks sitting around in Todoist. By the time Saturday and the weekly planning arrives I have so many overdue tasks ... I don't know where to start ... so I give it a shot, then move on to something else. Annnd! I've started a project ... I've gotten as far as a layout, a framework for the course. And I think, "I'll start on that ... just Part 1 for now", but it justs sits hidden inside my notes program. And so it goes. But I'm not completely worthless ... :0)

[@peterpiper5300]

this is. my problem - im not accountable to anyone. i have no motivation.

[@suemckendrick7904]

I’m looking forward to listening.. 🥰 um, did you know your lampshade is crooked, or at least it appears this way in the video. No biggie if you’re cool with it though. Prob just my OCD, distracting me from focusing on you. Ok.. I now have my cuppa, and press play! ❤

[@renee6770]

Lol

[@kmcq692]

Did this video and the links in its comments have a Notion template for writing a book? Perhaps I dreamt it. Good stuff. I will carry on. Maybe I will make up my own system based on my dream memory of what I thought there was! How strange!

[@CarenMagill]

there are a few templates floating about on youtube.

[@georginavanegas4639]

How can I join to the ADHD enterpreneurs program? I really need that 😢

[@erinpompa]

I enjoyed this thank you

[@CarenMagill]

You are so welcome

[@caramelcocoa234]

12:59 yikes. As I have a work presentation due today that I had all of Friday to complete, and ignored it ….due to the overwhelm of the previous 4 days. I feel like overwhelm is the biggest trigger for my executive dysfunction

[@getricherteacherwitholakow8250]

Heyyyy! This is such a great video. Thank you❤Can I just ask - the page you were showing in min 13-14 of the video - which template is it from?😀

[@CarenMagill]

You can see links to them below the video. They are Notion templates that I created.

[@karenlaroza]

Hi Caren I have the organized business template and I don’t see the reflect and review section? Is it a separate notion template?

[@squalley]

0:42 OMG, YES! That would be me 👋🏾😒😞😔

[@abhinaveditorrr]

Awesome stuff, By any chance can I help you with engaging edits?

[@3dchick]

Question about your Notion templates: Does the Entrepreneur one include what's in the Vision one, or should I plan to get both? I'm not quite ready for the business part, and don't mind buying both, but would like to not need to copy things to a new one....I hope that makes sense.

[@CarenMagill]

Don't get the organized business then. The vision to action template would be good for you.

[@3dchick]

@@CarenMagill That's excellent, because it turns out I already bought V2A, lol. Love the ADHD brain 🧠 😂

[@ailearners]

What version of notion do you use?

[@CarenMagill]

I use the paid version because I love the AI feature.

[@aprilmae137]

How did you come up with your email template? Does it stay pretty much the same each time? That rebellious attitude really hurts us ADHDers sometimes lol

[@CarenMagill]

for the most part it stays consistent, but it evolves as my work and life changes.

[@Deelitee]

Most importantly, can we get that lip shade??? 😇💋

[@CarenMagill]

oh man... I have no idea. I tend to layer on lipsticks throughout the day. Whatever is handy. Sorry!

[@Deelitee]

@@CarenMagill okay… would love if you’d share what you like the most! I like what I’ve seen you wearing! 💕

[@pattyelaine9563]

I totally underestimate time and energy 100% of the time.

[@elainemerritt9858]

Me too

[@tearstoneactual9773]

When you say "Big project" I'm thinking like... a novel. Or building an enterprise level software. A 10 or 20 minute YT video ... Not as much. So what would a project of that size register as to you?

[@handleisunknown]

I think the message is that what one considers a project can vary but regardless of the size of the project, Caren gives you strategies to break it down to it's most atomic level to stave off overwhelm and exhaustion. So if the project is a novel as opposed to a KZbin video, you would complete these steps but shift the timeline to a much longer period.

[@CarenMagill]

Projects are anything that require more than one or two tasks to complete. They can be any size, but the comment here is spot on.

[@tearstoneactual9773]

@@handleisunknown - I understood the video. I understood the content. My question was about her personal sense of scale. Not any of the strategy involved.

[@johnroekoek12345]

What if you struggle to get dressed in the morning to start as an entrepreneur?

[@CarenMagill]

do you need to get dressed?

[@SIBIRIAKcom]

seems like time-blocking is making an empty calendar. because it's being filled up so stacked there is no distinction anymore. I have a mentor at a firm where I tried fancying myself as a productive salesman, I left after 6 months. So this mentor has an anti adhd brain, I guess. He showed me his leathered notebook-calendar. Every page of a day had one phrase or a task. Just one line on an empty page. He said "I write only one important thing, for example to talk with someone, I remember the rest" I still remember how jealous I was at that moment. 😂

[@Moderntractiondotcom]

Loved this Caren! I must try this task blocking as I too ignore my time blocks! And I’m stoked to join your program! 🎉