How to time-block when you have ADHD

I changed my entire life with this one time-blocking hack!
Optimizing my Google Calendar for the way my ADHD brain actually works has helped me master my time and revolutionized my productivity!
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💃🏻 on TikTok & Instagram @daniellecolada
🎶 MUSiC
--- "잊고 살았던 것들" by Summer Soul (video bumper)
--- “Sunshine Samba” by Chris Haugen
-- “Roger That” by Silent Partner
-- “Rank and File” by Silent Partner
-- “Soft Serve” by Rook1e
-- “Golden Days” by Philip E Morris
TAGS
#timeblocking #googlecalendar #ADHD #ADHDWomen #DanielleColada

[@liya_ns]

Thank you for this great video! I give it a try. But.. I confused with the bottleneck and critical... I don't know how to differentiate 🫠 I already read the pinned comment.. But still confused 🥲

[@daniellecolada]

Hi haha, I get where you’re coming from, it’s definitely the trickiest two to differentiate I think! But the difference between bottleneck and critical ultimately comes down to if something is a task that is BLOCKING something else… in fact I’ve thought the last few days of changing the name from “bottlenecks” to “blockers” because this is one of the most common questions … but for example… I designated doing Pilates as a “critical” task because I won’t get my dream figure without doing Pilates a few times a week… BUT if I don’t do Pilates one day, it doesn’t prevent me from doing anything else that’s supposed to happen! But a bottleneck would be something like “buying plane ticket.” If I don’t buy the ticket, I can’t go on the trip, I don’t know what to tell other people what time and day I’ll be arriving, I won’t know what reservations to make, etc lol. I don’t have to buy the ticket at a specific time, but the longer I wait to do it, the more everything else behind it gets held up! Whereas if I skip Pilates, it’s maybe not the best for accomplishing my health goal BUT there’s not a chain of tasks behind it relying on its completion… that’s why bottlenecks feel like they can go on critical, because they are, but they’re a tier above because they stand in the way of accomplishing other things if you don’t do them!

[@thecreativemastermin]

Thank you for clarifying this Danielle 😊

[@liya_ns]

@@daniellecoladaI see.. I understand better now.. Thank you so much for explaining it to me 🫶🫶🫶❤️

[@daniellecolada]

Of course, I’m glad the clarification was helpful!

[@daniellecolada]

Totally haha, sorry I wasn’t more clear in the video

[@butimanartist3393]

I just spent three hours trying to pretend I'm an adult and torturing myself through the process of learning different calendar techniques... Girl, you just saved my life. I felt an instant sense of ease just even half way through. So intuitive and natural and applicable. Thank you!

[@daniellecolada]

Ahhh wow that is such a compliment!! Thank you and I can’t wait for it to be a game changer for you!!

[@meghanmcneal6859]

I love this, but I find it scary to start a calendar other than one for basic medical appts and birthdays.

[@daniellecolada]

I hear you but that’s why I like the multiple calendars because if they don’t TRULY need to be done, you can toggle them off ! That sets me at ease somehow lol

[@kulgydudemanyo]

I've been using a bullet journal for over a year now and this looks like a great way I can upgrade my system! I used to break things up into: must happen, will happen, and stretch goals. The naming you use to categorize everything is waaaayyyyy better! Love it!

[@daniellecolada]

Haha yay, thank you!! Excited for you and I hope it helps! 💜✨

[@Bananaterricottapie]

"Hello, its a month later" is one of the most validating things I've heard in a while 😂

[@daniellecolada]

#justADHDthings haha☺️💜✨

[@katandallthat]

i like how rather than shaming yourself for not getting something done (and putting it in red or something) you just delete it so that you can’t fixate on it. i struggle with going into a self depreciation spiral when i forget or miss things i had to do. i may just have to switch up my calendar to this system, it seems really effective.

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you, I hope you do! The relief for me in this system is knowing that if I didn’t do it, I’ll get a reminder again soon., so it’s not just sitting on a perpetual to do list. Like I have “wash my car” occurring once a week… I’m lucky if I do it once a month lol. BUT if I just know it doesn’t reaaaally need to get done I can just forget about it for now until next week, at which point I can decide if I wanna do or delete again lol

[@lostotter1956]

This! This also occurs for me

[@daniellecolada]

I swear it’s all of us lol

[@tjd110]

The video is about a technique called "Time Blocking," where the creator explains a method for managing and organizing tasks using Google Calendar. The technique involves categorizing tasks and events into different tiers of priority and flexibility, which are represented by different colored calendars. The creator suggests five tiers: Appointments, Bottlenecks, Critical, Daily Routine, and Dream Self. Each tier represents different levels of importance and flexibility: 1. **Appointments**: These are tasks that must be done at specific times and cannot be easily rescheduled. They are represented in bright red and include events like doctor's appointments, meetings, and flights. 2. **Bottlenecks**: These are tasks or events that are critical to other important things in your life, even if they are not tied to a specific time. They are represented in a slightly less intense color and serve as precursors to more significant goals. 3. **Critical**: These tasks are essential to your main priorities or goals. They are represented in a bright color, similar to Bottlenecks. These tasks may be habits or activities critical to your success. 4. **Daily Routine**: These are the tasks you do daily to maintain your routine. They are represented in a regular color, and the creator suggests "graying out" completed tasks as a way of tracking your progress. 5. **Dream Self**: This tier represents tasks that your ideal self would do, even though they are not crucial to your day-to-day operations. They are more flexible and can be deleted if they don't get completed. The creator also mentions using additional calendars for specific purposes, such as alerts and awareness, capturing quick tasks, and as a catch-all for things that need further processing. The video appears to provide a detailed breakdown of how to implement this time-blocking technique, using Google Calendar to manage tasks and events based on their priority and flexibility. The goal is to help users create a more organized and structured approach to their time management while accommodating their individual needs and preferences.

[@daniellecolada]

Thanks for this! 💜 I’m sure many will appreciate this breakdown:)

[@72Reshu]

Anyone got tips for doing this with paper?

[@Sushigabby]

@@72Reshu in a bullet journal or paper calender you can still categorize by the importance and color code it the same way she showed, but being able to move things around would be different, you'd have to either cross it out or have sections, I feel bullet journaling would need a different process since it's used in a different way than GC. For me, I make lists on paper and then sort it out by importance, and by when I need to do it

[@daniellecolada]

You know back when I used to bullet journal, I made this “time table spread” that looked how gcal looked and I loved a lot of things about it EXCEPT for needing to change things and having to erase and rewrite them … which is why I ultimately charged to digital- love the drag and drop aspect! But if you don’t care about rewriting you could do things the same in maybe different colors of erasable pen? OR if you’re not worried about things falling off, use those mint sticky notes and just move them around as things shift?💜

[@Sushigabby]

omg i second the using sticky notes I love using that method @@daniellecolada

[@dachshunds2676]

ohhhhh this is such a lifesaver idea. I have adhd and autism, and i struggle with demand avoidance (/have a high need for autonomy), so setting a full rigid schedule always felt SO stifling to me. Categorizing these by "how much can i 'naaah-skip' this" feels so much more natural. If i get overwhelmed and feel stifled i can turn off calendars starting with lowest priority, and i can turn them on again according to how good of a day im having. It feels so nice to be able to make a schedule, and when i feel trapped just turn off everything but Appointments (and maybe bottlenecks) and be affirmed that "ahhh this technically all free time, im not trapped", while still being very clear on the least-negotiables.

[@daniellecolada]

Oooh I’ve never heard the term “demand avoidance” but danggg that resonates with me on a different level!! Love that and actually it explains so much in my life, thank you for teaching me something new today lol💜

[@moiram8943]

I didn't even think about the idea of turning off the lower tiers when needed, that makes me love this technique even more.

[@daniellecolada]

Oh I turn off the F and D calendars alllllll the time haha💜

[@ashcontube]

hey@@daniellecolada ! Just curious how/when you keep track of the ideal self tasks that you may decided not to do one day, but you don't want them to totally fall of your radar? Do you just make sure to do a calendar review at the end of each day to see if there are any you want to push out a bit further?

[@daniellecolada]

@ashcontube hi ash, but yeah basically!! I try my best to keep my calendar current so I review it at least a little each day and move things around. A lot of my tasks are set up to recur, but if one isn’t and I can’t get it done, I’ll just scoot it over to the next day/week:)

[@librakels3844]

"If you treat them like appointments, you'll actually do them..." they say to me, who reschedules all appointments at least 5 times before actually going to them.

[@daniellecolada]

* here for this relatable comment lol💜✨

[@jayceeharrisii5956]

I don't think I have ADHD, but my God - this video was so validating and entertaining!!! I created a calendar system similar to this and thought I was crazy. Thank you for putting this out here. It made me feel like I'm normal despite not wanting/being able to do everything on my calendar. Bless your channel

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you so much!! You’re not crazy haha, it feels like having a menu of tasks to complete with my “entrees” type tasks in bright attention grabbing colors and my “sides/desserts” in more subtle colors and I get to drag things around and eat dessert first if I want (as long as I have the time for such things lol)

[@Iquey]

Oh yeah I think I already naturally do this. My colors are not based on any rigid type category. It's all vibes. Dark blues, purples, are chill. Green is like , it's healthy, self care.. Yellow is necessary but not urgent, say, groceries and yard work but You're not starving and it might be raining.. Orange and red are DO IT OR ELSE. Pink is like time sensitive, but fun, like say a movie or friends hangout dates.

[@daniellecolada]

YES I love this lol. ‘No demands, just vibes ‘ might have to be my new motto lol💜

[@netflixandpopcorn5306]

I love this

[@baitlinkrooks]

I love this ‘doesn’t happen’ delete the block situation 😂✨ if it didn’t happen and doesn’t need to, it’s not the end of the world and no need to feel guilty that it didn’t get done (bc it *doesnt exist*). TY for this refreshing video!

[@daniellecolada]

Lol thank you for appreciating this🥰 yeah, no need to hold the worry in my mind of washing the car, I’ll get another reminder next week😂 it’ll take deleting it four times to really hit home that I actually need to lol but it’s effective without being draining😊

[@defenestrated23]

Another tip is to create "hold" blocks, which is when you don't have a specific time block, but you want to keep things open to allow for plans.

[@daniellecolada]

YESSSSS I’ve done something like this! I put football games in my calendar last season so I knew not to schedule any dates with Gabe during that time lol

[@liadeindadani6913]

In which catagory would that go?

[@daniellecolada]

I put it on “Alerts/Awareness,” because it was not something to do or somewhere to be, just something to have in the back of my mind :)

[@DBestAdventureQuest]

@@daniellecoladawould you think they could also be in Flexible Ideal? I have several "optional events" that in a perfect world I'd do but they never seem to happen so I wanted to move them off my appointments calendar.

[@daniellecolada]

Oh totally! If that makes more sense in your brain (it makes sense in mine too), I fully support making those types of adjustments haha :)

[@isobels_literary_life]

Legit just posted a thread about how there's no 'ADHD friendly' calendar or app that will make me actually do the things. This seems to be the most practical ADHD planning tutorial I've ever watched. This seems to keep it nice and simple and being on the regular Google calendar and not a whole new app is so much easier. I love how your identifying tasks and how it can all be on one calendar but you can toggle them off if you need to. Also, calling it a Hot Girl walk is so much more appealing than just a walk lol love it! Learning to allow myself to be flexible with what i do and when is so difficult but hearing people talking about not managing things and it being ok is validating and takes some weight off. Thanks for the video :D (also I have to say, your channel banner is such a great representation for ADHD I laughed when I saw it)

[@daniellecolada]

omigosh this comment make my heart so happy (especially after one I just got that was not as nice lol) and I’m just happy you were able to get so much from it. Yeah, I wonder if the “category” calendars are more neurotypical oriented or if we’ve all just accepted that that’s what we’re supposed to do to manage our schedules. ALSO idk who came up with Hot Girl Walk but it wasn’t me haha but I call it that in my calendar cuz it’s just an ounce more motivating than “WALK AROUND THE BLOCK” haha. but YES we have got to be more gentle with ourselves! I was just saying to someone else how I think that fact that we feel we HAVE to do everything we think of it because we’re afraid it’ll never come up again or we’ll forget about it… but like I’m ‘supposed’ to wash my car once a week but if I don’t do it, I just delete it… because with this system I know I’ll get another reminder next week. It feels GOOOOOD lol. And then your can notice patterns too. Like maybe after a couple weeks I realize i’m only gonna do it once a month, I can easily go into the calendar and change how often I’m reminded to do it. This is so customizable but like you said with it being GCal also structured! I hope it works for you!! Be easy on yourself dear, glad you’re here

[@isobels_literary_life]

@@daniellecolada awh I'm so glad :D love your energy ^_^

[@MickAlister]

Actually you should look at Tiimo. Its an app specifically designed with ADHD people (among others) in mind.

[@daniellecolada]

I’ve heard of this, I’ll have to check it out!

[@MichaelaBelle]

girl straight up, you're a genius lol it is SOOOOO nice to get hacks like this from someone with adhd. ive always felt uncomfy with timeblocking because it felt so restrictive and i want the flexibility to be able to move things around, but this actually seems like something that could work for me 👀 gonna give it a shot!

[@daniellecolada]

YES I’m glad to hear that! I was talking to someone else about this in a previous comment but she was saying she almost felt the need to rebel against a schedule she had made for herself and I always felt THE SAME WAY! Now it feels like putting a puzzle together of how to best use my time and I like it wayyyy better. I wish I could change a few features from the GCAL end but so far it’s doing it’s job :)

[@disneyfoote]

The changing completed events color grey is game changer for me honestly! Thanks girl!

[@daniellecolada]

Haha yay! Yeah I used to have that setting turned on where past events are lighter but it wasn’t dramatic enough to my brain… also it signaled time had passed but not that I’d actually completed the thing lol so this works better💜

[@ashlierose113]

Came here for the information, stayed for your personality! You're hilarious and your editing style is so complementary. This time-blocking technique is going to be a game-changer for me!

[@daniellecolada]

Aaand I’m blushing haha🥰 thank youu:) I hope it’s super helpful for youuu, love to hear how it goes💜

[@benjaminodonnell258]

"I'm Danielle btw" - most adorably ADHD thing ever 🤣

[@daniellecolada]

Hahaha thank you😊😊 blushes lol

[@arborbyrd935]

The way you just deleted the shower and said "Goblin girl day" gave me unlimited joy for some reason.

[@daniellecolada]

Hahaha well good because you guys noticing and resonating with this makes me feel seen lol

[@trishameloling2367]

@@daniellecoladacan you do this on your phone , I don’t always have access to my laptop .

[@daniellecolada]

@trishameloling2367 oh you def can use your phone, it’s an ESSENTIAL for me haha

[@alexandrahill9176]

This is the most helpful method I've seen time blocking in how you described utilizing your time without getting stressed. I often would place things I think "should" be done (laundry, dishes, etc) in the same category as what really "needs" to be done (work, appointments, etc). The flexibility and grace you give yourself in the way you explained gave me such a sense of relief. I have tried a few color blocking methods from other KZbinrs but omg there's no way I can make that work! I also love the idea of greying out the activities done like checking off a box. I know that will only encourage me tocontinue getting things done over time. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@daniellecolada]

YAY I’m happy to hear that and also I hear you! I struggle SOOOO much with prioritization in the moment that it’s better for “clear-headed” Danielle to kind of decide what’s important in advance so monkey brain Danielle doesn’t spend all day spinning her wheels you know? Because I too will spend all day on chores and realize I haven’t done anything that’s actually meaningful to me. And some days I wanna get the “quick wins” like dishes outta the way first thing in the morning and some days i wanna “eat a frog” first thing in the morning, but with the calendar I can budget out my time for how I’m feeling by dragging the stuff around and seeing how much time is left in the time budget…. If that makes sense lol

[@harleyandfriends7778]

This video was so ADHD and I love it 😂 ‘it’s a long time later. And I’m in my kitchen. In a bath robe… 🤷🏼‍♀️’ so relatable! I’m gonna try this calendar today! It definitely makes sense and hopefully helps me get my life together somewhat

[@daniellecolada]

Lol thank you for validating me😊💜 I hope it helps!!!

[@MrsRepairTech]

This feels very intuitive! When I was in college, I color coded my weekly paper planner for classes into just four highlighters: pink for tests, orange for presentation/project/term paper due dates, yellow for regular assignment due dates (and orange assignment milestones like picking a topic, checking books out at the library before everyone else gets all the good reference materials, etc.), and blue for reading assignments. It helped me be able to glance at my planner and know exactly what I needed to do first.

[@daniellecolada]

Yes love this!! The idea of pre-prioritizing, however you do it, just speaks more to me than “this color represents health, this one represents work” cuz I’m like YEAH BUT WHICH OF THOSE IS MORE IMPORTANT?💜✨

[@indyspud]

I genuinely love how this video was so detailed and yet so abruptly ended. Here's the intro, here's all the details, answered all the objectives now off you go. LOVE it :)

[@daniellecolada]

Haha thank you, tbh I normally do like to film an outro but I was just so over filming lol💜

[@hugocast]

I really like the idea of the "B" calendar as Bottlenecks/ Blockers. It could even come handy for vacations and events. Things like "Decide to go to Disney or to NYC for my Birthday". There are several things that I need to do for the trip, but I can't do any of them until I decide which kind of trip I want. I am brainstorming, but I think I'll test it out as A = Appointments, B = Blockers, C = Critical to my Quarterly Goals, D = Routine (Daily and Monthly stuff like changing A/C filters, book stuff) , F = Flexible. This video is gold. Instant subscribe! Thank you so much.

[@daniellecolada]

Awh yay I’m so happy to hear this :) I put making certain decisions on my calendar too tho fr haha:)💜

[@KaedyC]

Never has a phrase been so relatable as "goblin girl moment'

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you for confirming I’m not the only one haha😅

[@kasiamichalik4427]

Thank you! Definitely gonna give it a try! It resonates with me so much more than neurotypical advices! I wanted to ask you to specify the difference between Bottlenecks and Critical but as I was writing this comment, I answered that question myself :D maybe some of will find it useful so I'll leave it here. I use my Google Calendar mostly for work tasks (I'm self-employed) and non-work-related appointments, sometimes other tasks like getting a car insurance or taking the trash out. Putting a daily routine etc on my GCal would be too much for me, I would get overwhelmed. I had an impression that your Critical were mostly non-work-related, they were more about your general goals. So in my work situation I would classify it like that: Appointments - obviously appointments but also some tasks that I have to do for the clients that specific day or maybe even hour, but also holidays, doctor's appointments etc. Bottlenecks - tasks for the clients, accounting, crucial business tasks etc, things that I can move around +/- 1-2 days if something comes up but it's better not to do that. Critical - some of my business goals that are not so much tied to a specific time. If I don't do it this week, I can do it next week but it's important for me and for my business so I want to have a specific time blocked for the task (for now I keep it in Tasks so I don't see any time blocked in my calendar, hence I never do it). Daily routine - that would be checking my email and other things I do everyday anyway but sometimes I forget it takes time :D Flexible ideal - business improvements, extra work I want to do for a client as a bonus but only if I have time for that, all those little things that would be nice to do one day but I will probably never do it :D

[@daniellecolada]

Oh my gosh I love this SO MUCH, thank you for sharing!! 💜and yes, exactly! I’m gonna see if I can pin this comment because that is just a helpful breakdown✨

[@abigailjackson2843]

I'm so glad you left this here because I'm in the same situation! I really struggle with knowing whether to put personal goals or work goals in my project management software, which is silly, but I feel like I need to keep them separate for some reason. And since I'm just getting started with my bookkeeping business I don't have a good grasp of how long things will take yet... I end up putting a week's worth of tasks on one day and then feeling bad about myself when I can't get it all done. I've always used a to-do list format before (multiple variations and software) but would inevitably run into issues with things taking longer than I thought and pushing everything else out. I tried to prevent important stuff from getting pushed by putting them at the top (ie "big rocks"), but a lot of times I feel like I can't settle into work mode without crushing through a few easy things first. I'm excited to try this method! Would you lump everything together into the priority categories, or would you keep them separate? Like "Work Critical" or "Personal Critical"?

[@kasiamichalik4427]

@@abigailjackson2843 you definitely need some time to learn how much time the specific tasks take. I use Toggl Time Tracker and I recommend that app. You will forget to start or stop a timer many times before you form a habit but once you get used to it, you'll be able to see how much time to block for a task, what are the most profitable tasks, what takes too much time, etc. As for me, I tend to undermine my personal tasks and I just don't include them in my calendar, as long as they're not time-restricted appointments. So I guess it might be good to lump everything together to see that both categories (personal and work) are equally important... And you don't complicate your calendar with too many categories - that's the whole point of this technique I think :D

[@daniellecolada]

Hi Abigail! I’m so sorry but for some reason I just saw this! (I think cuz replies get lost easier than regular comments ) but tbh I do not separate the work and personal into separate calendars because that would end up creating too many calendars and be too confusing for me! Also in a way, I see it as- it might be separate “life arenas” but it’s all part of the same life… I can’t only be in one place doing one thing at one time… you know what I mean?? 💜

[@BeaVaneX]

I've been calendar blocking for almost three years now and it's been a CLEAR before and after, especially internally for my own sense of accomplishment and self-worth. I do my calendars by categories but I'm going to give this method by flexibility a try because our brains seem to work in very similar ways. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@daniellecolada]

Of course!!! I’d hate to throw a spanner in your system if it’s already working for you but hopefully this improves upon what you’ve already got going on and makes it better, thank you for watching

[@amandasjoberg463]

Which categories do you have?😊

[@BeaVaneX]

@@amandasjoberg463 I have a general catch all for things like morning routine, breakfast, lunch and dinner, showering, me time in general; I have one for things outside the house (errands, appointments), one for videocalls with friends and family, one for work-related tasks like lesson prep and filling out paperwork, one for lessons (I'm an online teacher); one for chores; one for fitness so I can quickly visualise how much I'm exercising, and one for the time I dedicate to planning and budgeting because it's like a treat hehe I enjoy it so I like to see when I get to do it. It's a lot of categories objectively speaking but they've been working well enough for me so far.

[@throwouttheshelves]

I became fully present when you dropped the "goblin-girl moment".

[@daniellecolada]

Hahaha thank you😊 I used to be shy about things like that for a long time but I think I’m entering into my “eff it” era so thank you for appreciating it lol💜✨

[@amminiputhur7702]

I don't have ADHD (at least I don't think I do) but this was so, so helpful. I consider it as a very successful example of the curb-cut effect. I was starting to think of a method like this but couldn't manifest in this manner because I was still stuck with conventional ways of thinking about time management. This right here is an excellent balance. Also may I say, you are so pretty!

[@daniellecolada]

The curb cut effect? I’ve never heard of that but it sounds intriguing so I’m gonna Google it now lol💜 and awh thank you so much 🥰

[@BabyT709]

This is similar to how I do mine, I also have an activities calendar where I put in the schedule for things in the community such the swimming pool schedule, skating rink, etc things we like to do and if we have a free afternoon or whatever and want to do something we check that calendar to see whats available to go to. These schedules usually only change seasonally so it doesnt have to be updated often

[@daniellecolada]

YESSSS I put things like that on my Alerts & Awareness cal sometimes! Like last year after my husband got me into football I started putting game times on that calendar just so I’d have an awareness not to schedule date nights and things like that when there was a game on haha

[@drunkcicada]

honestly bestie idk if I have ADHD but I've been having the hardest time trying to ADULT and I sat with this for about a week thinking about doing this and today I finally did it. I feel so relieved. I've been thinking of doing my own videos too so if I ever get to it (hopefully now!) I want to be able to share this with you if it worked!! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH

[@daniellecolada]

Awh YAY this made me very happy to hear, and DO IT!! I sat around for yearssss contemplating about this channel and even after I started it overthinking every video. You got this!💜

[@ivonnejimenez4328]

The most smart calendar video I have seen 😭 Thank you!!

[@daniellecolada]

Ahh thank you💜✨

[@youmakeskzstayyyy]

"My social calendar was always empty, lol" that's so accurate for me

[@daniellecolada]

Sometimes I feel like the only girl in LA with no friends lol💜

[@shamzscrapz]

I literally just found you and while I have not been diagnosed, I truly think I have adhd, listening to how you plan you cal made SO much sense to me, I did the colours, pink for personal, blue for appointments, red for must do and green for work, I always wanted to add tasks in the time blocking but couldn’t make it work, my brain hated at the little jagged steps 😂 I’m so going to try this and also ditch the other calendars I have, off to watch some more 😊 Thankyou

[@daniellecolada]

Awh I’m so glad! I hope it works better than your current system and i would totally love to hear how it goes

[@annaannarasumanara4444]

your speaking speed is perfect

[@christineashby4003]

This made SOOOO much more sense to me than ANY other video I’ve watched on time-blocking or Google calendars!!! Not sure yet how I will apply it for work tasks (colleagues see my calendar so they can book appointments with clients for me, or know whether I’m available to discuss something, or know what time I am working since my hours are flexible)… … but at least in the meantime, this will greatly help my personal/life calendars 😊

[@daniellecolada]

Heyyy that makes me so happy to hear!🥰 also others have commented that they’re kind of in this same dilemma, so the workaround we came up with is if you can only use one calendar, choose the colors from the default (the ones that come up when you right click an event) to represent the tiers in your mind and color code accordingly! Just a thought💜

[@elizabethdruee]

This is the most helpful video for ADHD I’ve literally ever watched! Thank you so much!❤

[@daniellecolada]

Of course! Yay I’m so glad💜 such a small tweak but I feel it made a huuuuge difference for me, I hope it does for you too✨

[@FromG2eminor]

Im crying....it makes sense and it doesn't trigger me! 😢 FLEXIBILITY is HUGE!! I was also very focused on your video instead of reading comments per usual. That says a ton!! 😊

[@daniellecolada]

Awh this makes me so happy, and I totally agree… anything that’s a MUST usually ends up having this heavy emotional energy tied to it that weighs me down you know? And thank you!

[@jrhooman]

2 minutes in and this video is so adhd friendly. usually i start wandering off but the editing has me LOCKED IN

[@daniellecolada]

Haha thank you love! I knew if I was gonna put ADHD in the title I was gonna have to deliver the ADHD friendly goods lol

[@donaldpresto3635]

Thank you for this. So much better to know prioritization than just a checklist of to do's. And thank you for your sacrifices, so many great memories to look back on.

[@daniellecolada]

I thought so, thank you! And I appreciate that, and you too! :)

[@crystaldew1993]

I find it funny to delete the things that I couldn't get to do cuz I was on social media or whatever 😂😂, for some reason I find this idea freeing, usually when something doesn't get done I'd just leave it there but it keeps looking at me, haunting me, making me feel guilty about it, but deleting it totally frees up space on the calender and on my mind, Ofc I get it,this is for the minor tasks not the bottelnecks and stuff

[@daniellecolada]

YESSSS giving myself permission to NOT do things just because I think of them has been such a freeing thing, and tbh I’m still working on “letting go” but I think there’s something about the way they recur on the calendar that makes it easier to let go of you know what I mean? Like washing my car… ideally I do it every weekend but if I skip a weekend… I don’t have to worry about it… a reminder to do it will come around next weekend and everything will be just fine :)

[@just.fisayo]

I love the intro so much. I don't like turning my tasks into events.

[@MintyMindedThinks]

I love your style and delivery! The editing and your narrative style made a dry (but important!) topic punchy. Well done!

[@daniellecolada]

AHH that is the BEST compliment, thank you so much🥰

[@markzuckerbread1865]

I have read and watched so many guides on time management but this approach feels more natural for ADHD brains, ADHD productivity tips should always take into account what happens when shit hits the fan, nice video!

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you!😊 and totally!! It’s taken a while for me to get used to the idea of deleting things but the more I practice the easier it gets and the easier life gets lol

[@kimtaylor-hcpf5478]

Girl! I am so excited to get in on the ground floor with your channel because you are going to make it big! Hugely entertaining. Subscribed.

[@daniellecolada]

Ahhh thank you so much🥹🥰 lowkey tearing up over here lol, thank you for coming along with me💜the last few days have felt so amazing being found by and connecting with you guys 🥹✨seriously I’m getting very excited and inspired!

[@katemiroface]

Thank you for making this video, this is revolutionary!!

[@daniellecolada]

Awh thanks Kate, I hope it’s helpful for you!!

[@Redblueboy11]

I love your personality that comes out in the editing

[@daniellecolada]

🥹🥹🥹 thank you Ryan💜

[@JulietInsight]

This... and your Hot girls don't have problems video... I love to see you speak from your experience, starting this channel to reflect the journey and all, makes me feel identified as a fellow ADHDer on my journey to make my way through life and see myself better everytime. Great content! This calendar technique is working for me (2 weeks in), feels unreal after trying so many that failed in days.

[@daniellecolada]

UGH THANK YOU for sharing that this has been working for you, this makes me so, so happy

[@tsaraouth-4329]

Hi! I think this method is actually VERY interesting! Honestly I have this same problem (even tho I don't have ADHD) and organizing things by importance will definitely work better! Thank you so much for this video :D (also, I love your energy!)

[@daniellecolada]

Hi! Yay this comment just made my heart so happy, thank you💜 I hope the method works for you!

[@samaribell5480]

Best video I’ve seen. This makes sense to my brain! Thank you!!!

[@daniellecolada]

Haha thank you!💜

[@machinshin2253]

this system, and this video are my jam! I love this, and am going to test it out over this next week, thanks for the video Danielle!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay, I’m so happy to hear you love it! If you end up trying it out I’d love to hear how it goes for you:)

[@janetmunin3034]

This is my first visit to your channel, and I loved this video! I've been using colors in GoogleC to try to code my activities and appointments, and I've tried to create a daily schedule, but never considered using a system like this. I also love that you use graying out something you did to signal to your mind that it's something you followed through on, and that the GoogleC maintains the record in a much more elegant fashion than a paper planner.

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you so much! yeah, that gray out tip in this video has been a hit haha

[@GabeHansel]

YES! I'm 23 SECONDS into de video and I taught: FINALLY. The self-knowledge ADHD people need to have in order to not fall into false narratives and "tricks" that makes us ashamed because they just don't work for us

[@daniellecolada]

Seriously I will alwaysssss end up rebelling against a rigid structure, I just can’t do it lol

[@itsakanksha.k]

This was literally so helpful and unique compared to what I’ve seen out there already! Thank you so much for sharing! Can’t wait to implement these methods ☺️❤️

[@daniellecolada]

Awh thank you I’m so glad you think so! lmk how it goes for you, I’d love to hear

[@nicolemedina6231]

This is exactly what i was looking for omg. Love your attitude on prioritizing!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay I’m so glad you’re finding it helpful!! Def a little twist on the traditional time blocking videos I’ve seen

[@nellyefron]

I have ADHD and this resonates a lot with the way I think about my tasks. I also have a lot of tasks that are not externally scheduled by someone else, but they are critical to my goals. I used to make it ALL red (appointments, bottlenecks and critical) and obviously it would overwhelm me like crazy and I wouldn't do anything lol. Right now I also keep a separate list for appointments, and most other tasks are flexible to reschedule based on my mood. My system is a little different and I don't wanna shift things around, but I can def see this being useful for another ADHDer!

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you! I totally relate to the being overwhelmed by too much on the calendar, but I’m glad you found something else that works for you💜

[@annaleighshaw]

I spent 4 hours reworking my entire Google Calendar after watching this! Thank you so much, great video!!

[@daniellecolada]

Oh no, FOUR HOURS!? Haha but I get it, I hope it’s going well so far!

[@Casey-ql5xg]

This is a GREAT perspective.

[@mish2773]

Yes! Fantastic layout and explaination. Wonderful tool. Thank you!

[@daniellecolada]

Glad you think so!! 💜

[@nikadragojevic9073]

This is the first organising video that has motivated me and not been overwhelming. Thanks🥰

[@daniellecolada]

Yay I hope it works amazingly for you💜🥰

[@Jenmorrisonyyc]

THANK YOY so much for this video!! I have literally spent hours and hours and hours researching templates for google sheets or notion to try and find something that would work for me with my time management/blindness being self employed. Your approach resonates so much and I feel empowered now to design something starting with these elements. Big hugs and keep putting your authentic self out there. Must feel good to see and feel how impactful your ideas are!

[@daniellecolada]

Oh man I’m so glad you feel this way, that makes my heart so happy to hear! And yeah NGL it feels AMAZING, I really didn’t think too many people would even see this and I wasn’t sure if this was helpful for me only but hearing that it just makes more sense to you all feels wonderful! Thank you for being here and good luck with restructuring!!💜✨

[@colmrooney414]

well you made me chuckle a few times, and in awe of the amazing editing! I appreciate the intuitive value you provide and I'm starting to see how your method is really effective. keep creating and living the life you love

[@daniellecolada]

Awh, thank you so much🥰 Sorry about this verrrry delayed reply lol but as I was just saying to someone else it’s been one of those weeks haha, but I appreciate you being here

[@aram69420]

Ohhh that grey out thing is something so simple but I never thought of. I'll definitely try it thank youuu

[@daniellecolada]

Game changer right? Haha

[@xXCHAxMIXx]

This is such a good idea and it makes sense! This would give me way more structure than "all one color" and it gives you the inbox to process things. Thank you!

[@daniellecolada]

Totally! And just another thing I love about this system is that when I get that ADHD urge to change things about it, I’ll swap the colors out, just so I’m looking at something fresher! Like rn I have the pinks/purples/red going on but I’m thinking of doing shades of orange and yellow next… silly little thing but small tweaks help💜

[@xXCHAxMIXx]

@@daniellecolada yes!! ❤️ I totally get that, at some point swapping the color will keep it interesting, rather than fading to the background like everything else

[@joshuamcdermott6002]

Thank you for this gift. Understanding how to create a schedule that actually works for me has been a long battle, I see a lot of hope here. The core idea makes complete sense. Thank you for sharing this with the world and I

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you!! And I just wanna show appreciation for YOUR appreciation of the core concept lol and seeing that even though everything might not be squarely applicable, you can adapt this to YOUR life💜 love

[@BigSaaSsolutions]

Thank you. Your calendar process gave me a better planning system.

[@daniellecolada]

YESSS I’m so glad to hear it! The feedback you guys have given me is that it’s more intuitive this way so that makes me happy to hear:))

[@wittywalnut]

Thank you so much for this video. This is honestly the best time management video I could find on KZbin ever! Just by thinking about this system makes me feel so relieved 😭♥

[@daniellecolada]

Oh wow I love to hear that haha, i hope it's been working for you!!

[@Alice_v2.0]

This. Is. Fantastic! Plus, the full intro and then “I’m Danielle, BTW” is very me. 😂. You have a new subscriber! 👍🏾.

[@daniellecolada]

Haha thank you!😊 I appreciate you being hereee💜💜

[@elainahinton]

Literally your personality, editing, everything is fantastic. I just subscribed!

[@daniellecolada]

AHHHH thank you so much🥹💜🌹 glad you’re here:)

[@Vercopaanir]

One minute in and I already love your energy/vibes.

[@daniellecolada]

🥹🥹🥹 BLUSHES haha, thank you💜

[@Josh-nf5rg]

This video is incredible! Thanks!

[@cora_and_dogs]

OMG! This is the first time I've ever seen Google Calendar used in a way that could actually work and help me! I'm so glad I found this video. I always see all these people ...like how you were describing in the begining... and they say to just do like they do and I NEVER could and always felt like a failure. This makes so much more sense to my brain. Thank you!!!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay I’m so glad you found it! But I totally feel you, there was way too much friction for me when I had a million calendars- this restriction is somehow so much more freeing lol💜

[@fancy_avocado]

This is genuinely one of the best scheduling systems I've seen ❤

[@daniellecolada]

Oh my, thank you🥰 I hope it’s helpful for you💜💜

[@lilyinua422]

Looks like a great idea. Thank you for sharing.

[@daniellecolada]

Of course, thank you for watching!!!

[@nadiacolbourne5878]

I LOVE YOU! Ive found my kindred spirit! The adhd is REAL girl! ❤

[@daniellecolada]

Hahah HI I love you too mama, I appreciate your time and your love!

[@aliirelan]

YES! this is what I do for color coding in a traditional planner! I chose the darkest color to be the thing that's most important to get done. It's such a great revelation bc my brain doesn't separate things into different categories and it's nice to have level of importance on paper.

[@daniellecolada]

Yay! I miss my paper once in a while but I just drag things around too much to be writing and erasing all the time haha💜

[@tc_is_me]

WOW ! This makes so much more sense to me than other methods !! In the past I’ve felt scattered when it came to organization and planning. Lately I’ve been refining techniques that work for me and THIS is one I will be using. Thank you so much 🙏🏾.

[@daniellecolada]

Yesssss thank youu😊 yeah one day it just kinda clicked that divvying up my calendars by life areas didn’t really help me in any way, it just kind of showed me how much time each area of my life was getting but that wasn’t really helpful information for my purposes lol. I hope it works for youu, thank you for watching💜✨

[@tc_is_me]

@@daniellecoladaFiguring out what works for us is a process. Cheers to us becoming our best selves 🥂.

[@daniellecolada]

@tc_is_me absolutely love, CHEERS🥰🥰🥰

[@maxinereed7667]

This is fantastic!! I am trying this out at the moment. I watched your video loads of times yesterday and set up my calendar yesterday. I actually love greying out the activities. So fab to see how much you get done in a day rather than focussing on what you didn't do! I have never been officially diagnosed with ADHD but am pretty sure I have it. I always love trying out new ways to organise myself but never stick to them or routines! This feels pretty intuitive to me, so thank you!

[@daniellecolada]

Haha totally!! And I agree, the color gray has never made me happier lol💜

[@user-yt1fo9ty9l]

Dang this video was amazing! Exactly what I needed! Also youre a hoot girl!

[@daniellecolada]

Awh yay I’m glad! And I’m BLUSHING thank you haha

[@Shadey485]

I just want to say a HUGE thank you! I don't have ADHD but this is such a simple and clever structure, I've struggled for years trying to plan calendars that are categorised by projects, social, health etc and so much crossed over! The planning generally went out the window, but this is amazing!! Sending so much appreciation!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay of course! Love to hear how it goes dear:)💜

[@anastasiagarber1839]

Started this last night - got my calendars built, and already I can tell this is going to save me money on all those productivity ADHD apps that are basically a fancy calendar with AI. And I get to keep all my data without duplicating calendar entries - absolutely brilliant - thanks Danielle!

[@daniellecolada]

AMEN!! Yay of course💜 GCal is free and that’s one of the best parts haha

[@BhadBishBrie]

This is niccccccceeee. Much more freeing than feeling like bad for not accomplishing something. I Like this ❤❤

[@daniellecolada]

Yayyy so glad you think so! We’ve got to be nice to ourselves haha💜

[@healwithjaniele]

Simple and sustainable scheduling, perfecto and thank you for sharing!!!

[@daniellecolada]

Of course!! Thank you for watching💗:)

[@_JasminRose]

You’re fun to watch! I don’t have adhd but my bf does, so this is helpful for me so I can help him ❤

[@daniellecolada]

Ahhh thank you so much!🥹🥹 I’m so glad, I hope it works!! Game changer for me honestly!💜

[@HelplessFangirl]

I'm a habitual KZbin watcher and have been trying to throw myself into productivity for the past few years and let me just say, this is such good advice, thank you!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay, I’m glad you think so! If you end up giving it a go I’d love to hear how it works for you💜

[@kcjd8659]

“Who falls for this stuff??? Not me.” I see I am in the right place. Subscribed.

[@daniellecolada]

Hahaha welcome:)💜

[@marybaksheeva2874]

Never thought that I would, but I loved it! Thank you.

[@daniellecolada]

Totally, thanks for watching!!💜

[@hellryukk]

i have been using GC to organize my study time for university for a while, but i always felt i had to fight my way into following a strict schedule and i annoyed me so much i didn't even study out of spite for it, so i just started doing something pretty similar to this this past month and it's working wonders for me! I set tasks and study dedicated hours in a way that allows me to move them around as needed instead of forcing myself to stick to an unrealistic timetable; i set them up as an estimate just to know i need to do that, but only assign them a specific time AFTER i have gotten them done. the only unmovable stuff being classes, deadlines and exams! I have been binge watching google calendars videos and i had yet to find anyone who used it similar to the way I do. I love using checklists but I always get so stressed that I had to go back and forth from calendars to notion all the time when I want to see what I need to get done and how my daily routine could fit into my to-do lists. Incorporating them to GC it's just genius, I will be 100% trying out greying out done stuff!!

[@daniellecolada]

Yesss, we’re two peas in a pod haha. No demands, just vibes😊💜 and I’m glad you like the grey trick, that seems to be the game-changer for many wanting that dopamine hit😋

[@gracemaple1060]

This seems like a better alternative to other time blocking techniques, although I don't think I could ever do this. Putting anything on a calendar besides appointments makes me feel overwhelmed. I have todo lists for tasks. My main one is labeled workflow and is just organized with the most critical ones at the top.

[@daniellecolada]

Well thank you! 💜 I appreciate the comment even if you don’t feel this would work for you😊 I think I feel that way about traditional to-do lists lol, mine personally get sooooo long that they’re overwhelming and I’ll write the same thing 2 or 3 times on there and I just don’t know how to go from there without spinning my wheels

[@jorgeleonardosevillano5708]

This just made me feel good about my self… and SO FREAKING RELATED!!! Congrats!🎉

[@daniellecolada]

YAY I’m so glad 💜💜💜

[@nagadoogardening6035]

This is so real and way better than all the productivity vids I've seen. Going to try this setup and see if it sticks! Thanks!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay thank you so much, I hope you like it💜✨

[@zaphyy]

Thank you so much for this! 😭 Been trying to organize my calendar the past few weeks as I go back to school but have been having a lot of trouble. Definitely going to try this priority system. I love the idea of greying things out after you finish them! I tried keeping a notepad to cross things off but never stuck with it. I also like what you said about deleting something if you can't get to it! I would get down on myself for not being able to get to things on my calendar but I like what you mentioned in your video! Thank you!!!

[@daniellecolada]

Of course!! Wow that’s great timing to find this video haha. Yeah the notepad thing isn’t really my fave either. And totally, I like this system because if it’s a recurring task and I don’t get around to it - no worries, I’ll get to it tomorrow and everything will be fine lol

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

Interesting angle to the classic time block! Might incorporate bits to this. There was a video from Elizabeth something about how she manages her days, weeks, months, semester based on energy/motivation as well. I time block and color code categories, but I am constantly fiddling with my calendar and moving things around all the time, I'm not always super tied to it though it gives me a base structure especially for some house work because otherwise I won't do it.

[@daniellecolada]

Oh yes, I know who you’re talking about, I’ve seen a few of her videos! Yeah, for me energy management is huge! And yes I def have to shift things around all the time based on how I’m feeling, but it helps me visualize how much time is already eaten up by other plans and as I shift things around d throughout the day and week, I start to feel the “time pressure” for lack of a better word that I don’t always feel because of the time blindness component of my adhd lol. But I hope whatever you take from this system ends up being useful for you💜💜PS I hope my comment made sense lol

[@SharonYungViolin]

prioritizing with flexibility, when said!!! totally with you!!

[@daniellecolada]

Yay, thank you for watching!

[@bevishhh]

Aaaaah I’ve literally just been thinking about this!! And here you are spelling it out for meeeeeee! You STAR! ❤

[@daniellecolada]

“When the student is ready the teacher appears” haha💜🩷✨

[@TabithaWanjiku06]

Never mind me A - appointments (can't be reasonably fucked with) - tied to a time and changing the time inconveniences others - red B - Bottlenecks - this task is a precursor to something else is important. Eg planning sessions, writing this week's article - another bright color. (Can be shifted but if it isn't done other things aren't getting done) C - critical to your success and keeping things in order eg trash day, (think areas you want to focus on) so if it's health you're focusing on then gym becomes critical ,( they need to take some effort) D. - daily routine - stuff that needs to be done everyday eg morning routine. Things that don't roll over eg making your bed, showering F. Flexible ideal - things your dream self would do if it was an ideal day but even if you don't, no problem) - reminders of how you want to live A+ - alerts and awareness - reminders etc Your name - quick capture that you will process later. (Black) (You can try and turn things you've done grey and delete what you didn't do so when looking back at your week, you know what you did and what areas or times were blank - reflect on what you did in those times)

[@daniellecolada]

YES, thank you for this💜

[@elsakuhlmann8134]

I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD and I accessed the counselling service at my university to set up a study plan. It was so goddamn boring I followed it for half a day and then lost interest. This is SO MUCH BETTER FOR MY BRAIN!!! Adding some emotional attachment to tasks and also acknowledging that some tasks are for when I can be my "ideal self"! So smart! Previously I would have just felt guilty and like I'd failed if it was on the calendar and I didn't do it. This is so much more understanding of ADHD and the likelihood that we won't get through everything on the list! I freaking love this, thank you so much 🤩🤩

[@daniellecolada]

Wow, thank you so much for saying all that

[@katemostreicher]

This makes soooo much sense. Thank you 🥺

[@daniellecolada]

Totally, thank YOU for watching :)💜

[@bambi_saurusrex]

Girl, I love how genuin & sharing you are in this viedeo. Thank you for this video

[@daniellecolada]

Awh thank you so much for saying that! Glad you’re here☺️💜✨

[@Lilybonit4]

Very interesting video, I realized I've been doing something similar for years. I have three calendars setup: - Medical appointments - Exams and big due dates (when I was in university) - All my personal stuff (classes, gym, dates, etc, pretty much what I do on the daily). I also used Google tasks to add on the daily my pending studying and homework, but I still struggled to find the time to do finish those (med school is hard). I now realize I could've separated my school activities from my personal stuff (flexible from mostly inflexible activities). I will be trying this when I start my first job. So thanks for the idea!

[@daniellecolada]

Yes doing the flexibility thing was a game changer for me! thanks for watching!!

[@HannesHeinsar]

I most likely don’t have ADHD but this was wonderful advice. It seems now so common sense to not complicate calendar with variety but to make it more helpful for everyday usage. Thanks!

[@daniellecolada]

Oh wow, this makes me so happy to hear it’s even useful for people without ADHD, thank you so much for telling me😊😊

[@therobpratt]

You’ve got some great ideas - I love the idea of calendaring based on flexibility (or vibes as another commenter mentioned), and greying or deleting based on whether you did it or skipped it is really useful for reviewing your week and seeing how you’re doing on your ideal activities. I also loved your routines having emojis representing what you’re doing during that time - so much more efficient than a bunch of text - I use emojis in my my apple notes folder titles to help them pop when I’m scanning them.

[@daniellecolada]

Thank you! Yeah I used to have everything written out but it made the calendar look a bit more overwhelming so i just thought- I’ll know what this means haha. Appreciate your appreciation haha