If you have ADHD, you probably know that our biggest struggles are with executive functioning. Things like time management, organization, and planning can be big sources of frustration for us. You’ve probably had a number of well-meaning neurotypical people tell you to “just use a planner!” not realizing that this alone can be difficult for us to do successfully. Attempting to use a planner with ADHD may end up being yet another source of frustration.
However, if you find a way to make using a planner with ADHD work for you, it can be really helpful. The trick is understanding that the ways in which neurotypical people use a planner may not be useful for those of us with ADHD.
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Be OK With Not Using Your Planner Daily
You will probably hear a lot of people tell you that in order for your planner to truly be helpful, you have to use it consistently. Personally, I call bullshit.
Honestly, it probably would be more beneficial if I used my planner more consistently. But I’ve accepted that may not be realistic for me, at least at this point in my life. I use my planner when I think of it and I want to. Guess what? It’s still a useful tool for me when I use it!
For a long time, I would beat myself up for not using my planner the way I’m “supposed” to, i.e. every day. Because I felt like I would never use it consistently, I avoided using it at all. (There’s that autistic all-or-nothing thinking for you.) Eventually I realized I could still get some benefit from it by using it when I can. So that’s what I’ve been doing.
One thing that has helped me combat the feeling of using it “wrong” when I’m not using it daily is by getting an undated planner. This allows me to essentially just pick up where I left off without having to face the “shame” of 3 months of blank pages. It enables me to use my planner without feeling like I’m wasting half of the planner.
This tip fits into a larger narrative that I highly recommend to anyone who is neurodivergent: be ok with doing things differently from how you’ve been told you “should” do something. As the old adage goes, there’s no use trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Similarly, there’s no use trying to use a planner with ADHD as if you don’t have ADHD.
Try Different Formats
To expand a bit on the undated planner thing: there are so many different types of planners out there – don’t be afraid to experiment a bit! There are various different things you can try: dated vs undated, physical vs digital, weekly vs. daily. There are a LOT of options out there!
I’m currently using an undated dashboard layout planner from Happy Planner. (This is the exact one I have.) I actually got super excited when I saw this planner because the art is done by an illustrator, Cat Coq, who I’ve followed for a few years now. I like the dashboard layout because it’s easy to keep track of things you need to do for the whole week and while you can delegate them to specific days if you’d like to, you don’t have to.
Of course, I know planners can be expensive and you probably don’t want to have to buy a bunch of different planners to find out which one you like best. The Happy Planner that I just mentioned is definitely pricey for someone who isn’t sure they’re going to keep up with using a planner. One option is to buy inexpensive ones at places like Walmart or Target to keep costs down.
If you’re feeling ambitious and creative, you can try bullet journaling. I personally found a bullet journal harder to keep up with because you have to write and design everything yourself so it takes more time, but it can be as simple or as extravagant as you want so it can certainly be low-maintenance if you design it that way. If you decide to try bullet journaling, you probably don’t even need to buy anything. I know you’ve got a spare notebook hanging around; that’s just the ADHD way. 😉
Another inexpensive option that requires a little less effort is to find websites or bloggers that offer free printable planners or even go on Canva and take a look at their planner templates that you can download and print. These are both free options that would allow you to try out different styles to find what you like best. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a printer at home, your local library is a great place to get things printed!
Not sure where to get started? Check out Canva or take a look at Passion Planner’s free downloads page. They’ve both got lots of great options!
Keep It Visible and Accessible
With ADHD, there are few more accurate statements than “out of sight, out of mind.” I’ve found that in order to use a planner with ADHD, I need to make sure I keep it visible and accessible. I actually rarely close my planner unless I’m putting it in my bag and don’t want the pages to get all beat up (a perk of using a planner with rings). Throughout the week, I generally keep it open on my desk in my office (I work from home). On the weekends, I’ll bring it with me into the bedroom which is where I spend a lot of my weekend time.
By making sure it’s easy to find and is kept somewhere that I’ll see it throughout the day, this stops me from forgetting about using it. If something is in another room, 9 times out of 10 I’ll tell myself something along the lines of “when I get up to go to the bathroom in a few minutes, I’ll go grab my planner.” Aaaaaand 9 times out of 10, I’ll forget to do it when I actually get up. Keeping it close by and visible has been a big help in getting me to actually use my planner.
Make It Appealing
My last piece of advice when wanting to use a planner with ADHD is to make it as appealing as you can. Us ADHDers have a much easier time doing things that we find fun or interesting.
For me, I like to use things like fun bright pens, pretty highlighters, and lots of stickers with my planner. If you can find ways to use your planner as a form of creativity and expression, it’ll make it a lot more enticing. This would be another great reason to try bullet journaling. I know personally, using fun things in my planner makes it feel a lot more “me.”
These are my 4 top tips when you want to use a planner with ADHD. Try them out and let me know if they help! And as always, if you have other ideas that may be helpful, feel free to share them in the comments!
