I am an extremely visual person. Out of sight equals out of mind. Also, after my brain gets used to seeing something in one place for too long I don't notice it anymore. So a sticky note will work for about a week. Then my brain no longer notices it. I just realized calendars have nice pictures to get you to look at them more.
Same here -- visual person! I heard that a lot in my childhood: "Out of sight is out of mind". I'm still the same in my later 50's. See, I'm very consistent!
This makes so much sense. The combining of paper planning and online is so essential because if it's all online it "doesn't exist"... Out of sight, out of mind. But the journal is on the counter and I have to "run into it" and remember what I was doing. The stickers suggestion helps so much, I am going to implement this as... Your right the ADHD needs fun, but the seriousness of my thinking/analyzing autistic brain makes me forget to have fun. ;)
I'm not diagnosed yet, but I very relate to many things you are talking about. What helps me to be on track and feel productive, at least during my business hours, is a simple trick I started to do to analyse my work. I set a timer with a short ring every 10 minutes and I have an excel sheet where I write time and what I'm working on right now every 10 minutes. That helps me feel productive at the end of the work day, and also ensures that I'm on top of my task and not procrastinating. And of course, as a software developer, I work with Scrum and try to have a single task per task routine and busy, but not overwhelming schedule.
OMG. theres so many shows I just forget that I was watching halfway through, and by the time I get back to them, Ive forgotten about them entirely and dont even remember anything that happened
When the children were little I had a 3 insulating tape "boxes" stuck on the kitchen wall: 1 for me and 1 each for them. All their school and social and doctor's appointments would go in there, along with ideas for places to visit or things to do that I'd found in the local magazines/newspapers. I'd update the boxes in a rolling fashion, so once the event had taken place (or been missed!). I'd use blue tack or post it notes or whatever I needed to stick things in the boxes. I'd also have an A4 spiral bound notebook, with my day from 7.00am to 10.00pm (or thereabouts), with each hour divided up into 15 minute slots. I'd have to write this out myself once a month or so to keep ahead of the game. In here would go basics such as getting dressed, breakfast, school run so that I *knew"* I had the time to do them. (I came up with "The 2-hour Rule" which said I had to start getting ready 2 hours before I actually left the house; I thought the children took up all the time, but now they're grown up and gone, it can still take me 2 hours to get ready to leave, or ready for a Zoom meeting, etc. !!!) I learned the hard way, and from "Organising for the Creative Person" (by Dolores Cotter Lamping and another lady: brilliantly helpful book, I found, but can't see on the bookshelf Right Now!) and from a friend spelling it out to me, that a 2 hour job will not fit into a 10 minute slot! So in this A4 book I marked out blocks of time for jobs that had to be done, whether it was baking or re-organising furniture or walking the dog or laundry, etc. This approach to micro-managing my day was very helpful indeed, as I have a very poor sense of time and by doing this I could *see* that a long job would not fit into a tiny gap of time. I think I got a lot done using this system, too. Managing money -- avoiding bank fees -- had also been a very sore and troubling issue ever since I started earning, despite trying my level best at budgetting. Having money come in each fortnight, but go out monthly, meant I was in a perpetual daze about how to reconcile the two successfully. Now I bank with an outfit that puts money aside for my bills each time I'm paid, and puts the rest onto a debit card for me to do with as I will. They do not provide an overdraft facility, and they charge £15 a month for their service. For me, that is Well Worth the price, as I have peace of mind about my bills, I no longer pay out £30 to £70 in one month for bank fees, and I can make sensible decisions about how I spend my money. I don't usually carry more than £5 cash with me either, because if I've got cash, I spend it. So, it took me a long time, but I got things more or less under control in the end. I also carry a little A6 size notebook and pen, which slips in my coat pocket or handbag, and in which I can note down anything at all. That's been extremely useful, especially during difficult times when I needed to collect and act on information about housing, for example. These days it has shopping lists, to do lists, a little schedule of the run-up to Xmas and things like that in it, including recipes and crochet patterns! Definitely, trying out various systems and taking the bits that work for *you*, to create your own bespoke system, works. So do the digital timers and reminders we have these days. Happy organising, everyone!
OH I AM SO HAPPY YOU PUT THIS OUT!!! I've spent the last month looking at every possible method of organizing from apps to bullet journals lol. But your videos always help so much!! This timing is amazing.
I just finished the video and it's pretty much everything I've been figuring out myself without actually being able to isolate my thoughts if that makes sense. So many aspects of different systems do work but as a whole on their own just don't. I think this will be very helpful for me! Thank you 💜💜
I have also been really struggling in this area trying to figure out what works for me. Having SUCH a hard time feeling effective for myself and my family right now as we are in a very good but challenging season of transition to our farmstead life and still balancing motherhood and learning to homeschool, etc. And there went my chronic over sharing. Sorry! But thank you for this!
I was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type when I was a child, but was lied to by doctors saying that I had "grown" out of it and am just now realizing that I do indeed still have it and that it is what has been impacting my life so much all these years.... I think that I may also have Autism based on the research I have been doing with the help of your videos! I have so many planners and systems that I have tried and have never stuck with them because I forget to look at them and keep up with them... lol thank you so very much for making these videos to help us out, they have been very helpful!!!
Not sure how they can determine for you that you grew out of it. Sounds like didn’t know what they were doing. Did they even ask you about symptoms or did they just decide, since this person seems normal can’t have it anymore Which partly is why I never got diagnosed until high school. I didn’t look like adhd, but my problems were all related to it. I just did well at hiding it
Love hearing your system. I could never keep up with journaling until I started adding in cute stickers and washi tape too. Somehow my lists and schedules looking cute is enough reward for me to keep up with it. And I put it all on Google Calendar too, with alerts and alarms if needed, in case I'm anywhere where I don't look at my notebook.
Google calendar changed my life literally. I put everything in it including as you said reminders for upcoming TV series' I'm interested in as like you I can be extremely interested then completely forget the start or midway through. I use electronic post-it notes to store thing's that interest me, links to recipes or RUclips videos I want to watch or keep... I love the the ' location function' and 'notes' on Google calendar where I can store the address ready to satnav unfamiliar places and add any notes about who I'm meeting or door codes etc - life changing. No forgotten appointments or information.
I do the same! since i started putting everything on google calendar i don't forget any appointment (well almost none lol) also put the widget on my phone homescreen to see it everytime i unlock my phone. it's the best!
Same here, Google Calendar is on my home screen. Well, the first screen after it actually, as the Clock is on the home screen as I use it to remind me to take my meds 4- hourly. These electronic reminders are so useful, and all in one place. I'm tempted to croak, "We didn't have these when I was a girl!" but that would be uncool.
I work with tiimo and a simplified/personalized bullet journal; it's a very small notebook that I can always take with me for a monthly overview and To-Do-list, while tiimo is where I do all my detailed weekly and daily planning. :)
I realized I do something similar where I write my to dos and ideas on online tools and when I actually want to start getting things done in the day it HAS to be on paper to feel real! Wow I feel a lot better about my ways and I’m going to refine them a bit thanks to your tips and suggestions. Great video!
My 8 year old daughter has been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. I recognise so much of myself in her that I'm going to go get myself assessed. I have also just found out that my older sister has been diagnosed at 48 years old!
I use a combination of different things: a monthly calendar on the wall for things that are happening on a particular day; a bullet journal for things that I need to plan out; post-it notes for ideas/inspiration before they get to the planning out stage. Mostly that works! And I don't worry if something slips and I have to take some remedial action.
thank you for this video! as someone with adhd these days i struggle with school so much so these videos made by neurodivergent people and for neurodivergent people really help me with organising and validating my experience. using different organising methods at the same time is a really good yet not so obvious advice, so thanks !
oh wow!! it never occurred to me to tweak it/change little things up each week to not get bored with your systems. I'm definitely trying it out! thank you so much :)
oh my!!! i just created my own smart phone - whiteboard system!!! many thanks for this!!! it is soooo affirming! i also just got beautiful whiteboard markers that are magnetic and has many colors
Wow, this is the first video of you that I watch and we're using almost exactly the same things. You just seem more advanced, because I still need to work on my morning sessions being regular. Thanks a lot for this video! It shows me I'm on the right way and my planning isn't completely weird. ❤ I would love to hear how you organize your meals/cooking/shopping. 😊
This is great! I have a paper planner. But add all appointments on my google calendar as well just in case I don’t have my planner with me. Then I use the Google Tasks app to remind me of certain tasks and routines I need to do as well. I love the notifications on that app. It also allows me to have different lists. Some of my lists include include: “waiting on”, “to buy”, “Future craft projects” and of course the main one which is “my tasks”. ❤ Between the three items I can keep up with all I have going on in my world. 🌍
This is so helpful for me. I've been trying multiple systems for myself as well, and I think adding a daily planning segment will really help me a lot! :)
Thank you so much, Ella!… I realize that I already have a very similar system to what you shared yours is - which gives me hope that I am already following some sort of flow - even though most of the time I am beating myself up and telling myself I get nothing done 😢 I will get back to the analog organizer and start the habit of making a list based of Google Calendar every morning and make sure to include a meditation before that, to make sure I do so in a good headspace. I am embarrassed to admit that sometimes I leave a change of clothes in the spare bathroom the night before and literally sneak out the bedroom and leave both hubby and dog inside - so that I could head to the gym, meditate, breathe. If I chose to get ready in our bathroom, and one of them hints any small need, I automatically get into caretaker mode and my priorities are always postponed… and the rest of the day is all about putting out fires 🤷🏻♀️
Really great ideas here! Ive tried about every system i can find but my adhd side sabotages it because it gets bored or my PDA rebels against it. Learning to "trick" your brain into engaging is key. Thank you, Ella!
I use the calendar on my iphone for appointments. I also have a huge desk calendar for writing future events and just tracking things throughout the month. I don't keep it on a desk, just next to my bed, but it helps a lot to be able to take it out and see the whole month. I have notifications that pop up in my phone for meds. I also try to journal often and I was planning each morning for a little while. I am getting back to it. I will try the sticker idea.
Thanks so much for sharing your system, I’ve tried all kinds of apps and planners and I really can’t make them work together. So I’m going to implement yours and hopefully tweak as /if I need to ❤️❤️. I knew I would be overwhelmed with it all in one place like I was trying to! Might try similar with my webpages and articles that I’ve saved all over the place!
Love it! First time I see a video that adress the real problem! To stick at the system more than 2 weeks! Thank you! My system is digital calendar + routine app + alarms on my phone and now I want to try with a bullet journal. I dont have an efficient system for now but you help to have hope I can do it! ❤❤❤❤
Honestly I am literally on your system but you are doing better than me as I had to add another element that was unexpected shocks to mine as when any nasty things happen I land up spending all day trying to fix my friends meltdown or relationship drama while managing my autistic son and my autistic self with a ageing father who needs constant care as well while my abusive violent ex is taking cheap shots at his son so yeah I think I do ok I guess most days I have few meltdowns but that’s normal so I try not to crucify myself if I can’t deal.I honestly hate myself when I fail though that emotion gets me in meltdown every time. Thanks for being there for me with your amazing vibe. Killing it as always girl.
Loved this video. I am so glad that I am not the only person who couldn't work with a bullet journal. I thought I was somehow 'broken' as the system is supposed to be great for adhd brains. Not mine, though. Because I struggle with chronic migraine as well as fibromyalgia, I generally focus on getting one thing done per day. Often, that turns out to be the shopping. I'm always forgetting things. Yes, I make a list, but I generally forget that too, so that getting what I need is somewhat hit or miss. Anything really important gets written on the wall calendar, high has nice big squares for entering things.
The first thing my brain went to was the rainbows on your wall. Something I’ve always loved ever since I was kid and kind of a special interest of mine. I can certainly relate to trying to plan stuff out being super difficult. I just kind of give up and don’t do anything b/c I get so frustrated and stressed trying to plan. Google Calendar is a great idea and I’ve been using that myself to keep track of my medical appointments for anything & everything. Recently purchased myself a white board to write important things down b/c my memory has become quite terrible over the years. I actually felt kind of relaxed watching you show how you plan and keep track of things. Made my AuDHD brain quite happy. It can be very hard to focus on one thing at a time from my brain being all go go go 24/7/365, especially when my noise sensitivity goes off and even silence is too loud for me. I really liked your Activity List b/c it had all the things I love to do! LEGOs, play my Switch, take a bath if I need to relax, I do some clay work here & there, I do like baking but haven’t done it for awhile, watching tv or movies. Your LEGO collection and craft corner (5:32) are so cool! I’m working on building up a collection myself and organizing all the bricks (color then shape). My depression, anxiety, chronic pain makes keeping to a schedule difficult as well. Some days I can get stuff done, some days I get a little done, and others are just so bad I can’t even get out of bed. I thank heavens for my iPad on those days the most. And every other day.
I also have several different things: I use Tiimo to track appointments, work, classes, and general study time as well as my morning routine, evening routine and my whole life basically. I use Apple reminders to notify me to track medication. I have a planner which is purely for university deadlines, studying I want to do, classes etc (but only university things). I have separate to-do lists on my phone of things I want to get done for personal, work etc and the things on these lists are ordered with my higher priorities at the top and extra but not urgent stuff at the end. Lastly, I make a daily to do list based on what is in Tiimo, my planner, and the to-do lists on my phone to decide what to get done that day and this list is in a notebook which is always on my desk. I may also use stickers to motivate me with this daily to do list, great idea!
For me is pen and paper, digital planners and calendars are too rigid for me. This year I have been using a planner that has 1 day per page, so I have space to write. In one side of the page I can write all the tasks I have to do and in the other side I can organized the schedule for the day. I write appointments and things I can't change with pen but the rest goes on pencil. This way, if (I mean WHEN) I need to make changes in the middle of the day because I'm too tired or for whatever other reason is quite easy. Also, it might sound silly but writing with a pencil works better for my anxiety. And of course I use stickers because they give me joy.
Thank you for sharing it all with us. I currently use apple reminders and a calendar on my phone called “quick notes” which is the only digital calendar that’s worked for me. The input is where I struggled with every other calendar I found. I hated the fiddle way the input screen takes you away from the full calendar view or week view on smartphone app versions, and immediately wants to know the “duration” - I have no idea of the duration of something like a hospital visit, we’ll technically they tell me it may take a couple of hours total, but I cleared my hypothetical calendar for the whole morning … and crucially I do not have the patience or energy to fill information that I don’t need to be specified. I just want start time, what it is, bam, done, and an easy reminder. QuickNote can’t do everything though, even with the reasonably priced paid version.
i'm wandering around productivity youtube and after feeling completely exhausted with the 'normal' videos (please how do they keep up with using 20+ apps for task management??), your video is a breath of fresh hair.
Yeah I literally had a dopamine increase when I thought to myself how can I make something interesting again and the thing that you said is the small things like a new pen or different colour notepads or sticky notes.
Finally someone that does basically what I already do but with a little tweaking. This resonates with me SO WELL! I really wanted to start using Google Keep but somewhere I read it was going away so I panicked and thought what do I do then?
Personal Organization setups (systems?) are an ongoing development .. often influenced by changes in events, schedules, etc. I find it next to impossible to coordinate events across apps like my phone's calendar, clock, and notepad. I find it much easier to coordinate events, dates, and particulars in a pocket notebook. I can pen whip status or changes much easier (and quicker) than tapping on my phone. My phone is just for social networking and as backup (pics and email) for my pocket notebook. While ADHD, Autism, Asperger's, or whatever, complicates personal organization, I find it much easier to work from a simplified, portable platform such as a pocket notebook.
Thank you, Ella❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I’m wanting to revert back to pencil and papers and even a planner that I can take with me to appointments and work to write things down as I remember things much easier whenever I write them down…^_______< ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Same, except that I've been really lazy. I do the Bujo, use Evernote, compound infrastructure. Have a really nice set of fountain pens and I honestly just need someone to kick me in the ass and force me to get up and do shit. It's so easy to accomplish nothing when nobody expects anything from you.
Aha! The External Imperative! I too need a kick up the backside to do what should/must be done. If I've got to take the children to school, or attend a meeting, or anything that I'm "told" or "expected" to do -- if there is an authority other than me involved, that's fine, I can do it. But if I'm left to my own devices, I spend 60% of the day in bed, smell really rank, eat rubbish, whatever I can find in the cupboards and forget to put the washing machine on, or do the washing up, or hang out the laundry, etc etc. I hate it!! And the phone's alarm going off isn't quite the same, it doesn't get me moving. It's still a problem, in my later 50's!! And I still haven't found THE solution. Perhaps I should go back to my A4 spiral bound book and slice my day into 15 minute slots again... Sigh!
I have tried using apps and digital systems so many times, but they just do not work for me. The only way my phone or computer has ever been helpful is setting an alarm to go off when I need to start getting ready for appointments. When I try to use digital methods I just end up ignoring everything because it feels intrusive and overwhelming. Instead I do my own version of bullet journaling and has been working pretty well for me. But making sure I don't over-complicate it is definitely important for keeping it sustainable.
Hey - thank you so much for this .. as you were talking realised I do a mixture of these things! I had a question if that’s okay >> how do you allow for varying energy levels and building back a routine after breakdowns etc.. I find Im struggling to find the balance and keep getting caught in a high productivity then everything falling off spiral as maybe the ADHD side starts to reject the slow steady progress!!
I'm going to be honest, i've trailed off about twice during this explanation of an extremely meticulous, broad and complex organizational system requiring daily maintenance, and the mere idea of having to invest that time and energy makes me think i'd rather knock down a brick wall with my forehead. Do you just eat a bowl of adderall for breakfast every morning?
This is very similar to what works for me but you've added some ideas that will improve mine. Thank you - love the Rinkl service. Do you have a referral code?
I have 20 notebooks and keep buying new ones because I think I need them for something specific, once I started writing after months I rip it all out and think it's not clean anymore and I need a new one.. Is this normal :")?
No matter the system I try nothing works. Just trying to keep up with any systems gives me more sensory overload. Then on the days where I do get organized, it’s hard for me to keep up due to familial reaponsibilities sucking the focus out of me, then by the time I the evening stuff is supposed to happen I’m in such a bad state I feel completely paralyzed. I’m fk’d if I do and fk’d if I don’t. I feel so trapped in my body. Still. After 10 years of therapy and medication management. I just feel like I was built wrong and can’t handle this world. I’m at a complete loss and just don’t want any of this anymore. I’m so tired. Nothing works for me.
The sticker and washi tape idea sounds like a very helpfull one:o. Definetly gonna try that:). I have been trying a long time to get organised but i haven't had alot of succes. My meds aren't a problem because i use the app medisafe where you can pay a tiny amount of money for fun voice reminders that say you need to take your meds on the times you put in the system. For a long time i had dory from finding nemo tell me:). I found it realy funny or ironic because of her short term memory problems:). They also had obama for example and elsa singing take your pills, take your pills, can't miss a dose anymore. It's a parody ish version of let it go:p. Also i was wondering if you also have tips on saving money?:)
Feel even more confused after this video 🤔😱 maybe everyone does need to work out their own system. I think because I struggle with technology but do like calendars,, notebooks and white boards, sticky notes. Lol. Definitely set out a daily schedule and to do lists, weekly plan for each day for the next couple of weeks ahead. That's helpful, so definitely more of an analogue person. It was the technical bit that confused me I think. But I'd say you're probably now more organised than most people in life now, lol😂❤️
😅Ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha !!! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Mass murderers do too!! And diabetic people!!! Oh, this is so funny!! Yep, I grew an extra leg when I was diagnosed -- on my shoulder!!!! Ha ha ha ha!!! Thanks for the laugh!
OH MY GOD! That’s what I’m doing intuitively😱 after trying different calendars, stick notes Widgets (really good by the way if someone needs to constantly see if there’s something overdue, and I change the color every now and again.. depends on my brain, for it not to disapp from my “brain eyes”🫣). I feel like you’re talking about me.. and I’m so HAPPY that I’m going through a good path for myself. Definitely need both systems, analog, day to day.. a plan slightly the day before if my days are flexible, and the next morning I prioritise them, to make me stick to what’s URGENTE or OVERDUE. Explore the sticky notes widgets guys! It’s great! Love ya😘
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I hope you enjoyed this video, the full executive functioning video is here ruclips.net/video/HqiuBc20W_0/видео.html
I am an extremely visual person. Out of sight equals out of mind. Also, after my brain gets used to seeing something in one place for too long I don't notice it anymore. So a sticky note will work for about a week. Then my brain no longer notices it.
I just realized calendars have nice pictures to get you to look at them more.
OH! That thing about calendars makes so much sense. I thought it was to add to the decoration.
Same here -- visual person! I heard that a lot in my childhood: "Out of sight is out of mind". I'm still the same in my later 50's. See, I'm very consistent!
This makes so much sense. The combining of paper planning and online is so essential because if it's all online it "doesn't exist"... Out of sight, out of mind. But the journal is on the counter and I have to "run into it" and remember what I was doing. The stickers suggestion helps so much, I am going to implement this as... Your right the ADHD needs fun, but the seriousness of my thinking/analyzing autistic brain makes me forget to have fun. ;)
I'm not diagnosed yet, but I very relate to many things you are talking about. What helps me to be on track and feel productive, at least during my business hours, is a simple trick I started to do to analyse my work. I set a timer with a short ring every 10 minutes and I have an excel sheet where I write time and what I'm working on right now every 10 minutes. That helps me feel productive at the end of the work day, and also ensures that I'm on top of my task and not procrastinating. And of course, as a software developer, I work with Scrum and try to have a single task per task routine and busy, but not overwhelming schedule.
OMG. theres so many shows I just forget that I was watching halfway through, and by the time I get back to them, Ive forgotten about them entirely and dont even remember anything that happened
When the children were little I had a 3 insulating tape "boxes" stuck on the kitchen wall: 1 for me and 1 each for them. All their school and social and doctor's appointments would go in there, along with ideas for places to visit or things to do that I'd found in the local magazines/newspapers. I'd update the boxes in a rolling fashion, so once the event had taken place (or been missed!). I'd use blue tack or post it notes or whatever I needed to stick things in the boxes.
I'd also have an A4 spiral bound notebook, with my day from 7.00am to 10.00pm (or thereabouts), with each hour divided up into 15 minute slots. I'd have to write this out myself once a month or so to keep ahead of the game. In here would go basics such as getting dressed, breakfast, school run so that I *knew"* I had the time to do them. (I came up with "The 2-hour Rule" which said I had to start getting ready 2 hours before I actually left the house; I thought the children took up all the time, but now they're grown up and gone, it can still take me 2 hours to get ready to leave, or ready for a Zoom meeting, etc. !!!)
I learned the hard way, and from "Organising for the Creative Person" (by Dolores Cotter Lamping and another lady: brilliantly helpful book, I found, but can't see on the bookshelf Right Now!) and from a friend spelling it out to me, that a 2 hour job will not fit into a 10 minute slot! So in this A4 book I marked out blocks of time for jobs that had to be done, whether it was baking or re-organising furniture or walking the dog or laundry, etc. This approach to micro-managing my day was very helpful indeed, as I have a very poor sense of time and by doing this I could *see* that a long job would not fit into a tiny gap of time. I think I got a lot done using this system, too.
Managing money -- avoiding bank fees -- had also been a very sore and troubling issue ever since I started earning, despite trying my level best at budgetting. Having money come in each fortnight, but go out monthly, meant I was in a perpetual daze about how to reconcile the two successfully. Now I bank with an outfit that puts money aside for my bills each time I'm paid, and puts the rest onto a debit card for me to do with as I will. They do not provide an overdraft facility, and they charge £15 a month for their service. For me, that is Well Worth the price, as I have peace of mind about my bills, I no longer pay out £30 to £70 in one month for bank fees, and I can make sensible decisions about how I spend my money. I don't usually carry more than £5 cash with me either, because if I've got cash, I spend it.
So, it took me a long time, but I got things more or less under control in the end.
I also carry a little A6 size notebook and pen, which slips in my coat pocket or handbag, and in which I can note down anything at all. That's been extremely useful, especially during difficult times when I needed to collect and act on information about housing, for example. These days it has shopping lists, to do lists, a little schedule of the run-up to Xmas and things like that in it, including recipes and crochet patterns!
Definitely, trying out various systems and taking the bits that work for *you*, to create your own bespoke system, works. So do the digital timers and reminders we have these days.
Happy organising, everyone!
wow thank you for sharing these helpful tips!!
OH I AM SO HAPPY YOU PUT THIS OUT!!! I've spent the last month looking at every possible method of organizing from apps to bullet journals lol. But your videos always help so much!! This timing is amazing.
I just finished the video and it's pretty much everything I've been figuring out myself without actually being able to isolate my thoughts if that makes sense. So many aspects of different systems do work but as a whole on their own just don't. I think this will be very helpful for me! Thank you 💜💜
Here's to patchwork quilting organisation systems until they are the right pattern for your brain!
I have also been really struggling in this area trying to figure out what works for me. Having SUCH a hard time feeling effective for myself and my family right now as we are in a very good but challenging season of transition to our farmstead life and still balancing motherhood and learning to homeschool, etc. And there went my chronic over sharing. Sorry! But thank you for this!
This is almost the same exact system I made for myself. It's amazing to see how similar strangers' minds are.
I noticed over the years that digital and paper planning works better for me 😊 Thank you so much ❤
I was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type when I was a child, but was lied to by doctors saying that I had "grown" out of it and am just now realizing that I do indeed still have it and that it is what has been impacting my life so much all these years.... I think that I may also have Autism based on the research I have been doing with the help of your videos! I have so many planners and systems that I have tried and have never stuck with them because I forget to look at them and keep up with them... lol thank you so very much for making these videos to help us out, they have been very helpful!!!
omg me too!!!
Not sure how they can determine for you that you grew out of it. Sounds like didn’t know what they were doing. Did they even ask you about symptoms or did they just decide, since this person seems normal can’t have it anymore
Which partly is why I never got diagnosed until high school. I didn’t look like adhd, but my problems were all related to it. I just did well at hiding it
Love hearing your system. I could never keep up with journaling until I started adding in cute stickers and washi tape too. Somehow my lists and schedules looking cute is enough reward for me to keep up with it. And I put it all on Google Calendar too, with alerts and alarms if needed, in case I'm anywhere where I don't look at my notebook.
Ooh I’ve tried bullet journaling but the overwhelming urge to have a “perfect” layout made me give up!
Google calendar changed my life literally. I put everything in it including as you said reminders for upcoming TV series' I'm interested in as like you I can be extremely interested then completely forget the start or midway through.
I use electronic post-it notes to store thing's that interest me, links to recipes or RUclips videos I want to watch or keep...
I love the the ' location function' and 'notes' on Google calendar where I can store the address ready to satnav unfamiliar places and add any notes about who I'm meeting or door codes etc - life changing. No forgotten appointments or information.
I do the same! since i started putting everything on google calendar i don't forget any appointment (well almost none lol) also put the widget on my phone homescreen to see it everytime i unlock my phone. it's the best!
Same here, Google Calendar is on my home screen. Well, the first screen after it actually, as the Clock is on the home screen as I use it to remind me to take my meds 4- hourly. These electronic reminders are so useful, and all in one place. I'm tempted to croak, "We didn't have these when I was a girl!" but that would be uncool.
The "just for fun" part is super important🥺💖
I work with tiimo and a simplified/personalized bullet journal; it's a very small notebook that I can always take with me for a monthly overview and To-Do-list, while tiimo is where I do all my detailed weekly and daily planning. :)
Same thing with a book that has everything in it that I carry around with me
Tiimo will be my next thing to try
I realized I do something similar where I write my to dos and ideas on online tools and when I actually want to start getting things done in the day it HAS to be on paper to feel real! Wow I feel a lot better about my ways and I’m going to refine them a bit thanks to your tips and suggestions. Great video!
My 8 year old daughter has been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. I recognise so much of myself in her that I'm going to go get myself assessed. I have also just found out that my older sister has been diagnosed at 48 years old!
"Yes, I can forget that I was watching something midway through a season".
No need to call me out like that 😂
I use a combination of different things: a monthly calendar on the wall for things that are happening on a particular day; a bullet journal for things that I need to plan out; post-it notes for ideas/inspiration before they get to the planning out stage. Mostly that works! And I don't worry if something slips and I have to take some remedial action.
thank you for this video! as someone with adhd these days i struggle with school so much so these videos made by neurodivergent people and for neurodivergent people really help me with organising and validating my experience. using different organising methods at the same time is a really good yet not so obvious advice, so thanks !
When you mentioned lists for TV it reminded me of when I used to track all the shows I'd watch and were coming out on a spreadsheet
oh wow!! it never occurred to me to tweak it/change little things up each week to not get bored with your systems. I'm definitely trying it out! thank you so much :)
oh my!!! i just created my own smart phone - whiteboard system!!! many thanks for this!!! it is soooo affirming! i also just got beautiful whiteboard markers that are magnetic and has many colors
Wow, this is the first video of you that I watch and we're using almost exactly the same things. You just seem more advanced, because I still need to work on my morning sessions being regular. Thanks a lot for this video! It shows me I'm on the right way and my planning isn't completely weird. ❤
I would love to hear how you organize your meals/cooking/shopping. 😊
This is great! I have a paper planner. But add all appointments on my google calendar as well just in case I don’t have my planner with me.
Then I use the Google Tasks app to remind me of certain tasks and routines I need to do as well. I love the notifications on that app. It also allows me to have different lists. Some of my lists include include: “waiting on”, “to buy”, “Future craft projects” and of course the main one which is “my tasks”. ❤
Between the three items I can keep up with all I have going on in my world. 🌍
i work with a very similar system except notion instead of google keep :) i'd never seen anyone w almost the same system as me
This is so helpful for me. I've been trying multiple systems for myself as well, and I think adding a daily planning segment will really help me a lot! :)
Thank you so much, Ella!… I realize that I already have a very similar system to what you shared yours is - which gives me hope that I am already following some sort of flow - even though most of the time I am beating myself up and telling myself I get nothing done 😢
I will get back to the analog organizer and start the habit of making a list based of Google Calendar every morning and make sure to include a meditation before that, to make sure I do so in a good headspace. I am embarrassed to admit that sometimes I leave a change of clothes in the spare bathroom the night before and literally sneak out the bedroom and leave both hubby and dog inside - so that I could head to the gym, meditate, breathe. If I chose to get ready in our bathroom, and one of them hints any small need, I automatically get into caretaker mode and my priorities are always postponed… and the rest of the day is all about putting out fires 🤷🏻♀️
Really great ideas here! Ive tried about every system i can find but my adhd side sabotages it because it gets bored or my PDA rebels against it. Learning to "trick" your brain into engaging is key. Thank you, Ella!
I use the calendar on my iphone for appointments. I also have a huge desk calendar for writing future events and just tracking things throughout the month. I don't keep it on a desk, just next to my bed, but it helps a lot to be able to take it out and see the whole month. I have notifications that pop up in my phone for meds. I also try to journal often and I was planning each morning for a little while. I am getting back to it. I will try the sticker idea.
Wow! Just wow! I needed this video broken down the way you did. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for sharing your system, I’ve tried all kinds of apps and planners and I really can’t make them work together. So I’m going to implement yours and hopefully tweak as /if I need to ❤️❤️. I knew I would be overwhelmed with it all in one place like I was trying to!
Might try similar with my webpages and articles that I’ve saved all over the place!
That is the wallpaper in my pediatrician office from when I was a kid
Thank you so much for this video. For you explicitly saying this works for me, figure out what works for you!
This was a wonderfully honest and open explanation with some real application examples. Thank you for sharing it
Love it! First time I see a video that adress the real problem! To stick at the system more than 2 weeks! Thank you! My system is digital calendar + routine app + alarms on my phone and now I want to try with a bullet journal. I dont have an efficient system for now but you help to have hope I can do it! ❤❤❤❤
Thanks! ❤️ The new backgrounds in keep made me just like a kid with a new pack of stickers 😆🤪
Yes! Me too.
for keeping track of tv show episodes i like tv time. it keeps track of the different shows i watch and where i stopped.
I am grateful for the time and effort you put into sharing your insights.
Im very impressed by the extensive organization system you developed for yourself.
Honestly I am literally on your system but you are doing better than me as I had to add another element that was unexpected shocks to mine as when any nasty things happen I land up spending all day trying to fix my friends meltdown or relationship drama while managing my autistic son and my autistic self with a ageing father who needs constant care as well while my abusive violent ex is taking cheap shots at his son so yeah I think I do ok I guess most days I have few meltdowns but that’s normal so I try not to crucify myself if I can’t deal.I honestly hate myself when I fail though that emotion gets me in meltdown every time. Thanks for being there for me with your amazing vibe. Killing it as always girl.
Bravo for talking about the messiness (and reality) of life rather than the sanitized version… Hang in there.
Loved this video. I am so glad that I am not the only person who couldn't work with a bullet journal. I thought I was somehow 'broken' as the system is supposed to be great for adhd brains. Not mine, though. Because I struggle with chronic migraine as well as fibromyalgia, I generally focus on getting one thing done per day. Often, that turns out to be the shopping. I'm always forgetting things. Yes, I make a list, but I generally forget that too, so that getting what I need is somewhat hit or miss. Anything really important gets written on the wall calendar, high has nice big squares for entering things.
The first thing my brain went to was the rainbows on your wall. Something I’ve always loved ever since I was kid and kind of a special interest of mine.
I can certainly relate to trying to plan stuff out being super difficult. I just kind of give up and don’t do anything b/c I get so frustrated and stressed trying to plan.
Google Calendar is a great idea and I’ve been using that myself to keep track of my medical appointments for anything & everything. Recently purchased myself a white board to write important things down b/c my memory has become quite terrible over the years.
I actually felt kind of relaxed watching you show how you plan and keep track of things. Made my AuDHD brain quite happy. It can be very hard to focus on one thing at a time from my brain being all go go go 24/7/365, especially when my noise sensitivity goes off and even silence is too loud for me.
I really liked your Activity List b/c it had all the things I love to do! LEGOs, play my Switch, take a bath if I need to relax, I do some clay work here & there, I do like baking but haven’t done it for awhile, watching tv or movies. Your LEGO collection and craft corner (5:32) are so cool! I’m working on building up a collection myself and organizing all the bricks (color then shape).
My depression, anxiety, chronic pain makes keeping to a schedule difficult as well. Some days I can get stuff done, some days I get a little done, and others are just so bad I can’t even get out of bed. I thank heavens for my iPad on those days the most. And every other day.
I also have several different things: I use Tiimo to track appointments, work, classes, and general study time as well as my morning routine, evening routine and my whole life basically. I use Apple reminders to notify me to track medication. I have a planner which is purely for university deadlines, studying I want to do, classes etc (but only university things). I have separate to-do lists on my phone of things I want to get done for personal, work etc and the things on these lists are ordered with my higher priorities at the top and extra but not urgent stuff at the end. Lastly, I make a daily to do list based on what is in Tiimo, my planner, and the to-do lists on my phone to decide what to get done that day and this list is in a notebook which is always on my desk. I may also use stickers to motivate me with this daily to do list, great idea!
For me is pen and paper, digital planners and calendars are too rigid for me. This year I have been using a planner that has 1 day per page, so I have space to write. In one side of the page I can write all the tasks I have to do and in the other side I can organized the schedule for the day. I write appointments and things I can't change with pen but the rest goes on pencil. This way, if (I mean WHEN) I need to make changes in the middle of the day because I'm too tired or for whatever other reason is quite easy. Also, it might sound silly but writing with a pencil works better for my anxiety. And of course I use stickers because they give me joy.
Thank you for sharing it all with us. I currently use apple reminders and a calendar on my phone called “quick notes” which is the only digital calendar that’s worked for me. The input is where I struggled with every other calendar I found. I hated the fiddle way the input screen takes you away from the full calendar view or week view on smartphone app versions, and immediately wants to know the “duration” - I have no idea of the duration of something like a hospital visit, we’ll technically they tell me it may take a couple of hours total, but I cleared my hypothetical calendar for the whole morning … and crucially I do not have the patience or energy to fill information that I don’t need to be specified. I just want start time, what it is, bam, done, and an easy reminder. QuickNote can’t do everything though, even with the reasonably priced paid version.
i loved the vid i love videos specific for us neurodivergent people. thank you for making this content. lots of loveee!
Thank you, Ella, for a very helpful video. Special thanks for the many practical tips!
By the way, I also LOVE stickers!
This is amazing. I loved everything and thank you for giving such useful information.
i'm wandering around productivity youtube and after feeling completely exhausted with the 'normal' videos (please how do they keep up with using 20+ apps for task management??), your video is a breath of fresh hair.
Thank you so much 💓 your videos are so helpful to me amd surely many others.
That sounds great and might actually work for me as well. I'll try it out. Thank you!
I so relate to u thankyou for the new stickers idea I love it 💡
Yeah I literally had a dopamine increase when I thought to myself how can I make something interesting again and the thing that you said is the small things like a new pen or different colour notepads or sticky notes.
I want to like this video a 100 times!
Finally someone that does basically what I already do but with a little tweaking. This resonates with me SO WELL! I really wanted to start using Google Keep but somewhere I read it was going away so I panicked and thought what do I do then?
this is so so helpful ella thank you
Personal Organization setups (systems?) are an ongoing development .. often influenced by changes in events, schedules, etc.
I find it next to impossible to coordinate events across apps like my phone's calendar, clock, and notepad.
I find it much easier to coordinate events, dates, and particulars in a pocket notebook. I can pen whip status or changes much easier (and quicker) than tapping on my phone.
My phone is just for social networking and as backup (pics and email) for my pocket notebook.
While ADHD, Autism, Asperger's, or whatever, complicates personal organization, I find it much easier to work from a simplified, portable platform such as a pocket notebook.
Thank you, Ella❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I’m wanting to revert back to pencil and papers and even a planner that I can take with me to appointments and work to write things down as I remember things much easier whenever I write them down…^_______< ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks. Appreciate the tips a lot!!
This was amazing. Thank you.
Same, except that I've been really lazy. I do the Bujo, use Evernote, compound infrastructure. Have a really nice set of fountain pens and I honestly just need someone to kick me in the ass and force me to get up and do shit. It's so easy to accomplish nothing when nobody expects anything from you.
Aha! The External Imperative! I too need a kick up the backside to do what should/must be done. If I've got to take the children to school, or attend a meeting, or anything that I'm "told" or "expected" to do -- if there is an authority other than me involved, that's fine, I can do it. But if I'm left to my own devices, I spend 60% of the day in bed, smell really rank, eat rubbish, whatever I can find in the cupboards and forget to put the washing machine on, or do the washing up, or hang out the laundry, etc etc. I hate it!! And the phone's alarm going off isn't quite the same, it doesn't get me moving. It's still a problem, in my later 50's!! And I still haven't found THE solution. Perhaps I should go back to my A4 spiral bound book and slice my day into 15 minute slots again... Sigh!
I was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism (ASD) when I was about 3 or 4 years old
omg this was amazing love the sticker idea I need to be entertained lol
I have tried using apps and digital systems so many times, but they just do not work for me. The only way my phone or computer has ever been helpful is setting an alarm to go off when I need to start getting ready for appointments. When I try to use digital methods I just end up ignoring everything because it feels intrusive and overwhelming. Instead I do my own version of bullet journaling and has been working pretty well for me. But making sure I don't over-complicate it is definitely important for keeping it sustainable.
Thanks so much for this Ella! You’re adorable!
Hey - thank you so much for this .. as you were talking realised I do a mixture of these things!
I had a question if that’s okay >> how do you allow for varying energy levels and building back a routine after breakdowns etc..
I find Im struggling to find the balance and keep getting caught in a high productivity then everything falling off spiral as maybe the ADHD side starts to reject the slow steady progress!!
Great video thank you
Really helpful. Thank you
My ADHD won’t let me pay enough attention to watch this lol
I feel your pain, but it’s worth it, taking notes from the transcript worked for me!
I'm going to be honest, i've trailed off about twice during this explanation of an extremely meticulous, broad and complex organizational system requiring daily maintenance, and the mere idea of having to invest that time and energy makes me think i'd rather knock down a brick wall with my forehead. Do you just eat a bowl of adderall for breakfast every morning?
This is very similar to what works for me but you've added some ideas that will improve mine. Thank you - love the Rinkl service. Do you have a referral code?
Thank you. Yes my referral code is ella120
Thank you beautiful personnnn
I have 20 notebooks and keep buying new ones because I think I need them for something specific, once I started writing after months I rip it all out and think it's not clean anymore and I need a new one.. Is this normal :")?
Question would you recommend going to a occupational therapist for scheduling time management issues?
Awesome video
No matter the system I try nothing works. Just trying to keep up with any systems gives me more sensory overload. Then on the days where I do get organized, it’s hard for me to keep up due to familial reaponsibilities sucking the focus out of me, then by the time I the evening stuff is supposed to happen I’m in such a bad state I feel completely paralyzed. I’m fk’d if I do and fk’d if I don’t. I feel so trapped in my body. Still. After 10 years of therapy and medication management. I just feel like I was built wrong and can’t handle this world. I’m at a complete loss and just don’t want any of this anymore. I’m so tired. Nothing works for me.
The sticker and washi tape idea sounds like a very helpfull one:o. Definetly gonna try that:). I have been trying a long time to get organised but i haven't had alot of succes.
My meds aren't a problem because i use the app medisafe where you can pay a tiny amount of money for fun voice reminders that say you need to take your meds on the times you put in the system. For a long time i had dory from finding nemo tell me:). I found it realy funny or ironic because of her short term memory problems:). They also had obama for example and elsa singing take your pills, take your pills, can't miss a dose anymore. It's a parody ish version of let it go:p.
Also i was wondering if you also have tips on saving money?:)
Thank you really good!!!!
It's my second time watching after keep thinking about it a lot
Feel even more confused after this video 🤔😱 maybe everyone does need to work out their own system. I think because I struggle with technology but do like calendars,, notebooks and white boards, sticky notes. Lol. Definitely set out a daily schedule and to do lists, weekly plan for each day for the next couple of weeks ahead. That's helpful, so definitely more of an analogue person. It was the technical bit that confused me I think. But I'd say you're probably now more organised than most people in life now, lol😂❤️
I was a little overwhelmed but I’ve written out from the transcript and now it makes more sense!
I organize my self by using a digtal app on my phone and on my chrome book
Just diagnosed....
Gah! This sounds perfect. 🎉🎉🎉
If you're using an iPhone and Apple reminders.... why not Apple calendar and the built-in Notes app? That would make way more sense.
I’m going to use Google Calendar despite being an all in Apple person because I can share it with my android based husband fairly easily
I am not organized, that's why I'm here.
Please do a video on OCPD compared to Autism
She's not a doctor, she's just speaking from her own experience
@@helenm1085 I know :)
(I thought OCPD was a lung disease....
Oh, no, that's COPD!! Oops!)
Nothing works; It's debilitating how bored I get and the lack of energy I possess
You seem so normal...
😅Ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha !!! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Mass murderers do too!! And diabetic people!!! Oh, this is so funny!! Yep, I grew an extra leg when I was diagnosed -- on my shoulder!!!! Ha ha ha ha!!!
Thanks for the laugh!
@@Cellottia you compare mass murders with autistics Lol
OH MY GOD! That’s what I’m doing intuitively😱 after trying different calendars, stick notes Widgets (really good by the way if someone needs to constantly see if there’s something overdue, and I change the color every now and again.. depends on my brain, for it not to disapp from my “brain eyes”🫣). I feel like you’re talking about me.. and I’m so HAPPY that I’m going through a good path for myself. Definitely need both systems, analog, day to day.. a plan slightly the day before if my days are flexible, and the next morning I prioritise them, to make me stick to what’s URGENTE or OVERDUE. Explore the sticky notes widgets guys! It’s great!
Love ya😘