I have been using Google calendar for at least 15 years and it is a lifesaver. I set appointments for annual birthdays, doctor appointments and anything else very important and it reminds me ahead of time and sometimes several times. I share it with my handicapped husband and he can see what and when we are scheduled to do things. I couldn't live without it. It doesn't help as a todo list but for appointments it's been life changing.
I want to strike a blow for *one* form of high-tech help, the one which has been by far the most helpful out of everything except medication and just being baseline aware of my condition, and bear with me just a second because it will sound like I'm about to say the thing that Barkley said not to do: but my basic smart watch has been tremendously helpful. Not because of any ADHD-related apps that I use, *but because of its timer.* I very specifically don't use this watch for *anything* other than this, no messaging or taking calls. Always when I am sitting at home and working, the environment where I am at (by far) the greatest risk of distraction, I have it on me and running a 30min timer. When it rings, I drop what I do and get up, maybe just to stretch but also to just take a look around my apt to see if anything else needs doing. If nothing else, it keeps me much more aware of the passage of time. I use the watchas my morning alarm so I don't have to remember to put it on in the morning, and I put it on charge *specifically* every time I take a shower or step out of the apt, which has built in a routine of remembering to put it back on because *I'm supposed to have my smart watch on at home.* I don't bring it with me outside because if I'm sitting in a coffee shop to study, I can't very well get up and leave my computer unattended to take a break stroll every half hour
@@Paveway-chan I wish I could have a break and go back again, but if I leave whatever I'm doing, it's OFF. I can't start again, even if I go back to the workplace. IF I don't have company with someone else, who is also working. But I really work best and most efficiently alone, thoroughly and fast, riding the wave of hyper focus. As long as I'm not disturbed. But, I should take a break, stretch, and jump up a little circulation, open a window and have some fresh air, and have some fruit. It would definitely benefit me when the work is done, not being like a wet dishrag, sloppy thrown in the sink 😂. I'm training, but I can't see any significant progress after two years, trying once or twice every week. I couldn't even go back two years ago, today I can usually make myself go back, but not much work is done. No matter what it is, from writing mails to cleaning the house or sometimes not even something fun. Then I can't focus, my brain has a million other ideas that I can't get out of my head. (For the moment I have THREE dog jackets and one reflective harness ongoing...🙄 For my Retro Pug, 3/4 Pug + 1/4 Parson Russell Terrier. He is a dark brindle, you can barely see him in the Swedish dark and for the moment snowless winter. It's a must to have something that lights up when light from cars hits it. Just now we have C +3° to+6° (37,3 °F - 42,8 °F), but a couple of weeks ago it was down to C -19° (-2,2 °F), and I assume there will be another temperature drop. I hope I have finished the warm jacket, with extra lining until then😬 And now I will shut my ADHD, and walk my dog, while there is sunshine.)
My phone timer is invaluable in my quest to compensate for time blindness. The only other app I use is my reminders. I keep a list of 15 minute or less tasks. When I am not working, I set a 30-minute timer, then get off the couch and off the phone and pick a task to do. Then I can sit back down, set the timer again, rinse and repeat.
This is so true. I tried using xtiles with ADHD templates and spent hours choosing colours, layouts, learning all the features. After wasting about 4 hours and still not having a usable template I deleted the whole programme. I use notion and Trello which I’ve used for 5+ years and am familiar with them but also use a paper journal which I’ve used for years
By far the biggest help for me has been my white board and non permanent markers. it hangs literally right next to my desk where I can always see it and has the markers right next to it. It's not meant specifically for anything, just a free, blank space where I can put anything. Dates, Notes, To-do lists, thoughts in note form, visualizations, doodles, etc. Something about how I can write and erase anything there instantly really helps. I also prefer that it remains the same "space" as opposed to a page or note. I tried using calenders or notepads, but even the act of just taking out a note or opening a book was annyoing enough that I sometimes wouldnt do it. The fact that the pen is right there and its only a millisecond delay from thought to reality has made me make notes of a lot more things. Also, with the board and its contents always in my field of view, it makes me more aware of those things, since i dont have to check a calender or anything. But it's not just that, I use it as a general thinking aid as well. Like when wirting, I can plan my thoughts there. Since there is no restriction in form I can output on the board about as fast as I can think, meaning I can remeber what I thought 30s ago by looking at the board. And when Im done I can erase it just by wiping it with my hands. It's the "minimal work" aspect that really makes it like an external temporary memory for me.
YES! practical tips! Distractibility and the eventual blindness to any tool is hell, e.g. having sticky notes on the front door etc - but the delinquent mind just 'doesn"t see it'!! Busy ruminating on a dozen other things.
I appreciate this new series of videos about managing yourself. Please continue this occasionally between your videos about the newest research reviews.
Thank you very much Dr. Barkley! I'll try some of the advices you gave in this video (some I am already using). And I am looking forward to the other videos on this series. Hope you will be talking a bit about "task anxiety" and how to overcome the procrastination that comes with it (including the sometimes unshakable urge to to stop the task at hand and go doing something else... lol)
So I find that different visual systems work better for different tasks. Sicky notes for daily reminders, a wall calendar for work reminders & events, my watch alarms is best for meds & staying on task reminders... but lately what works best of all, anytime I write down a writer reminder of any kind, I snap a picture of it with my phone. Then I have them with me anywhere.
Putting tasks on a To Do list is one of the best ways to make sure I am never going to do it. A strong motivator for me is "do it before I forget" so having a prompt that is going to be available indefinitely is a really bad idea for time sensitive tasks.
That's a risk 😂! I'm a little strange, I guess. When I'm rested and in a good mood, lists work well. On the other hand, bad sleep, bad, gray, rainy weather for a week, NOTHING can make me follow a list. It only works with one task, the least boring or energy demanding, that's it. If there are just two things on the list, both boring, no one will be fixed. The weather is important to me, I NEED light, and live in Sweden, currently (mid January) sun rises around 8.30, and sets around 4.30. A month ago it was 9.15 and 3.45. The sun has a very low curve, so it's real daylight only for four hours the two last weeks of December, now it's from 9.30 to 3.30, a huge improvement 😅! When it's cloudy and rainy it's like dusk all day. On the other side, in June and the first week of July, it's the opposite. Sun rises 2.45-3.00 am, and sets around 10 pm. Nights never get dark (not even if it's cloudy). I'm also both effected and affected, if you understand what I mean🥴, by the weather since I have a dog. I know, it's good for the health to get out, no matter the weather, but when it's something you MUST do, and every fiber in your body SCREAMS: NO!!!, it takes so much energy to do, so I'm drained for 3-4 hours. And then it's time to motivate myself for the next walk.. 😓😓😓 (I live in an apartment, I can't just open the door and let him out.) Right NOW, it's actually SUNSHINE 😁, and we are going for a walk (before sunset) and charge the light battery ☀️☀️☀️😁
I've grappled with the "paper vs digital" solution debate for years and, after trying both, keep landing on the side of digital. It does have marked downsides in that it hosts a wealth of distractions, but the benefit for me over paper is that I DO have it with me almost 24/7, making whipping it out to write a note or task trivial. And in cases where I do lose track of it in my house, I can ask my voice assistant to find it for me. The same can't be said for paper. If I lose track of a notebook I'll start jotting notes on whatever pieces of paper are lying around OR I'll use my phone anyway, and I'm right back to the problem of not having all my notes in one place. Plus, with notebooks moreso than apps I fall victim to premature optimization, because notebooks aren't forgiving of mistakes. Forgot to add a subtask to something and I'm three pages past where I planned that project? Too bad. Decided that my structure isn't helpful and I need to change it? Too bad. Either rewrite that entire section or have notes divorced from their context scattered around your notebook, never to be found when you need it. With digital, by comparison, moving things around and adjusting your system as you go are trivial. And with the magic of the search feature I can find anything I might have have stored somewhere else easily. I marvel at the folks who can make analog work. I'd go even crazier than I am now if I tried!
Thank you for the practical tips! I love paper for lists, planning the day etc. My phone is perfect for timers and for my shopping list. My phone is also the only thing I'll never forget (I feel the absence, when it's not in my pocket). Unlike my car keys 😅 To conquer distraction I switched off all notifications (except for calendar) and my home screen is work related apps only (email, calendar, colornote) Alarms go off many times a day, each with their own music: pick up kids, feed the horses, unload the washing machine etc. It can be a real life saver 😊
I think that the Bullet Journal developed by Ryder Carroll gets far too little attention in ADHD aware communities, since he developed it from his own needs having ADHD and maybe other learning impairments. It's a brilliant and totally possible to adjust to your own needs under present conditions. And there are plenty of learning possibilities and some community access, even for those who can't pay for extra courses. It would be great to listen to longer talk with the two of you on your channel. And dive in to different aspects.
I agree!! But the focus on artistic and even perfectionist bullet journals kept me from even looking into it. Started a bujo this year, because ADHD content made me aware that it could help. And I love it!
I have learned a lot of practical processes from your channel and after implementation can see how certain tasks are easier for my son. Thank you for great advice.
I haven’t watched this yet but I’m so here for low tech solutions. I hate how addicted I am to technology, and how the proposed solutions to it are usually MORE TECHNOLOGY.
"Out of sight, out of mind." applies to me so deeply , it seemed to only get worse when it all switched from books to computers. Now EVERYTHING from job to hobbies and life long friends can get lost to me in MY OWN FONE! It's been painful to sort out.
I treat my phone like a tool not a toy. Games and distractions are on the distraction device. I use basic apps on my phone for lists, recording thoughts and communication. For years i tried bujos and paper lists, but they either always lost or forgotten. Paper task lists are good for short term things or when hands are gloved/dirty. Night routine includes charging phone not in the bedroom.
I have found that even though I regularly lose paper lists, writing lists helps me in the moment and it helps me store what I need to do in longer term memory. At least temporarily.
Similar to the pen: I have an Alexa in every room. Whenever I see that something is running out, I ask Alexa to add it to the shopping list. Before, I had forgotten what was running low as soon as I left the room to put it on a physical list. When I am at the store, I can check the list on my phone.
There is a major problem with this for me in that my ability to keep track of papers and so on is very, very poor. and when I was younger, at school, etc I'd constantly get very muddled. If I try to rely on paper I lose and forget it. With electronic tools I can compensate for my difficulty organising with search, the simple rule is if a document arrives that is important it gets digitised. It's easy to say you'll lose your power cord, but I rarely do that as it's one thing I just always have in my bag, and I know I'd lose a paper journal and not be able to replace it as there's no copy of the contents anywhere. So the above video is probably very good and welcome advice for some people but *please* consider that there are those of us for whom it may be very inappropriate and be cognizant of that when advising clients that you could find someone like me and make their life miserable if you aren't cautious (especially children who might not be able to easily refuse).
I agree with you! Receipts need to be digitized immediately (on the counter of the shop 😅) or they get lost. And with synchronisation in the cloud, they are accessible anywhere.
This video reminds me of my father. He used to run his business with a few binders. His most important one was a pocket sized binder, with removable pages, that he would remove and clip together as needed. He also had a few pages just for quick notes and to-dos. I've searched off and on for a little binder like that, but gave up. Maybe I should try again.
Thank you! I intuitively turned to paper calendars at a very young age. Now with a more complex life and struggles with anxiety and depression the Bullet journal (and a pocket one for shopping lists) has been a savior. Plus I've significantly cut down on notifications. Calls, messages and location alerts for husband and dog are the only ones left.
It does kinda irk me when other ADHD educators push apps on their channels. Maybe it works for them but nothing outside of a notes app and an alarm is of any use to me on my phone. It sours the message when I think it is just a sponsor deal and will not actually help the adhd listener. We're always searching for the next tool to help us and it is sad that people's desperation results in pointless purchases.
i think low tech works well with the out of sight, out of mind concept because, any apps for organisation will be forgotten if theyre not regularly checked, whereas post it notes and calandars are out there for you to see everyday on your bedroom wall or something
I have two small white boards, framed, looking really nice actually. One in the kitchen, placed so I can see it from where I mostly sit, and one on the outside of my bedroom door, facing the entrance. In the BATHROOM, however, Post-it stickers on the mirror. I don't know why I remember stuff when I'm there, but if I don't write it down, it's gone the moment I open the door 😅
Great info, thanks for this. It helping put me in the perspective of trying a mid-tech solution to keep on hand. I've wasted so much time at my "point of performance, my desk trying to find apps and services to help organize and plan things, as well as note-taking systems in hopes that they'll be the solution. Distracted by videos, chasing recommended videos, of content creators making basically sales pitches for these programs to get themselves views and subscribers . It's a never-ending circle of sameness being retold over and over again that is nothing more than distractions. I think the fear of missing out is one reason that has kept me seeking and trying the next best thing, but it never is. Looking forward to the rest of the series, to get some more actionable advice to help be productive with ADHD.
I love this content Dr!! It makes so much sense to me. I always preferred a lot of those methods you named in the video prior to my diagnoses. Can’t wait to see the other videos
I’ve come to this on my own very fast. I don’t have any adhd or gtd apps. All of my notifications are turned off, except for 3 crucial ones (husband, Mom and sister). I only use Google calendar with their task feature, Google keep and iPhone notes only. I struggle with all the digital distractions even in these “settings”, I can’t imagine how hard it would’ve been if I had all that stuff installed 😵💫
Idea for another video/series: What to do about LinkedIn? It’s designed to be distracting/addictive and manipulate the user’s emotions for engagement, in other words precisely the sort of thing that should be avoided by someone with ADHD. But if you’re looking for work in any kind of ‘professional’ field, it’s practically a requirement.
Yes. I have Been „learning“ time Management and Productivity for 30 years, tried/tested/All of popular Apps, Books, Watched hundreds Hours of Videos, paid Coaches tens of thousands Euros; At the end I unterstood last year that they will Not help because of my neurodivergent Brain. I decided to use pen and paper again Stopped watching the „Self-Development“ experts, But will learn/engage for others-help activities
I find that low tech does not work for me at all. I would never forget my phone and a charger, but I left my journal and pen at home 10000 times. Sticky notes get lost and erased from my memory. And I most often than not I write something down and the next moment it is forgotten forever. I found a system that works perfectly, I work in tech and most of my day is spend on devices. I use built in phone reminders and calendar for day to day things, appointments and recurring tasks. Obsidian or notion for project management and note taking - both give an opportunity to organize notes easily with tags and folders. Also gives easy overview of everything at a glance. I know a lot of fellow spicy brained peeps use same tools 😊 Obsidian is extremely versatile - at the core it's just a folder with digital notes. No bells and whistles if you don't need them
I agree. I use Notion at work and find that it works really well for me, especially since I’m on the computer all day. I use a hybrid system where I have all the information on Notion, calendar reminders and notifications in Outlook (which syncs to my Apple Calendar so I’m reminded of it on my phone and Apple Watch), shopping lists on my iPhone (so I have it with me), and a white board calendar and a blank white board so things are in sight in mind. I’ve tried paper planners and journals in the past but really, I’m never consistent with even looking it up or bringing it with me and hating how heavy and fumbly and bulky it is compared to my phone. I can see that with the average person with ADHD who may not be tech savvy (know how to filter out notifications and distractions) paper might be better. But these distractions can be minimized on devices and tech or a hybrid approach can be a useful tool.
I love Obsidian! I've been using it for three years now for both personal and work notes. I love the flexibility it offers; your can be as chaotic or as structured as you like with your notes
@@anthrogal78agree on the filtering out distractions point. I use an app to block all distracting apps during specific times of day, and to set daily use limits on them as well. It helps!
I completely agree with the premise of this, but I have ADHD and a stack of empty paper planners. I have found that they are only as useful as your habituation in using them. Also do not give a planner as a gift to the ADHD person in your life unless they were asking for one. It just is patronizing and in my case made it even less likely for me to use the paper planner.
Do you know how in media detectives have this map on the wall with photos and notes and threads that go from one pin to another? - that is pretty much what I use to organize myself. a whole wall with notes and stuff. it looks like I'm some crazy person but it actually works. I need the informations right before my eyes. The most important ones must be at spots where I go frequently, like the bathroom door. and other notes must be right where i need them, like on the washing mashine when I need to use a different programm for something for example.
Thanks for getting practical vs. academic. But, the approach remains academic and doesn't met the needs of low attention span folks. To take 7 minutes to repeatedly explain why tech solutions aren't advised is boring. The lengthy slow paced discussion lost my attention at the first bullet point. My solution was to increase the playback speed on RUclips.
Great info, thanks for this. It helping put me in the perspective of trying a mid-tech solution to keep on hand. I've wasted so much time at my "point of performance, my desk trying to find apps and services to help organize and plan things, as well as note-taking systems in hopes that they'll be the solution. Distracted by videos, chasing recommended videos, of content creators making basically sales pitches for these programs to get themselves views and subscribers . It's a never-ending circle of sameness being retold over and over again that is nothing more than distractions. I think the fear of missing out is one reason that has kept me seeking and trying the next best thing, but it never is. Looking forward to the rest of the series, to get some more actionable advice to help be productive with ADHD.
Thanks for the low tech solutions. I appreciate your understandings and I spread the understandings around.
i have been fighting exactly with this for years switching to new apps all the time !! it makes sense!
I have been using Google calendar for at least 15 years and it is a lifesaver. I set appointments for annual birthdays, doctor appointments and anything else very important and it reminds me ahead of time and sometimes several times. I share it with my handicapped husband and he can see what and when we are scheduled to do things. I couldn't live without it. It doesn't help as a todo list but for appointments it's been life changing.
I want to strike a blow for *one* form of high-tech help, the one which has been by far the most helpful out of everything except medication and just being baseline aware of my condition, and bear with me just a second because it will sound like I'm about to say the thing that Barkley said not to do: but my basic smart watch has been tremendously helpful. Not because of any ADHD-related apps that I use, *but because of its timer.* I very specifically don't use this watch for *anything* other than this, no messaging or taking calls.
Always when I am sitting at home and working, the environment where I am at (by far) the greatest risk of distraction, I have it on me and running a 30min timer. When it rings, I drop what I do and get up, maybe just to stretch but also to just take a look around my apt to see if anything else needs doing. If nothing else, it keeps me much more aware of the passage of time. I use the watchas my morning alarm so I don't have to remember to put it on in the morning, and I put it on charge *specifically* every time I take a shower or step out of the apt, which has built in a routine of remembering to put it back on because *I'm supposed to have my smart watch on at home.* I don't bring it with me outside because if I'm sitting in a coffee shop to study, I can't very well get up and leave my computer unattended to take a break stroll every half hour
@@Paveway-chan I wish I could have a break and go back again, but if I leave whatever I'm doing, it's OFF. I can't start again, even if I go back to the workplace. IF I don't have company with someone else, who is also working.
But I really work best and most efficiently alone, thoroughly and fast, riding the wave of hyper focus. As long as I'm not disturbed.
But, I should take a break, stretch, and jump up a little circulation, open a window and have some fresh air, and have some fruit. It would definitely benefit me when the work is done, not being like a wet dishrag, sloppy thrown in the sink 😂.
I'm training, but I can't see any significant progress after two years, trying once or twice every week. I couldn't even go back two years ago, today I can usually make myself go back, but not much work is done. No matter what it is, from writing mails to cleaning the house or sometimes not even something fun. Then I can't focus, my brain has a million other ideas that I can't get out of my head. (For the moment I have THREE dog jackets and one reflective harness ongoing...🙄 For my Retro Pug, 3/4 Pug + 1/4 Parson Russell Terrier. He is a dark brindle, you can barely see him in the Swedish dark and for the moment snowless winter. It's a must to have something that lights up when light from cars hits it. Just now we have C +3° to+6° (37,3 °F - 42,8 °F), but a couple of weeks ago it was down to C -19° (-2,2 °F), and I assume there will be another temperature drop. I hope I have finished the warm jacket, with extra lining until then😬
And now I will shut my ADHD, and walk my dog, while there is sunshine.)
My phone timer is invaluable in my quest to compensate for time blindness. The only other app I use is my reminders. I keep a list of 15 minute or less tasks. When I am not working, I set a 30-minute timer, then get off the couch and off the phone and pick a task to do. Then I can sit back down, set the timer again, rinse and repeat.
This is so true. I tried using xtiles with ADHD templates and spent hours choosing colours, layouts, learning all the features. After wasting about 4 hours and still not having a usable template I deleted the whole programme.
I use notion and Trello which I’ve used for 5+ years and am familiar with them but also use a paper journal which I’ve used for years
By far the biggest help for me has been my white board and non permanent markers. it hangs literally right next to my desk where I can always see it and has the markers right next to it. It's not meant specifically for anything, just a free, blank space where I can put anything. Dates, Notes, To-do lists, thoughts in note form, visualizations, doodles, etc. Something about how I can write and erase anything there instantly really helps. I also prefer that it remains the same "space" as opposed to a page or note. I tried using calenders or notepads, but even the act of just taking out a note or opening a book was annyoing enough that I sometimes wouldnt do it. The fact that the pen is right there and its only a millisecond delay from thought to reality has made me make notes of a lot more things. Also, with the board and its contents always in my field of view, it makes me more aware of those things, since i dont have to check a calender or anything. But it's not just that, I use it as a general thinking aid as well. Like when wirting, I can plan my thoughts there. Since there is no restriction in form I can output on the board about as fast as I can think, meaning I can remeber what I thought 30s ago by looking at the board. And when Im done I can erase it just by wiping it with my hands. It's the "minimal work" aspect that really makes it like an external temporary memory for me.
YES! practical tips!
Distractibility and the eventual blindness to any tool is hell, e.g. having sticky notes on the front door etc - but the delinquent mind just 'doesn"t see it'!! Busy ruminating on a dozen other things.
important to know:
3M sticky notes are only designed to stick to paper
for all other surfaces, walls, whiteboards use 3M "super sticky" notes instead
I appreciate this new series of videos about managing yourself. Please continue this occasionally between your videos about the newest research reviews.
Thank you very much Dr. Barkley! I'll try some of the advices you gave in this video (some I am already using). And I am looking forward to the other videos on this series. Hope you will be talking a bit about "task anxiety" and how to overcome the procrastination that comes with it (including the sometimes unshakable urge to to stop the task at hand and go doing something else... lol)
So I find that different visual systems work better for different tasks. Sicky notes for daily reminders, a wall calendar for work reminders & events, my watch alarms is best for meds & staying on task reminders... but lately what works best of all, anytime I write down a writer reminder of any kind, I snap a picture of it with my phone. Then I have them with me anywhere.
Putting tasks on a To Do list is one of the best ways to make sure I am never going to do it.
A strong motivator for me is "do it before I forget" so having a prompt that is going to be available indefinitely is a really bad idea for time sensitive tasks.
That's a risk 😂!
I'm a little strange, I guess. When I'm rested and in a good mood, lists work well. On the other hand, bad sleep, bad, gray, rainy weather for a week, NOTHING can make me follow a list. It only works with one task, the least boring or energy demanding, that's it. If there are just two things on the list, both boring, no one will be fixed.
The weather is important to me, I NEED light, and live in Sweden, currently (mid January) sun rises around 8.30, and sets around 4.30. A month ago it was 9.15 and 3.45.
The sun has a very low curve, so it's real daylight only for four hours the two last weeks of December, now it's from 9.30 to 3.30, a huge improvement 😅!
When it's cloudy and rainy it's like dusk all day.
On the other side, in June and the first week of July, it's the opposite. Sun rises 2.45-3.00 am, and sets around 10 pm. Nights never get dark (not even if it's cloudy).
I'm also both effected and affected, if you understand what I mean🥴, by the weather since I have a dog. I know, it's good for the health to get out, no matter the weather, but when it's something you MUST do, and every fiber in your body SCREAMS: NO!!!, it takes so much energy to do, so I'm drained for 3-4 hours. And then it's time to motivate myself for the next walk.. 😓😓😓 (I live in an apartment, I can't just open the door and let him out.)
Right NOW, it's actually SUNSHINE 😁, and we are going for a walk (before sunset) and charge the light battery ☀️☀️☀️😁
I completely agree. My smartphone is the worst tool for anything except staying in contact with people. It's too distracting.
I've grappled with the "paper vs digital" solution debate for years and, after trying both, keep landing on the side of digital.
It does have marked downsides in that it hosts a wealth of distractions, but the benefit for me over paper is that I DO have it with me almost 24/7, making whipping it out to write a note or task trivial. And in cases where I do lose track of it in my house, I can ask my voice assistant to find it for me.
The same can't be said for paper. If I lose track of a notebook I'll start jotting notes on whatever pieces of paper are lying around OR I'll use my phone anyway, and I'm right back to the problem of not having all my notes in one place.
Plus, with notebooks moreso than apps I fall victim to premature optimization, because notebooks aren't forgiving of mistakes. Forgot to add a subtask to something and I'm three pages past where I planned that project? Too bad. Decided that my structure isn't helpful and I need to change it? Too bad. Either rewrite that entire section or have notes divorced from their context scattered around your notebook, never to be found when you need it.
With digital, by comparison, moving things around and adjusting your system as you go are trivial. And with the magic of the search feature I can find anything I might have have stored somewhere else easily.
I marvel at the folks who can make analog work. I'd go even crazier than I am now if I tried!
Thank you for the practical tips!
I love paper for lists, planning the day etc.
My phone is perfect for timers and for my shopping list.
My phone is also the only thing I'll never forget (I feel the absence, when it's not in my pocket). Unlike my car keys 😅
To conquer distraction I switched off all notifications (except for calendar) and my home screen is work related apps only (email, calendar, colornote)
Alarms go off many times a day, each with their own music: pick up kids, feed the horses, unload the washing machine etc. It can be a real life saver 😊
I think that the Bullet Journal developed by Ryder Carroll gets far too little attention in ADHD aware communities, since he developed it from his own needs having ADHD and maybe other learning impairments. It's a brilliant and totally possible to adjust to your own needs under present conditions. And there are plenty of learning possibilities and some community access, even for those who can't pay for extra courses. It would be great to listen to longer talk with the two of you on your channel. And dive in to different aspects.
I agree!! But the focus on artistic and even perfectionist bullet journals kept me from even looking into it. Started a bujo this year, because ADHD content made me aware that it could help. And I love it!
I have learned a lot of practical processes from your channel and after implementation can see how certain tasks are easier for my son. Thank you for great advice.
I haven’t watched this yet but I’m so here for low tech solutions. I hate how addicted I am to technology, and how the proposed solutions to it are usually MORE TECHNOLOGY.
"Out of sight, out of mind." applies to me so deeply , it seemed to only get worse when it all switched from books to computers. Now EVERYTHING from job to hobbies and life long friends can get lost to me in MY OWN FONE! It's been painful to sort out.
I treat my phone like a tool not a toy. Games and distractions are on the distraction device. I use basic apps on my phone for lists, recording thoughts and communication. For years i tried bujos and paper lists, but they either always lost or forgotten. Paper task lists are good for short term things or when hands are gloved/dirty.
Night routine includes charging phone not in the bedroom.
I have found that even though I regularly lose paper lists, writing lists helps me in the moment and it helps me store what I need to do in longer term memory. At least temporarily.
Similar to the pen: I have an Alexa in every room. Whenever I see that something is running out, I ask Alexa to add it to the shopping list. Before, I had forgotten what was running low as soon as I left the room to put it on a physical list.
When I am at the store, I can check the list on my phone.
Lovely turn
There is a major problem with this for me in that my ability to keep track of papers and so on is very, very poor. and when I was younger, at school, etc I'd constantly get very muddled. If I try to rely on paper I lose and forget it. With electronic tools I can compensate for my difficulty organising with search, the simple rule is if a document arrives that is important it gets digitised. It's easy to say you'll lose your power cord, but I rarely do that as it's one thing I just always have in my bag, and I know I'd lose a paper journal and not be able to replace it as there's no copy of the contents anywhere.
So the above video is probably very good and welcome advice for some people but *please* consider that there are those of us for whom it may be very inappropriate and be cognizant of that when advising clients that you could find someone like me and make their life miserable if you aren't cautious (especially children who might not be able to easily refuse).
I agree with you!
Receipts need to be digitized immediately (on the counter of the shop 😅) or they get lost.
And with synchronisation in the cloud, they are accessible anywhere.
This video reminds me of my father. He used to run his business with a few binders.
His most important one was a pocket sized binder, with removable pages, that he would remove and clip together as needed. He also had a few pages just for quick notes and to-dos.
I've searched off and on for a little binder like that, but gave up. Maybe I should try again.
Thank you!
I intuitively turned to paper calendars at a very young age. Now with a more complex life and struggles with anxiety and depression the Bullet journal (and a pocket one for shopping lists) has been a savior. Plus I've significantly cut down on notifications. Calls, messages and location alerts for husband and dog are the only ones left.
It does kinda irk me when other ADHD educators push apps on their channels. Maybe it works for them but nothing outside of a notes app and an alarm is of any use to me on my phone. It sours the message when I think it is just a sponsor deal and will not actually help the adhd listener. We're always searching for the next tool to help us and it is sad that people's desperation results in pointless purchases.
i think low tech works well with the out of sight, out of mind concept because, any apps for organisation will be forgotten if theyre not regularly checked, whereas post it notes and calandars are out there for you to see everyday on your bedroom wall or something
I have two small white boards, framed, looking really nice actually. One in the kitchen, placed so I can see it from where I mostly sit, and one on the outside of my bedroom door, facing the entrance.
In the BATHROOM, however, Post-it stickers on the mirror.
I don't know why I remember stuff when I'm there, but if I don't write it down, it's gone the moment I open the door 😅
Great info, thanks for this. It helping put me in the perspective of trying a mid-tech solution to keep on hand.
I've wasted so much time at my "point of performance, my desk trying to find apps and services to help organize and plan things, as well as note-taking systems in hopes that they'll be the solution. Distracted by videos, chasing recommended videos, of content creators making basically sales pitches for these programs to get themselves views and subscribers . It's a never-ending circle of sameness being retold over and over again that is nothing more than distractions. I think the fear of missing out is one reason that has kept me seeking and trying the next best thing, but it never is.
Looking forward to the rest of the series, to get some more actionable advice to help be productive with ADHD.
Thank You for Expressing my thoughts
Great point that can be unfortunately overlooked
White board and paper calander are awesome for me.
Excellent info. Please talk about increasing concentration. Thank you.
Fantastic! Thank you.
I love this content Dr!! It makes so much sense to me. I always preferred a lot of those methods you named in the video prior to my diagnoses. Can’t wait to see the other videos
Really like these vidoes, Thanks great information!
I’ve come to this on my own very fast. I don’t have any adhd or gtd apps. All of my notifications are turned off, except for 3 crucial ones (husband, Mom and sister). I only use Google calendar with their task feature, Google keep and iPhone notes only. I struggle with all the digital distractions even in these “settings”, I can’t imagine how hard it would’ve been if I had all that stuff installed 😵💫
Thank you, Dr Barkley. This information is very helpful!
Thanks
I like my rocketbook where i can store all short term goals and wipe it quickly
"take a shower"
"Brush teeth"
"Renew license and registration"
"Go to work"
”laundry," ... just an example 😂
Add: Go to Kitchen for a Tea, start cutting veggies to Cook Kids fav Food and preparing a cake though for Kids ( 17,21):))
Idea for another video/series: What to do about LinkedIn? It’s designed to be distracting/addictive and manipulate the user’s emotions for engagement, in other words precisely the sort of thing that should be avoided by someone with ADHD. But if you’re looking for work in any kind of ‘professional’ field, it’s practically a requirement.
Yes. I have Been „learning“ time Management and Productivity for 30 years, tried/tested/All of popular Apps, Books, Watched hundreds Hours of Videos, paid Coaches tens of thousands Euros;
At the end I unterstood last year that they will Not help because of my neurodivergent Brain. I decided to use pen and paper again
Stopped watching the „Self-Development“ experts,
But will learn/engage for others-help activities
I find that low tech does not work for me at all. I would never forget my phone and a charger, but I left my journal and pen at home 10000 times. Sticky notes get lost and erased from my memory. And I most often than not I write something down and the next moment it is forgotten forever. I found a system that works perfectly, I work in tech and most of my day is spend on devices. I use built in phone reminders and calendar for day to day things, appointments and recurring tasks. Obsidian or notion for project management and note taking - both give an opportunity to organize notes easily with tags and folders. Also gives easy overview of everything at a glance. I know a lot of fellow spicy brained peeps use same tools 😊 Obsidian is extremely versatile - at the core it's just a folder with digital notes. No bells and whistles if you don't need them
I agree. I use Notion at work and find that it works really well for me, especially since I’m on the computer all day. I use a hybrid system where I have all the information on Notion, calendar reminders and notifications in Outlook (which syncs to my Apple Calendar so I’m reminded of it on my phone and Apple Watch), shopping lists on my iPhone (so I have it with me), and a white board calendar and a blank white board so things are in sight in mind. I’ve tried paper planners and journals in the past but really, I’m never consistent with even looking it up or bringing it with me and hating how heavy and fumbly and bulky it is compared to my phone. I can see that with the average person with ADHD who may not be tech savvy (know how to filter out notifications and distractions) paper might be better. But these distractions can be minimized on devices and tech or a hybrid approach can be a useful tool.
I love Obsidian! I've been using it for three years now for both personal and work notes. I love the flexibility it offers; your can be as chaotic or as structured as you like with your notes
@@anthrogal78agree on the filtering out distractions point. I use an app to block all distracting apps during specific times of day, and to set daily use limits on them as well. It helps!
Informative video but the email notifications were quite distracting.
Next subject that would be Very Helpful would be on _how_ to take effective notes. Or where. Or what do do with them. Etc.
I completely agree with the premise of this, but I have ADHD and a stack of empty paper planners. I have found that they are only as useful as your habituation in using them. Also do not give a planner as a gift to the ADHD person in your life unless they were asking for one. It just is patronizing and in my case made it even less likely for me to use the paper planner.
does solving hard puzzles help?
Do you know how in media detectives have this map on the wall with photos and notes and threads that go from one pin to another? - that is pretty much what I use to organize myself. a whole wall with notes and stuff. it looks like I'm some crazy person but it actually works. I need the informations right before my eyes. The most important ones must be at spots where I go frequently, like the bathroom door. and other notes must be right where i need them, like on the washing mashine when I need to use a different programm for something for example.
That would have been amazing if I didn't have dyslexia and was literate.
Hello 👋
*saves this video to "watch later", like a Fool*
Thanks for getting practical vs. academic. But, the approach remains academic and doesn't met the needs of low attention span folks. To take 7 minutes to repeatedly explain why tech solutions aren't advised is boring. The lengthy slow paced discussion lost my attention at the first bullet point. My solution was to increase the playback speed on RUclips.
Great info, thanks for this. It helping put me in the perspective of trying a mid-tech solution to keep on hand.
I've wasted so much time at my "point of performance, my desk trying to find apps and services to help organize and plan things, as well as note-taking systems in hopes that they'll be the solution. Distracted by videos, chasing recommended videos, of content creators making basically sales pitches for these programs to get themselves views and subscribers . It's a never-ending circle of sameness being retold over and over again that is nothing more than distractions. I think the fear of missing out is one reason that has kept me seeking and trying the next best thing, but it never is.
Looking forward to the rest of the series, to get some more actionable advice to help be productive with ADHD.