Choosing the right planner for someone with ADHD
Choosing the right planner for you and your lifestyle is very important, especially if you are busy, overwhelmed by your to-do list, and / or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). This is true regardless of your profession and your age. By third grade, even elementary school students need some kind of planner or way to keep track of assignments.
ADHD creates something important for people when it comes to using a planner and thus managing their time.
Your list may be too overwhelming, you may forget to look at your schedule, or there may be other reasons. I am often asked to recommend the best planner for someone with ADHD. The bad news is that there is no such thing as the best planner. The good news is, I can still help you select the best planner, especially if you have ADHD.
Prioritize
If you’ve determined that you need a better planning system (or you just need to start one!), I first recommend that you prioritize the planner features that are important to you. The checklist at the end of this article will help you focus on your priorities and provide you with a template of what should exist with your next planner.
To use the checklist, put a check mark next to each characteristic that you would like to have in a planner and indicate an A, B, or C priority next to each characteristic that you check.
• A = the planner must have this
• B = it would be nice if the planner had this
• C = not that important to me
After selecting which features are important, take the list to the store or keep it with you while you search online. This will help narrow your search and end up with a planner that really works for you.
• If you currently use multiple planners, try consolidating them into one.
• After purchasing your planner, commit to using it for at least a month.
• Keep it in a place where you will check it every day.
Select your planner
Once you’ve chosen your features, it’s time to go shopping. A couple of sites to research are www.FamiliesWithPurpose.com and www.DayRunner.com. If you are interested in electronic planners, be sure to check out the free sites (i.e. Google Calendar) in addition to all the available devices. If you have a smartphone, integrate it with available online tools if that will help you remember to use it every day. Once you’ve selected your planner, work with it for at least a month before evaluating its effectiveness. If it doesn’t work for you after trying a new planner for at least a month, you may want to consider something different. Commit to USE it before discarding it.
The right planner can make a big difference in getting more done and most importantly getting your high priority tasks done. Share your feedback to let us know how the checklist works for you. Good luck finding your schedule!
Planner Features Checklist
• _____ Monthly view at a glance
• _____ Weekly view at a glance
• _____ The ability to see each day separately from all the others.
• _____ Spiral bound so you don’t lose a page and can have all year in one product
• _____ Folder format so you can add and delete pages as needed
• _____ Zippered folder so you don’t lose any page
• _____ Electronic without the need to print
• _____ Electronic with the ability to print a to-do list
• _____ Electronic with the ability to print an appointment schedule
• _____ Paper so that you can write on it when needed
• _____ To-do list available every day
• _____ To-do list for the entire month
• _____ To-do list for each week
• _____ Space to plan multiple roles (ie employee, parent, spouse, business owner)
• _____ Calendar and to-do list integrated into a planner
• _____ Calendar and To-do list separately.
• _____ Small size for easy portability
• _____ Large size for easy writing and space for more articles
• _____ Medium size as a compromise between small and large
• _____ Time slots for meetings and appointments throughout the day
• _____ Specific time slots included in the Calendar section
• _____ Pockets for other items like cell phone or wallet
• _____ Wall calendar format
• _____ Portable format
• _____ Attached strap so it can be carried as a purse or briefcase
• _____ Price is not a problem
• _____ Budget = $ ______
• _____ Add your own characteristics here: __________________________