Do You Use a Planner?

I happen to think that planning and ADHD go together – they’re a good match for one another.

My thinking behind this is pretty solid – using a planner to manage your time and activities is a skill that will be useful throughout life.

And who could use this skill more than someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? A win-win situation, wouldn’t you say?

So, how about it? Do you use a planner of some sort?Planning and ADHD

A calendar, your phone, anything?

Using a Planner can be a Key to Success with ADHD

Theoretically, yes.

In reality, not so much.

See, in order for a planner to work, you have to do several things:

Sometimes these are skills that do not come naturally to a person with ADHD.

Writing information down, for instance, requires that you have both the planner and something to write with at the appropriate time. It also requires the ability to listen and write at the same time.

This may be a challenge for people with ADHD – first because auditory skills are not their strong suit, and second because the speaker has most likely moved on to the next topic.

And as far as remembering to check the planner on a regular basis – well, how many things do we remember to do on a regular and timely basis?

Still, the fact that it may be a challenge shouldn’t be a deterrent. It’s just a valuable skill that is worth learning.

Time Management

I’ve been thinking a lot about planners lately, and managing time.

Like most people with Attention Deficit Disorder, I think I procrastinate too much and waste a lot of valuable time. Yesterday the entire day seemed to disappear without my knowledge.

Before I knew it, it was after 10:00 pm, and I didn’t feel as though I had much to show for the day.

So, I’ve been looking around for a new way to manage my time and be more productive. I have an iPhone, which I still find invaluable for reminding me of appointments, but it’s somewhat unsatisfactory for planning my day.

A paper planning system doesn’t help much, either.

The reasons that I find these systems unsatisfactory are the same reasons that you may have trouble using your planner consistently:

What’s the Solution?

At the moment, I’m still looking for that elusive “perfect” solution. In the meantime, if you’re struggling to use a planner yourself, see if some of these ideas will help:

And remember, no planning system is perfect. You may have to try a few to find what works for you, but when you do, it will be well worth it!

Tell me what you think!

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