Do the holidays have you running frantic and feeling like a juggler who is going to drop all of her props? If you have ADHD, the holidays can be especially tough. I recently wrote an article for the Attention Deficit Disorder Association titled “Managing the Holiday Juggling Act“. If you could use some help managing ADHD and the holidays this year, head over to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association’s website and take a look!
For some additional help, listen to my radio show on Holiday Stress…
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 no matter what profession you hold and no matter what your age. By third grade, even elementary school students need some type of planner or way to keep track of assignments.
ADHD Creates Significant Challenges
for people when it comes to using a planner and therefore managing their time. Your list might be too overwhelming, you might forget to look at your planner or perhaps there are other reasons. I am frequently asked to recommend the best planner for someone with ADHD. The bad news is that there is not one best planner. The good news is that I can still help you select the best planner, especially if you have ADHD.
Prioritize
If you have determined that you need a better system of planning (or just need to start one!), I first recommend that you select the planner characteristics that are most important to you. The checklist at the end of this article will help you identify those characteristics.
To use the checklist, place a check mark next to each characteristic you would like to have in a planner and indicate an A, B or C priority next to each characteristic you check.
A = planner must have this
B = would be nice for planner to have this
C = not so important to me
After you select which characteristics are important, take the list with you to the store or have it next to you while you search on-line. This will help narrow your search and end up with a planner that really works for you.
Select Your Planner
After you have picked your characteristics, it is time for shopping. A couple of sites to investigate are www.FamiliesWithPurpose.com, www.FranklinCovey.com and www.DayRunner.com. If you are interested in electronic planners, be sure to review free sites (i.e. Google Calendar) in addition to all of the devices that are available. If you have a smart phone, integrate with available on-line tools if that will help you remember to use it every day. Once you have selected your planner, work with it for at least one month before evaluating it’s 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 USING it before you discard it though.
Using Your Planner
Here are a few tips to help ensure that you use your planner.
If you currently use multiple planners, try to consolidate into one.
After you purchase your planner, commit to using it for at least one month.
Keep it in a location where you will review it every day.
Review it at the same time each day to help enforce your habit.
The right planner can make a big difference in getting more done, and more importantly getting your high priority tasks done. Share your comments to let us know how the check list works for you. Good luck with your planner search!
Planner Characteristic Checklist
_____ Month-at-a-glance view
_____ Week-at-a-glance view
_____ The ability to see each day separate from all others
_____ Spiral bound so I don’t lose any pages and can have the entire year in one product
_____ Binder format so I can add and remove pages as needed
_____ Zippered binder so I don’t lose any pages
_____ Electronic with no need to print
_____ Electronic with the ability to print a To Do List
_____ Electronic with the ability to print an appointment schedule
_____ Paper so I can write in it when needed
_____ To Do List available for every day
_____ To Do List for the whole month
_____ To Do List for each week
_____ Room to plan for multiple roles (i.e. Employee, parent, spouse, business owner)
_____ Calendar and To Do List integrated into one planner
_____ Calendar and To Do List separate from each other
_____ Small size for easy portability
_____ Large size for ease of writing and room for more items
_____ Medium size as a compromise between small and large
_____ Time slots for meetings and appointments all day
_____ Specific time slots included in the Calendar section
_____ Pockets for other items such as cell phone or wallet
_____ Wall calendar format
_____ Portable format
_____ Attached strap so it can be carried like a purse or briefcase
_____ Price is no object
_____ Budget = $______
_____ Add your own characteristics here: __________________________
Do you struggle with time management at home? Are you rushing to get out of the house at the last minute? Listen in to my Blog Talk Radio show as I share practical tips to help adults with ADHD manage their time at home. The show is 15 minutes – a small investment of time to manage the rest of it better!
ADHD causes challenges with time management and Laura has some great strategies that you can start implementing as soon as the show ends.
Need some additional assistance with your Time Management? Consider joining me and ADD Classes for the Adult ADD Time Management Intensive in January 2011.
Listen to my 17 tips (that’s more than one per minute!) for helping your students with ADHD in the classroom. In response to a request from a friend, I decided to do a show aimed at helping teachers implement strategies to help these students. I hope you find them valuable!
ADHD can cause challenges for you whether you are an adult or student with ADHD. Fellow coach Brandon Koch suggested the topic of self-compassion for an episode of Practical ADHD Strategies and I’m so glad that he did. Take 15 minutes to listen on the player below.
