Oh yes, I was just thinking of getting one of these! Unlabeled Weekly Journals (where you can write the day of the week at the top yourself, so you won't have to skip a page and get stressed out and discouraged if you miss a day) seem like they could be good too, for something more small and casual. Maybe I'll get both, and keep them for different things! Who knows? I too write a lot of things down since I don't have the best memory, but it's very hard to keep anything organized. I'm excited to try to plan my days out on paper, even if it'll be really difficult because I've never done it before. Good luck to anyone who's trying, too! You're doing great, keep going!
I'm still using my 2019 journal with dates🤭😂. I use a plain white sticker to white out the old date and insert the new one. I have decided it is not worth it to throw away such good quality paper stock and binding. 🤣
Paper journals and planners… or as I call them “the stack of things in the corner of the closet that I was positive that I was going to use but never did but I kept on buying new ones because they were pretty and the prettier they are the more I was convinced that I’d use them but I never did because that’s how I roll”.
I love that my 8yr brother who has ADHD is the one who told me to come to your channel bc it rlly helps him and now it's our sibling thing we do at least once a week we will sit down and watch your videos.
This is the most wholesome thing ever 😭My brother and I are in our mid 20s, 800km apart and still hang out online to watch Avatar and Legend of Kora. Sibling things be such special things 💞
What always trips me up is that I'll start a system, use it regularly, and it makes life easier. Then my brain goes "Oh look, it solved the issue!" Then I stop, because I think it's "fixed/cured it" and I forget it's a tool that needs to be used consistently to keep working!
or when you achieve some goals and complete some tasks and receive positive feedback, and then you panic, and start to make up for excuses and stop doing the tasks... like having fear for the success of sorts...
Perfection tip: binders make great planners. If I use a bound journal I have this issue where if I mess one page up the whole thing is ruined. Using a binder has relieved that stress. Knowing I can take pages out and move things around has actually made it a lot easier for me to leave imperfect pages in. Any kind of binder works, obviously, but if you want a planner sized one look for an A5.
While I have nothing against binders, shouldn't the goal be to reduce perfectionism rather than reinforcing it? Jessica briefly talked about this in her video about why bujo is great and suggests intentionally screwing something up to remove the pressure. I found the intentional choice to do this (rather than it being a mistake) to be quite effective and now I love the imperfection of my bujo.
I prefer the discbound system to binders. I can move pages around or remove them but I can fold it around and flat like a spiral notebook. I don't personally like that I can't do that with a binder. 😊
The fact that bullet journaling actually worked for me, after a lifetime of organization failure, actually contributed to realizing I have ADHD. Journals and planning have become essential supports for being functional with ADHD.
My eyes got sweaty when you talked about having a reminder that your past self is real and that these are things you actually did🥲 that's exactly how I feel but didn't know how to put it in words. My memory is so bad got it sometimes like I don't even really know or remember the events that have helped make me me. Thanks for making that connection for me ☺️
Sweaty eyes lol, that is a great expression. I'm going to add that to my repertoire (and likely promptly forget it. Oh well, it's the thought that counts)
I have 3. Ah, yes, the ADHD overachiever... But seriously, one is a standard lined journal that I use sporadically when I start to notice extremes in my headspace (anxiety, depression, working through a specific problem by "talking" myself through it). The second is the 5 Minute Journal by Mel Robbins. It is one page that I fill out most days. It has a picture of a gas gage that you mark in regards to how you feel, then has specific questions for priorities for the day and why those are priorities for me. The other side of the page is blank space for schedule, brain dump, etc. I have 6 goals for 2022, and I write them on this side each day to remind me of what I am aiming for. I then break these annual goals into monthly goals and write February's goals under the 2022 goals. Finally I write down what I can do today in each goal category to move me forward. Takes me about 10 min to complete this entire page. Finally, I have my planner (or day timer as I call it) It has the month followed by weekly pages. I can look at the month or the current week at one time. I use this to plot my daily appointments, 4 main tasks for the day, self care habit tracker, and at the bottom, I leave space for success and challenge. Takes me another 5 min or so to fill out in the morning, and I cross things off during the day. At the end of the week I look back at my successes and challenges to see if there are any patterns that are consistently working or not in order to make adjustments. Yeah, I also have OCD, but this method has worked best for me to keep things (including myself) from falling through the cracks.
What are you using for your planner (day timer)? I find myself constantly fighting for one where my dislike for the layout doesn’t distract me into not using it.
Potential for confusion, these two things have similar names: "The 5 Second Journal" is by Mel Robbins. "The Five Minute Journal" is by Intelligent Change.
One thing that really helped me in school was having a "semester on a page" calendar. Month s are so arbitrary and really mess up my sense of time. If it's March 28th, April 2nd still feels like a month away, even though it's only a few days. But if it's on a calendar that has January through May on one page I can SEE how soon it is.
@mandrake how do you fit everything on a page? Do you only add the most important dates (quizzes/exams/ projects’ due dates)? Thank you for the tip! I’d love to try that but having a hard time visualizing it as a valuable resource ;)
So many things I never understood why I struggled so bad with, even after an official diagnosis... you really helped me realize I'm not just a lazy, unorganized person who has their priorities messed up and that there's a reason why I struggle every second of every day, with every single task and every aspect of my life. I didn't know sleep problems was an ADHD thing so thank you for that also. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you and these videos.
Welcome to the boat :) The best thing is realizing it; cliche' or not! Just you saying it, I'm sure is helpful. Myself, I am a school teacher, and you'd think I would have figured it out after so many years; I didn't.
I use a bullet journal for day-to-day things, but I bought the digital version of the Hero's Journal last week because I have a specific goal I want to achieve. The fact that the folks at Hero's Journal are making the digital version available to brains who might not be able to afford it otherwise makes my heart so happy that I'm sitting here crying on a Tuesday afternoon while looking at my phone. The loneliness and guilt neurodiverse people can feel when tools that are "supposed" to work don't is something that I believe we as a community need to acknowledge and discuss more. But in the meantime, offering a lifeline that is literally about changing your narrative means everything.
I know you hear this a lot, but I want you to know that you and the community you’ve built here gave me the courage to discuss ADHD with my doctor and finally start treatment. I always appreciate your tips and insights and your support. That goes for everyone here. (Edit because I seemingly cant spell)
Yay welcome fellow brain 🧠🙂❤️ Same. I was diagnosed as an adult just a few months ago after learning so much here. This channel and the online brain community have been lifesavers.
LOL, because of 2 things. 1.) it is likely your ADHD brain that caused you to feel the need to edit. And 2.) because there's a typo in your edit, lol. In your disclaimer for your edit, you misspelled the word can't without the apostrophe, but everybody here understands that and is still loving and accepting! (And now I'm wondering if I misspelled the word "misspelled", haha.)
I used to be discouraged in doing journals because I could not always follow through with them, or I just like designing the pages until I get to May or June when I lose interest. Let alone write on them afterwards. But after your first video abt Bullet Journals, I have adapted that to fit what I want to see and it actually worked! Some days I still forget to write on it, but I've learned not to put myself down when that happens. I made Weekly plans instead of Daily, so even if I skipped a day w/o writing anything, I don't feel that bad. Also looking back on previous days is so rewarding and somehow motivates me to keep on working more productively. So, thank you. This channel has helped me tremendously.
Weekly plans also work so much better for me, than daily. Sometimes, if I already know I want/need to do certain tasks on certain days, I'll write the corresponding day-letter in front of the bullet (that also helps, keeps me accountable, especially with tasks I tend to put off).
"my feelings are inconvenient so let me try not to have them" this hit so hard right now. I've been really hiding from my feelings and avoiding journalling and letting myself think. I've been worried about if people are going to see or if I write things down or let myself think, that'll make things I don't want to be true, true. what I write down is for me. what I write down is for me to see later. to give grace to my past self. to process things I wasn't able to fully comprehend at the time. to check in with myself and be fully honest with myself. thanks for this 💚🧡 so much of what you said resonated with me and I needed a reminder that my feelings and boundaries are important and my space is just for me 🌻
I've used a lot of planners over the years and, even though my priorities have shifted from daily listed/lined planners to more structured/reflective bullet journal style planners (good for designing and sketch note-taking), I think it helps to always keep the planner OPEN on a prominent place on your desk and table so you can fill in little details and update plans/tasks throughout the day. You can get the best, most expensive planner out there but if you're not designing your area for it (and even the area around it with pencil, pens, markers for use) out in the open as a *constant* reminder, then you're just planning for your planner to collect dust and not ideas...
The best journal/planner I've found is called "intentions and reflections" and only has 3 lines for your goals for that day. At first I thought that was crazy because I normally have at least 10 things on my to do list, however I normally only do half of them so being forced to choose the 3 most important and only do those has been so helpful, also I prefer the word 'goals' to 'do to'. Sometimes my goal is to relax and not to 'do' anything. It has a space to write "How will I make today enjoyable" so I'll either think of something fun to do or if I have a task that's urgent I'll think about how I can get motivated for it like listening to music or playing youtube in the background, maybe I'll make an extra tasty lunch. It has a space to record your mood in the morning and your mood in the evening, a box to write what you did well and 3 lines to write what you're grateful for that day. Focusing on just 3 tasks a day, planning how to make them enjoyable, and then focusing on what went well has been amazing for me. It's also interesting to see how my mood changes throughout the day and to write 3 things I'm grateful for everyday.
I'm so glad you did this video! I actually design and sell journals, planners, and spreadsheets, but I can never find anything that actually works for me. It's kind of embarrassing actually because I design them for others but struggle with it personally. Seeing the comments from the rest of the community saying the same thing makes me want to work harder at designing things that work with our brains instead of having to adjust to a particular system :). Thanks for being so open about your journaling - I need to do more as well!
I’m currently searching for a planner that will work for me. If you’re comfortable, would you mind sharing your website (if you have one) with your planner stuff?
Alisha, I have planner ideas for you! In the past year or two I've purchased probably 10 to 15 different productivity journals and planners and none of them seem to be right. So I put together a folder of ideas to create a planner that works for entrepreneurs and Marketers. And I also do digital marketing and copywriting, so we might possibly be able to collaborate/brainstorm together Island planner ideas and creations for people in our space professionally. I'll try to find your channel and message you. As my comment here is now five months after yours and I don't know if you are going to see it
It's not a planner, but the Finch app has been keeping me engaged. There's a little pet you name who gives you encouragement. You do different writing exercise, soundscapes or breathing exercises to give the pet energy to explore, and it comes back to you with an item to chat about. Your choices shape its personality. Nice little therapeutic app with a lot of positivity!
Recognizing how important the tactile aspect of journalling is to my sense of wellbeing was such a huge step for me. A social worker told me that she would write out a prescription for an agenda. Her way of telling me that my attempts to go paperless were sabotaging my health and my family life. I will always always have a paper agenda and journal. The journal can go days without anything being written. But it's my security blanket and ready when I need it.
Personally I hated the bullet journal. I tried it because it seemed amazing being able to personally tailor it for me, but I quickly found out that having to design and then continually redraw the template I made was a HUGE barrier for me. I now use a combo of a planner with a monthly and weekly layout and sticky notes. Sticky notes have been such a huge help with reminding me. I seriously keep them everywhere (even in my car because if I don’t put a sticky note on my steering wheel that says “gas” then the next time I get in I will run out and end up on the side of the road)
When I listen to you talk, I feel like crying a little because you’re so kind to me and I have wanted this for so long. It’s like a thirst I didn’t know I had because I was just “surviving” and getting through my day/week, etc.
Oh wow! I love the idea of choosing someone to check in with everyday as part of my daily planning. I get hyper-focused on my own life and forget to check in with others. Thanks for sharing this!
I really liked the bullet journal system bc it forced me to actively confront my perfectionism. I'm able to tolerate my mistakes now, and I don't feel bad about skipping some weeks, even if they're weeks I set up before. I used mine as a tool to actively combat the exact reasons why journaling is hard for me.
I'm a French teacher. I keep track of everything in a little notebook. The first pages are: my school schedule, my list of students with dyslexia and monthly calenders till June, where I can note birthdays and events. And after that, I work per day. I note all my lesson plans and colour-code them per grade. I also add after-school plans. Once per few weeks I make a longer-term to-do-list, just for an overview. When my notebook is full, I take a new one and start over. It isn't super efficient, but it's the system that I've used for more than 5 years. When the company stopped selling those specific notebooks, I bought all overstocks in the country so now I still have to use it for a decade or so 😉. Thanks for the video! I love bullet journals, but they only work for tracking my reading, not for my task management.
What? this is amazing! I am an elementary teacher and I feel like my planning is a mess! Therefore, my life is a mess. Do you have this in a regular notebook? How about home life? Any further insight would be appreciated! Thank you!! 😊💓
I have journaled for over 20 years. There are gaps of a year here and there, but my journal doesn't get upset at me if I forget it for awhile... it waits and welcomes me whenever I have strong emotions or things to work out. It is only for me so it makes me free. I don't have to filter or edit, if I miss punctuation, or go on a separate diatribe on the edges, or write sloppy, or mis-spell... my journal is my friend that I never have to worry about the feelings or thoughts of! Planners on the other hand.... make me feel judged😆
I’ve never found a planner that has everything I needed, even bullet journaling bc I don’t have it in me to always have the energy to set it up every week or month. So I started designing my own inserts for a disc bound journal. It changes all the time, but that’s what I love about it. The inserts evolves with me
Just stumbling upon some of the How to ADD videos, do you have examples or have your discbound inserts anywhere to see? Always looking to help my brain!
I've just started using an undated planner with a monthly/weekly spread, and so far it's really nice. I've been pretty low-energy lately, so setting up a journal or planner is kinda hard, and I forget it, especially since I've just started a traineeship, and I'm not entirely used to the amount of time and energy I need for work. So, having something, where I can just quickly add a date, then write down what I need to, is the only way I can keep up. I also have another journal for diary entries and creative dumps, basically, which I use sporadically, not regularly. That's actually one of my "rules" for that journal - to be allowed to use it, whenever I want/need to. It really helps me relieve some of the pressure. I do keep both of them in my bag, though, so I won't forget about them.
I like this. I use a bullet journal to layout what I need to do and want to do and to track what I actually do, as well. I have a separate journal for dream work/ thoughts on my emotions and sensations. I actually think it works better for me to separate the two but have them both available. The bullet journal isn't just for productivity, it helps me see what I do when I'm not being"productive": what I've learned, who I've helped, what I've done for self- care, etc. The dream journal is like the good friend who has come over to hang out with me and listen to my thoughts and things.
I have autism so similar issues. Bought the Powersheets planner one year and it didn't matter that I didn't keep up with it because the first section I hyperfocused through and learned a lot about myself, the goals I actually want to tackle, and how to break those goals down into manageable chunks. Their website is out of actual planners for this year but has downlaodable goal guides that probably do the same thing and also other items that could be useful like a deck of cards with ideas/small actions that can help you focus on your wellness and notepads that are designed to help you break big tasks into smaller tasks.
I'm not using a journal for staying organized (my life is currently pretty non-busy so I can scrape by without too much planning) but I have started to keep a "happiness journal". It's an intentionally very non-structured collection of positive things in my life: Goals I'm excited about, personal interests I might want to explore, wish lists, ideas for activities, reminders of what makes me feel better when I'm down, a list of people I can talk to, quotes I like, gratitude journaling, doodles... I add whatever I feel good about. I also have a couple of routine trackers in there where I can tick off daily habits I want to stick to. The most important one of them: Open this journal. Ticking that off daily means that I will automatically get a daily dose of some kind of positivity, no matter what I may or may not have achieved that day. I do think it's really helped me stay more positive these last few months :)
1:40 This is so much issue. Thank you for suggesting a great work around. Set up in high energy excitement but the daily maintenance needs to be simple. Genius. Of a different point I made myself a chore wheel - it's a wheel of fortune with all house duties. It sits on my door and helps with finding ways to chunk jobs.
AmandaRachLee’s doodle planner!!! What keeps me consistent is the dopamine I get from pretty journals and tracking habits, but putting a lot of time and effort into making my own bullet journal that was aesthetically pleasing was not sustainable- the doodle planner is the perfect solution because it is basically a coloring book that leaves blank pages to make your own and if you don’t get around to actually color it, it is still functional unlike the bullet journal I was doing before, which I couldn’t use if I didn’t have the time to make the calendar for that month.
Last summer I decided to start journaling every day. I wanted to write something I would be able to look back at. I started on a sailing trip, which was a good decision, because I had a lot to write about and was not in the old bad routines. I managed to continue, now I write for at least half an hour every day. I sometimes describe a situation from today, a memory, a story or a poem. This freedom is important, because I always find something I want to write about. Even when I was going through a very hard time, I managed to mostly keep going.
Hi, I'm 58yo and was just recently diagnosed w adult ADHD. It seems strange at my age but it explains so much. I'm watching alI Jessica's videos and I'm amazed. I'm learning so much. I use the Cozi app to keep track of appts, etc. The only journaling I've ever done is on my laptop, and I knew it didn't feel right. Like I s/h put my hand to it. I'm going to keep Cozi for appts and such but I'll try journaling again, this time handwritten.
Love the different elements of you (Fish, 12, etc) and doing a little check in with them daily. I also have taken that approach in the past and want to refocus on it. Thanks! Lately I've stuck with a quick daily notes taking habit: Rose, bud, thorn. A rose is a positive from the day, a bud is something you're looking forward to, a thorn is a challenge you experienced that day. It includes some gratitude but feels more genuine since it balances it with acknowledging the challenges too. It's a concept from the book ADHD and Us. I do what the author recommends which is a check in with your partner. But I had to adapt it to journaling first before the verbal check in. This helps me gauge how I'm feeling by putting it on paper. Otherwise if we just chat without the notes first, I'll get lost and can't articulate my thoughts or feelings well. This daily journal habit has really helped me develop my ability to identify and communicate how I'm feeling and doing.
I've been doing journals like this and here are some tips I have: * Use erasable pens, they come in different colors, and erasing makes the journal much neater. * I break up the journal into categories(divided and marked with tabs), it helps me organize by project or task and doesn't make me feel bad for missing a day. * The cover page is the daily mantra, the back cover is used for goal setting. Feel free to reply if you have any questions about what I've been doing.
Hello. Could you possibly give me ideas on categories that you use? My problem is that I lose motivation when I run out of things to write about. I honestly feel like I don’t have much going on in my life (stay at home mom) but my mind races and I can’t seem to organize my thoughts 😅
@Nicole Barthalomew I think the important thing about categories is to only make at most 6. If you do too many it will be difficult to keep track of. If you have too many things you want to write about combine things. For example, instead of having a separate section for diet and another for exercise I put them both in my self-care section. If you have lots of tiny projects you can put a whole section for projects. What helps keep me motivated is my journal is a 3-month book, Jan, Feb, March is the one I'm working on now. Once I'm done new book, new goals and it helps me get a fresh start. My 6 sections are, Problem Solving, Company work stuff, Hobbies, Crafting, Self Care, Reflections and Tracking stats.
@@nicolebart8906 if you also go in with the mentality of filling it in for inspiration instead of obligation it makes it easier to maintain it as you use it only when you have the desire to fill it out.
@@End3rthe3rd wow. Seriously thank you very much ! I will follow what your doing and begin a 3 month book. I feel like I can write and set goals in the 3 moths vs me trying to write out my plans for the whole year. I seriously appreciate your reply. 🙏
A thought (I’m still trying to incorporate this), gratitude for who you have and gratitude for how things happen, not gratitude for what you have. I heard about this in the book Burnout by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski, DMA. I recommend this book highly and would LOVE if you could have them as guests on your channel!❤️❤️❤️❤️ The other thing I’m doing is to use my journal as a record of my accomplishments - big and small - because I’m overwhelmed right now, just surviving. I’ll get back to planning when I have the bandwidth for that. Not now. Thanks for everything that you do, Jessica! Your channel is awesome and so are you.
Mm yes! That book is on my list thank you for the reminder! I have done a daily "three things I'm proud of" prompt for myself to build confidence in the past. Whether they were small or big actions, it was so helpful. Hope you can shift out of survival mode soon. You got this!
I started a bullet journal two years ago when I was diagnosed and binged watched all your episodes (it was the first lockdown). I'm so glad that I started doing that for my mental health. Every evening I write down three positive things about the day and I check off my mini habits (among others if I took a walk, drank enough water, ate fruit). It's just also really nice to have a notebook to put al my random drawings and ideas in :)
I didn't know bullet journal stencils were a thing! I just ordered notebooks. Will try adding stencils and stickers to my journals in the future. :) Right now, it's pretty bare bones, and I divided it into three sections: 1. Work and Business 2. Reflections and Meditations 3. Mental Health and Therapy Notes These are the three most important areas of my life right now where I want to focus, so that's why I divided my notebook into three sections. Also, I got those notebooks with detachable pages (binder-style) so it can grow with me. If one area of focus expands, I can just add more pages to it, or if there's a new part of my life that I want to focus on, I just add another section. For me, binders work better because I can take a blank sheet, write on it, and then just add it to the binder. It might not work for others, though, so, try for yourself and see what works. :)
@lidette711 your system of organization is brilliant! I also have three sections, or three categories that I want to write in, but have a continual struggle of whether to keep three separate bullet journals or to use one and divide it into sections. But then I wonder what you do when I run out of pages for a certain section. Love you idea
Unexpected muting. I am so glad I saw you write this. I am my journey to diagnosis of Adhd, and the more I watch your videos the more I understand and the more things make sense. I didn't know selective mutism can be linked to Adhd. When I am my most overwhelmed, and others are around me, looking at me for an explanation - I freeze up and it feels like the longest 20+ seconds before me voice is free. You are so right... The diagnosis for those with adhd isn't right. You have already help me understand so much that wasn't common knowledge... Rejection sensitive dysphoria, rushing a relation to continue the dopamine train, poor sleep, the repeative feeling of dispare from being constantly busy and feeling I haven't archived, why I never felt the same, why I am sensitive, why I could never work fast enough in previous jobs, always late no matter how much I tried, poor priority skills. Because of you I am looking at myself with new eyes! I am excited to carry on this journey of embracing me and the way my brain is ACTUALLY wired, rather than only trying to conform. Thank you........... Forever thank you! Alaina x
I have to admit that I was getting put off by the idea of making a journal by hand to physically draw out a routine *shivers*. “That could never be interesting to me, it sounds painful,” I thought. Then you took out those templates and I remembered I have a 3D printer. It doesn’t feel like a long-term thing, as usual, but damn do I wanna try making one of those journals with some home-made custom templates. God knows I have the stockpile of notebooks lying around for it.
I have used the hero’s journal for several month and I really love the fact that you can skip days or weeks if you forget to use your planner. To follow the little guy on an epic journey makes my ordinary life feel may more ✨dramatic✨ what helps me stay motivated. And to colour in it sometimes to sort out my thoughts makes it definitely worth the money 🥰 Thank you for recommending the planner!
Hello! ADHD brain & trauma survivor here. Personally I find that I have a tendency towards overthinking, especially wrt my own internal life and identity, and traditional journaling encourages a kind of over-intellectualizing that isn’t healthy for me. Reading old journal entries is kind of emotionally painful because it’s basically watching my past self spin on a mental hamster wheel. Getting into visual art has really been helping me engage with my own internal life in a way that is more intuitive and process-based, rather than the “sitting there and intellectually picking myself apart” approach that words-only journaling encourages. I’ll end up writing little journal entries about my creative process and what I’m learning about myself through art - in my sketchbook right alongside my drawings. And I get to learn something new and build my confidence in my abilities. :)
You should look up the comics artist/writer Lynda Barry’s journal-making tutorials here on UA-cam. They involve drawing and they’re a really cool way to help get perspective on the events happening in your life.
I have the same expirence with you when it comes to free journaling, but just something that has helped me Is guided journaling. There are like daily check in ones and ones for trauma healing/processing, mindfulness, and introspection to kind of break it down in easily digestible chunks
I’ve started bullet journaling several times. I know it’s the best version for me but I’ll do it every day for a week then I won’t remember I forgot about it for 4 months…working in that.
Then, I take a page to write a note to myself. A little reminder that I can reset as many times as I need. Gently encouraging myself to never give up, and some seasons are hard. Sometimes half a year has gone by, but I was there and can reflect on it all in a page or two of basic updates.
I started using mine as a to-do list and let it just evolve on its own lol. Using it as a daily to-do list in the beginning really helped develop the habit of using it everyday.
Procrastination and overwhelm are my Achilles, I'm looking forward to using my new Clever Fox planner journal using some of your wonderful ideas! I ordered the pens and stencils you suggested. Thanks so much! 🌻 🐞
I use the Big Happy Planner and have for a few years now! I've always used similar planners since college and it always helps! I also use Google calendar with my fellow ADHD husband and we link ours so we know when the other has appointments and such. My happy planner serves as a reminder system and a reward system with stickers and colors and fun doodles!
For me journaling in the sense of writing all the work down I had to do and color code it by due date helped a lot during homeschooling but since then it hasn’t helped that much and instead I came up with a NEW METHOD that works really well for me: I have a few POST ITS on my door that serve as categories (for example: homework, school, try, to-do, what I wanna do (so I can keep a work/life balance and do something that will bring me joy when in a slump) small tasks, #stressful, friends) whenever something comes up that I need to remember or get done I write it on a new post it and stick it to my door underneath a fitting category and whenever I get something done I can take it down (I know it’s not the most environmentally friendly thing to do but it helps sooo much and is probably equivalent to the amount of paper I’d use with a journal) Just thought I’d share this for whoever might be in desperate need of something new to try when all else has failed :))
I do the post its as well. It's much more satisfactory to just toss them away and have a clean space after. I saw somewhere a girl who instead of tossing the post ins, she made origami stars out of each and put it in a BIG jar. So You not only are freeing space on your surface but also can see your accomplishments - aka stars.
I'm not always consistent with my bullet journal, but one of my favorite things that's been really helpful is packing lists for every trip. It's helped me to not forget things because I can go back through years of packing lists before a trip to make sure I'm not missing anything (I literally forgot to pack shirts one trip as a kid 🙃). It also helps ease my anxious brain because I don't have to keep the list in my head.
I started journaling in 2008. I went through fits and starts and finally got into my current, almost-every-workday journaling routine in late 2019. So for anyone who is struggling to be consistent: don't feel discouraged! You might not find the journaling routine that works for you right away, but if you know journaling is good for you, I believe you'll make it a regular part of your life eventually-no matter how long it takes. I've developed a structure to my daily journal sessions: - Date (with day of the week now) - Time (to help me track how I'm doing with my routine...and how long things take me) - Check-in (sleep, how I'm doing on goals, physical well-being, mental well-being, any notable work stressors, stuff that happened over the past 24 hours that I know future me will be annoyed if I don't record) - Bible reading - Written prayer (often roughly following the Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication framework, so if I weren't religious, I guess I'd do something about what I'm thankful for and what I'm working toward) - End time - Miscellaneous things in the margins and in boxes that occurred to me as I wrote: to-do items that need to be put in my planner, distracting thoughts that wouldn't go away until I wrote them down, etc. At this point, if I start a journal entry, habit compels me to do each step, even if I don't think I want to at first. (Exception: when I'm low on time or doing an extra brainstorming or deal-with-stress journal session.) I use a fountain pen (with cartridges that are easy to switch out), which makes me happy. :D On the planner note: In high school, I reacted to to-do lists viscerally, as they seemed more like to-fail lists. They now feature heavily in my planners. Do I do everything on my to-do lists when I plan to? No. But I can use them without getting anxious-they're in my tool box. I can get frustrated with other things I'm not doing well, but then I remember the good habits I've integrated over the past couple years, like journaling regularly and brushing my teeth twice a day. I struggled with both, but by keeping pressure to succeed low and trying various approaches, I managed to work them into my routine. What habits will I integrate next?
I got myself a blank bullet journal 2 years ago. I still use it. I always make my monthly calendar and write important appointments, plans with friends, exams and so on. I love taking the time to make each months calendar. I also use lots of washi tape and markers. Sometimes I draw or stick cool pictures and cut outs on a double page and decorate it however I want. I think I'll start writing down feelings and thoughts that I can then talk in therapy about.
I recently found your channel and because of all the work you’ve done, was able to finally understand what I’ve been struggling with my entire life. I received a formal diagnosis just recently and am excited to try meds, knowing what I do now. It took me almost 47 years to get some answers, what you are doing is a tremendous service to society and to all the kids who may find answers sooner than I did and not have to wait for hope as long as I did. Thank you so very much for what you do. I truly appreciate you.
To manage doing anything, I use Google Calendar with several calendars: - a blue one to plan my work hours, I never stick to them but it helps me visualize what I end up actually doing - an organge one for personal life tasks that I can freely move around, I just treat them as sticky notes on a calendar, having a dedicated todo list tool never worked for me - a red one for personal life appointments I can't move and must attend - a green one to keep track of events I may attend if I feel like it, like shows, concerts, whatever, Twitch streams… I need to have everything on a single place with time stamps, yet I need to be able to move things around. The advandage of using a digital calendar is that I always have it in my pocket, though computers and phones are a huge source of distraction, and I'm more and more considering switching to tools dedicated to a single task. Maybe a paper calendar with sticky notes could work, but I fear they would fall and I'd never end up doing anything, maybe there's a way to manage it…
It literally never occurred to me to have goals tied to my well being. I have always tried to form them around something more external, doing outward (job, etc.). Thank you for that moment of vulnerability. I need to do some reflection now.
This resonates on a lot of levels because I just quit a job that I couldn’t keep from bleeding into and taking over the whole rest of my life. The journal method I used for work was based on the lab notebooks I kept in school (I miss being a science major)-a cheap, small ruled notebook that consecutively records everything I need to think about day-to-day, chronologically. So hours on a project, important meeting outcomes, things I need to take to so-and-so about, hit lists for upcoming meetings… It worked reasonably well for the “story of work.” Priorities and things that needed to be in RAM not ROM I did on a running digital sticky note on my desktop. Writing my way out of depression and anger and whatever I do in a second, larger-format notebook. Now that I’ve got the chance to have a personal life, though, I want to expand the headspace notebook into an actual tracker for other personal things like habits and plans, so maybe a bujo, but I’d need something less artistic. Maybe with a stamp set.
I bullet journal and mine is the least artistic thing ever (despite or maybe because I'm actually quite artistically inclined). I love the pretty ones and I'm totally digging the stencils from the vid, but the only thing I use on mine other than a pen is sometimes a ruler (can't wait to run out of notebooks and get a dot grid one). I just use the basic principles of bujo and totally skip the artsy stuff and even a lot of the layouts that other people seem to view as "essential" - like the 6-month/year/whatever future layout, other than things that never change like birthdays I never know that far in advance that something is going to happen so I skip it. For me the only thing that really makes up a bujo is the index at the front and the flexibility everywhere else! Hope you find something you love, even if it's just for a while (because...adhd)
@@lavendargooms2056 thanks! I’ll look for a dotty notebook next. My mom, incidentally, was a commercial artist. She told me early on, “whatever you want to be in life is fine, just don’t be an artist.” So, I wasn’t an artist. (She tiger-mommied hard later, so “fine” got redefined somewhat more narrowly.) I find the goal-setting wearing, although I would like to track a couple of things, like exercise. Mostly I need a back-up brain, ‘cause the one in front is inclined to overheating.
I admire all who can keep a bullet journal but find them SO overwhelming! I use a Passion Planner and make it my own by drawing in habit trackers and lists. I like the large size as small journals drive me crazy especially since I have such messy writing!
I purchased a bullet journal kit on Amazon for under $25 after watching this. As a person with ADHD I definitely need a journal. Until this video I had never seen stencils. I hate free handing journals so I hope the stencils will help. Thank you for the tips!
I started using a bullet journal after watching your video about it (actually I started while I was still watching it, hyperfocus in action 😂). I've been consistent for 4 months now and it's been a life saver! With every month I change it a bit according to my current needs. Of course I still procrastinate, but I do a lot of to dos out of spite so I don't have to take them into the next week. 😁 I also have a monthly habit tracker in my journal where I fill in a small box per day and item to be able to see progress. I use it to watch my screen time, how much I slept, to track the medication side effects, how good I felt etc etc. It's a form of claiming a bit of control with such a chaotic brain ☺️ Thank you so much for your work!
I use two unlined A5 Leuchtturm 1917 journals. One is my modified day to day life bullet journal and the other I use to dump my brain into at an emotional level. on the second one I have started doing wet wash watercolor paintings as backgrounds for my writing and write with fountain pens, dip pens or whatever I feel like writing with that day and it really holds up.
For the last year I was using CGP Grey's Theme system journal. It worked well for me this past year, because it was a very busy year (planning & executing a big international move.) I needed to stay organized, but didn't have time to do my usual bullet journal layout-ing. CGP's system is cool, cause it has the flexibility of a bullet journal, but he's provided a little bit of a template structure. I don't have to think about setting up lay outs. I just adapt the layout that's there for my needs. Right now I'm in a sort of transitional period where I don't need to be super on top of things. I'm using a Kanban board to remind myself to take care of myself and I'm using a regular notepad to do stream of conscious writing. It feels good and right for me now. I think the biggest lesson I've learned over the years of trying to find the "right system" is that there is no right system. What worked last month, might not work for me this month. Trying to find one thing that works for me always and forever is not realistic. My needs change, so my system should change with it.
Journaling has become such a joy for me once I realized what I needed it for!! I didn't need it for productivity, I needed it for remembering and reflecting back on things I did through the day. I use a bullet point system listing out the things I did throughout the day and then have an extra journal for feelings I have. I use an undated planner I got off of Amazon and it's amazing! Gives me space to reflect, keep track of my mood and other things, and just keep track of what I do every do so that I don't feel like I'm constantly forgetting it. Journalling can be a lifesaver if you know what you need it for.
I've been using Google Callender and it's widgets. So all I care about for the day regarding schedule is looking at what I have to do for the day. And for things I have to do, like hw, I'll write it down in a more traditional weekly planner,and use the bullet journal key system for moving things around.
I was doing so well with my bullet journal after your video about it and then I got covid, then long covid and it turned everything upside down. Thank you for doing this video. It has inspired me to get back to how good i was last November.
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through! It's understandable why journaling fell to the side for a bit. Glad the video can help inspire. 🧡 And fingers crossed the long COVID will get better over time as well. Sending hugs! Unless you don't do hugs then sending kittens! media2.giphy.com/media/I9XrL9Tc1jpe/200.gif (Kitten
I’m a very type A ADHDer (which leads to some interesting internal conflict) so a planner is awesome for me! When it comes to journaling and plannering, I find that I just need to take it day by day, and not worry about getting “caught up” if I miss something. It helps to write daily to-do’s and have a place to write deadlines I’ll otherwise forget.
I have a planner and a journal and a wall schedule. My journal is Diarium, and being able to tag the entries and come back to them or find them by date on a calendar is super helpful. My planner is Ship's Log 2 United Front for people who also have DID, but I've adapted that some for my AuDHD brain as well. It comes with monthly and weekly planners, therapeutic elements, and long-term goals that you check back in with when making monthly and weekly goals. I've adapted it to put what I plan to do in the right column and what I actually do that day in the left column, and I can see that my days are pretty full, even if I didn't always follow the plan, which feels good. And then I have a giant schedule on my fridge that has things like meds and feeding the cat and gets updated with things like doctor's appointments or people coming to my home on the days I remember to do it.
I have used possibly every planner ever made from a Franklin Covey to a Bullet Journal. I have landed on the Hobonichi Cousin as my favorite and the one that is most useful for my ADHD brain. It has a monthly, weekly, and daily layout without being cumbersome in size. The layout is minimal and clean specifically in the daily layouts. I am able to plan my weekly layout to have a visual layout so I can track time and appointments. Then on individual days, I can add appointments and to-do items, but this is what makes it amazing, I also journal on that daily page. Some people draw and even do watercolors in their Hobonichis. It's truly the only planner that for me is structured and functional AND allows me to work the way my brain needs me to. Sorry for the book, I know I sound like an infomercial, but after a lifetime of feeling scattered and lost I finally feel like I have a planner that can be my anchor. There are a ton of videos about them on youtube if you have any interest in checking them out. Thanks for the community!
Thank *you* for sharing! What works will be different for each individual and so it's always great to have other options that can be looked at and tried! 😊🧡
im an illustration student, this means i often take notes and to dos in my sketchbook because i always have it on me. recently i have bought a small slim sketchbook which is that perfect place to keep my endless lists so i only have one thing to lose instead of every individual list.
Same, it reminds me so much of how chill the bullet journaling sessions were for the first in-person year of my Uni’s Holistic Society. Like, we’d be simply chatting amongst ourselves whilst doing them
I use a color-coded day planner and build in a goals section (the goals are also color-coded) - pink for work, purple for fun/personal, green for health/self-care, blue for travel, orange for Immovable Objects (holidays, birthdays, major life events, etc) and then I deliberately look at my time and my goals to make sure the colors actually align (if I have a self care goal but there’s no green on my planner, I know I need to make changes)
I got one called "The Best Journal Ever" from Amazon which is pretty basic and works well for the few things that I like to reflect on each day and has a simple habit tracker. Simple is VERY important for me. I can't have a bunch of junk I need to fill out every day. I love the stencil idea though--I might try that next. Instead of a bullet journal, I might try it just in a simple unlined sketchbook.
I love the idea of checking in with the different parts of yourself (and others)! that's something I think I often neglect to do I've been using a bullet journal for a few years now and this past year especially I've really worked on bringing it down to the absolute basics so I stay motivated to keep using it. Now for each month I have a front page and quote, an "overview" (calandar and things I'd like to get done this month), a habit/med tracker (for both making sure I do the things I need to do daily but also just to keep track of the last time I for example watered my plants, so I know if I need to do that soon or not), and a 'weekly log' per week where I have a box for each day and one box for things I'd like to do at some point during the week. I split items into 'tasks' (squares), 'events' (circles), and 'appointments' (triangles) and colour the shape as it gets done. At the start of my journal I also have a small calandar for the whole year and a period tracker, and otherwise that's about it! It sounds like a lot when written out like this but my journal used to be much larger than this, and having used the same system for such a long time means it's really easy and quick for me to set up now. I also use an app called Daylio for journalling thoughts and feelings, I think it's a brilliant app for that :)
Yeah that's brilliant. My life coach and I are working on thinking about my little 10 year old (I don't have a trauma per se) but we recognize when he is not helping me (and when he is). I also like the checking in on someone else. I love that whole thing actually.
Honestly I got the Hero's Journal on a whim because I loved the way it looked and dateless layout, and by the time it arrived I knew exactly how I was gonna use it. I made it specifically dedicated to one of my goals (Twitch streaming) so that I know that when the journal is out that's what I'm focusing on. I'm glad that it's making me take stock of not just my to-do list but the bigger picture of things.
As much as I L-O-V-E paper journals, I've had a problem with perfectionism when it comes to them. Plus, either the format doesn't fit me, or I spend way too much time creating pages and layouts each month. I'm currently using the Penly app on my Android tablet and love it. I can create my own "template" pages and import pictures, stickers, etc., that make journaling fun but not overwhelming. Also, a game-changer was to buy a paperlike screen protector so writing feels more like paper; not 100%, but close enough.
Updating my bullet journal every morning is something that I've had to keep in my morning routine because it doesn't take much to send me entirely off the rails. Also I need those stencils.
Right? Stencils are such a life saver. The link to the stencils is in the description if you'd like to order them or get an idea of what they look like up close! 😀But I'll drop the link to them here as well! www.amazon.com/dp/B09LYQCZP5/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I love journalling and planners 💕 I think as adults we forget that development can also be playtime. We look at a child colouring in a book and know that they are doing something that's good for them. We don't try and force consistency, productivity or limits on it. You can be both. You can be imperfect and still do something good for yourself. You can jump around, try new things, put them down for awhile, buy the shiny stickers and still be doing something good for yourself.
As much as I love paper journals and handwriting, the perfectionist in me just can’t. When I tried to bullet journal, setting up my weekly spread the way I wanted it to be (drawing boxes, not fancy decorating) took so long that I wouldn’t end up doing it, and therefore had no system. Also, The fact that things move around means that a digital system works much better for me that a physical one. I use Notion, because I’m able to customize it to me. I can set up almost anything I can think of, and add or drop parts as I feel like it. It has been so helpful! Almost every other system I tried to set up failed because I was butting my head against things that didn’t work the way I wanted them to.
I had the same issue, except that I didn't want digital either. I discovered (thanks to a ADHD group, actually, which was recommending a specific website often) that, first off, there are UNDATED!!! planners/calendars! And then I realized that there are also binders/organizers which makes it even better. So now I have a binder with three types of printed pages (weekly pages, daily pages, and dotted lines like in a bullet journal), and I just use the one that I need that day or for that purpose. Since it's printed out, I don't spend ages drawing the boxes/basic structure, but I have most of the flexbility bullet journal allows for.
I’ve tried journals and planners in the past. They always haven’t worked due to the fact that I couldn’t sustain the daily maintenance, as often I would start them at the beginning of a school year/semester, put in due dates and forget after 2 weeks. I never even considered that I was hyperfocusing on them and putting aside time to do what I need to do
Love the idea of journals and planners but I get really stressed while writing (not sure if it's OCD) because letters have to look a certain way, and I press hard so it's stressful for my hand.. I like To Do lists on my phone because I can also create calendar alerts which help remind me if I've forgotten to do something on the list or I zone out for a day or two.
1) This is encouraging me to get stuff off my computer....and into my journal. Thank you!! 2) Word of the year is discipline, but.....apparently I'm doing word of the month too. Didn't see it coming, but hey! It's still doable....☺️ Side note about my word of the year: I've already fallen off the bandwagon, but it's SO encouraging that I've been able to get back on. So...I already can't say I was disciplined 365 days of this year, but I *can* say that I didn't give up. I hope that encourages someone to keep putting the effort in! ❤️
I have been bullet journaling for about 7 years. I've found that I have to keep it super simple or I won't use it. I will do a monthly overview on the first two pages and then for the rest of the month, I will write the date either the night before or the morning of with stuff to do that day. If I plan it out a week ahead, I just won't use it. It doesn't look as fancy as most peoples I see online but I don't need fancy - I need to use it.
Hi Jess! This is great. I usually struggle to watch any video on YT that has over 10 minutes but here I don't even look at a timeline. Planners are my forever hyperfocus. I really like your ideas around planning. I'm preparing for tomorrow's session with my therapist and those things are so helpful! We are going to discuss how to organise my day at work. I love the quote from the book about boundaries. Any chance you could drop me its title? It would be much appreciated ❤🎉
I've used the standard bullet journal for a while, I think since my second year in hight school...but for some time now it hasn't been working, cause I forget to look at it and sometimes to even use it. So now i'm trying a notebook with clear cover and detachable pages so that I can put the spread forward and keep it closed. It's working so far, takes less space, so it's less bothersome. I make my spreads at the end of the month (for the one ahead) and the weeklies/daylies are done accordingly to what I have to do, sometimes I only have a couple of things and just use a to do list :)
I found an old planner worked for helping me keep track with Christmas gifts for friends and family. The months acted as an index and the days worked as a good holding space for ideas and what I had gotten for someone. Tbh this is a great way to use old unused planners especially the weekly layout :)
When i became a career oriented individual back in the 80's i realised quickly that i needed a way too keep trck of my appointments and meetings, as well as my type 6 ADHD.. I fel in love with my Franklin Covey. Yeah sure it was dry and cold, but it gave me a clear and concise way of tracking everything and adjusting my time. I finally replaced that planner with a new one last month. It was another Franklin Covey.
Oooo stencils!!! ✨BRAIN LIGHTS UP!!!✨ I have been keeping the cutouts from board games I purchased where you have to push out pieces to use in the game so I could use them for stencils for something. OMG. Did not think I could use them for my bullet journal!! I started doing bullet journals last year when I watched your video on it. I will be honest there was a couple months I didn’t use it but I’m back to it again. I find it really helpful to use and love that it’s so flexible. I think it will take me a few years to figure out the best system to use for it but that’s kind of exciting for me!
I found my first working diary / planner this year. I’ve kept at it since week 1 of January and that’s unheard of. It’s a “Goals Diary” from Kiki K. It allows me to track habits, highlights, to do lists etc as well as reflect each month. Working well so far. It’s everything I wanted from a bullet journal without the need to set it up myself. Big fan.
Oh my gosh. I need those stencils in my life. I love the idea of bullet journals because I can tailor it to myself. But I could never keep it going. But setting it up like this with the stencils so that it is consistent would be great!
I just recently bought a bullet journal! I'm using it for motivational purposes. I don't have trouble remembering what I need to do (I use Google Calendar for that), but I do have trouble making myself do them. So I'm writing and drawing on pages why I'm doing what I'm doing, how great it's going to feel when I finally accomplish that goal, etc. Hopefully this gets me through college!
I love my Heros Journal!! I received it for Christmas this past year, and it's fantastic. I fill out a page every two or three days or so. My 3 main goals usually take a few days.
I find a journal for planning a trip is very helpful. You can plan what you are taking, then make your list. That way I am not constantly making a new one but just adding or subtracting. Also I am less likely to lose the list. I then have goals for dates when to have a part of something done. Like packing my clothes the day before, I can then cross it off my list. These are two week trips across country.
Yes! Bullet Journal! I also LOVE the idea of the Hero Journal, and have been following them since their Kickstarter, but I just don't think it would work for me on a long-term basis. I feel like it's too much for my brain to stick to consistently. On your note about bleeding through the paper, there are other journals that have the same features as Leuchtturm, but have better paper. My favorite is Scribbles That Matter, or STM. I encourage you to check them out! They're a small, customer focused company from the UK that is very supportive of journaling for mental health.
I like making a sketch book a journal and planner as well. Kind of chaotic, but since there's a lot going on I find it fun. The more purpose it has, the more I'll remember to use it.
I use a bullet journal in conjunction with a bunch of calendar reminders. I've been bullet journaling for about 5 or so years now, and I've finally got a consistent monthly lay out and then a simple daily log (I put the day and then just let myself write as much or as little as needed beneath, so pages have some variation). Sometimes I'll be in the mood for creativity and I'll make a fun weekly spread, and sometimes I'll have some extra space and I can add some stickers, but mostly I just use a few mildliners for color and it makes me so happy.
I learned from an education class as an undergrad that the more you work with new information the more likely it will go into your long term memory. Recording lectures, playing them back, transcribing them, reviewing them with a highlighter etc helped my son get an A in a very challenging class. He also found bullet journals to be the most helpful! I love how you customized yours with templates!
My planning has multiple layers: 1. I stick a year calendar on the door of my work-room closet. I put on that the very important events - trips, concerts, things like that 2. Every Sunday evening I do a weekly plan on a small sheet that I stick next to my monitor with the important stuff for the week. I write that plan on paper (yep, heard the same thing about writing stuff to remember) 3. I use Trello has my perpetual infinite todo list. I have a card with the things to do today, things to do this week, things that have a date (see 1. above). I shuffle things around for to plan my 2-3 days to come. Many get shuffle back when I do not have time to do them. I also use Trello for bigger-than-a-line-in-a-checklist things. And somewhat as a database also (here is the list of things related to finance, here is the list related to travel). And I have dedicated boards for very big project (like vacations, World of Warcraft, Pokemon Go, taxes). Trello is kind of the master list. The weekly sheet is a view of the important things. The calendar is another view of important things.
The best, because of your frank honesty, video in a long time. This is how you help me and (MANY) others. Thank you. I go through the same right now. Therapy, realizing how fragile I am and what I can do about it.
I use a (refillable) Filofax A5 planner organizer and I LOVE it because I'm a graphic artist, so I can make my own inserts that align with what my ADHD needs. It is so HARD to keep up with, but when I do, it helps me manage finances, daily projects, housework, meal planning, and even parenting. Sometimes, I'm ashamed that I need it to keep from falling apart when these things that make up life come so naturally for my neurotypical friends. I mean...what mother needs to be reminded to have one-on-one time with her child? 🥺 But I'm glad I found a way to cope. For the most part.
You are not alone, and you are doing great. I have to schedule lots of common tasks and even discussions to have otherwise they fall through the cracks and get forgetten. I am working on being a better and more involved friend, sister, colleague, dog owner and educator. Being an adult requires us to wear so many 'hats' and keep us constantly busy with tasks. It is okay and important to realise when it is time to start saying 'no' and letting low priority tasks go. Hoping you find clarity and confidence. :) Imogen
I love the idea of checking in with 5 year old self and 12 year old self, or any other self you have!! I want to come up with mine, I think it would be my 15year old newly diagnosed with diabetes, and my inner writer at a young age before I was 10, I want to say 8 before people told me my stories weren't good or kids started teasing me for other reasons. I've always found journals helpful, I've never done a bullet journal cos I could never get past the designing stage it took so long and I got stuck at a blank page and making time to get started. I have a lot of journals and goal setting journals, Nd I'm looking forward to my next one starting in March 😊 have to get past the feeling it didn't start in January but hey, it's ok. Thanks for reading if you get this far 😅
Oh yes, I was just thinking of getting one of these! Unlabeled Weekly Journals (where you can write the day of the week at the top yourself, so you won't have to skip a page and get stressed out and discouraged if you miss a day) seem like they could be good too, for something more small and casual. Maybe I'll get both, and keep them for different things! Who knows? I too write a lot of things down since I don't have the best memory, but it's very hard to keep anything organized. I'm excited to try to plan my days out on paper, even if it'll be really difficult because I've never done it before. Good luck to anyone who's trying, too! You're doing great, keep going!
You should read my comment about Travelers Journals since you're a list maker too.
Recommend the Smart Planner Pro. Currently have the weekly undated, and it has really helped me stay on top of things.
I just use a regular journal, but I don't write dates down; they're mostly for keeping up with tasks and objectives, tbh.
I'm still using my 2019 journal with dates🤭😂. I use a plain white sticker to white out the old date and insert the new one. I have decided it is not worth it to throw away such good quality paper stock and binding. 🤣
@@politereminder6284 Ah, that's interesting.
Paper journals and planners… or as I call them “the stack of things in the corner of the closet that I was positive that I was going to use but never did but I kept on buying new ones because they were pretty and the prettier they are the more I was convinced that I’d use them but I never did because that’s how I roll”.
You've got yours in one place? Wow! I've got hundreds, dated and undated scattered in different places within piles all over my house, car, garage...
This is also me
Have you tried CGP Greys system?
Okay. This have just spoken my truth. I feel so seen. 🥺💚
@@RubenKelevra CGP, what is that? I am interested to hear all about it 😁
I love that my 8yr brother who has ADHD is the one who told me to come to your channel bc it rlly helps him and now it's our sibling thing we do at least once a week we will sit down and watch your videos.
This is so sweet!!! Omg 😭❤️
This is the most wholesome thing ever 😭My brother and I are in our mid 20s, 800km apart and still hang out online to watch Avatar and Legend of Kora. Sibling things be such special things 💞
This is beyond sweet I can't 🤗❤
I love how a video on planners in the middle of February instead of the begging of January makes perfect sense for us 😅
Haha
Nothing magical about January 1. Make today the day you start something new.
TOTAL SENSE!
right lmao i just ordered my 2022 planner yesterday!
Haha yes the times I forgot to buy a new calender in time😭😂
What always trips me up is that I'll start a system, use it regularly, and it makes life easier. Then my brain goes "Oh look, it solved the issue!" Then I stop, because I think it's "fixed/cured it" and I forget it's a tool that needs to be used consistently to keep working!
Same. I am getting back to carrying mine around again, but it’s hard to reastart from scratch.
or when you achieve some goals and complete some tasks and receive positive feedback, and then you panic, and start to make up for excuses and stop doing the tasks... like having fear for the success of sorts...
Good observation. I never thought about that but it might help me the next time I abandon my latest planner!
😅 but 😂
Perfection tip: binders make great planners.
If I use a bound journal I have this issue where if I mess one page up the whole thing is ruined. Using a binder has relieved that stress. Knowing I can take pages out and move things around has actually made it a lot easier for me to leave imperfect pages in.
Any kind of binder works, obviously, but if you want a planner sized one look for an A5.
I love my ring binder journal too! It's the best and takes so much pressure off x
While I have nothing against binders, shouldn't the goal be to reduce perfectionism rather than reinforcing it?
Jessica briefly talked about this in her video about why bujo is great and suggests intentionally screwing something up to remove the pressure. I found the intentional choice to do this (rather than it being a mistake) to be quite effective and now I love the imperfection of my bujo.
I will not go back to regular motebooks for my bullet journal. Binder is the only thing that works for me.
Yep! I do not even like using white out.
I prefer the discbound system to binders. I can move pages around or remove them but I can fold it around and flat like a spiral notebook. I don't personally like that I can't do that with a binder. 😊
The fact that bullet journaling actually worked for me, after a lifetime of organization failure, actually contributed to realizing I have ADHD. Journals and planning have become essential supports for being functional with ADHD.
Bullet journaling is very effective. So are stickers. It can really improve focus.
My eyes got sweaty when you talked about having a reminder that your past self is real and that these are things you actually did🥲 that's exactly how I feel but didn't know how to put it in words. My memory is so bad got it sometimes like I don't even really know or remember the events that have helped make me me. Thanks for making that connection for me ☺️
Sweaty eyes 😂 I'm going to steal that one
Sweaty eyes lol, that is a great expression. I'm going to add that to my repertoire (and likely promptly forget it. Oh well, it's the thought that counts)
@@BinaryBlueBull exactly 😂 I actually forgot already until I saw your response! I'll hurry up and use it today before I forget again 🙃
The stencil idea is genius, an awesome way to bypass my perfectionism paralysis!
Have you gotten any journaling stencils somewhere?
@@brookssnozek4153 I recently found some nice ones on Etsy.
same here!!
Digital journals help me with perfectionism paralysis a lot too! Anything can be "fixed"
I really like it too! I love the stickers so much, I get so much anxiety about using them! 😅
I have 3. Ah, yes, the ADHD overachiever... But seriously, one is a standard lined journal that I use sporadically when I start to notice extremes in my headspace (anxiety, depression, working through a specific problem by "talking" myself through it). The second is the 5 Minute Journal by Mel Robbins. It is one page that I fill out most days. It has a picture of a gas gage that you mark in regards to how you feel, then has specific questions for priorities for the day and why those are priorities for me. The other side of the page is blank space for schedule, brain dump, etc. I have 6 goals for 2022, and I write them on this side each day to remind me of what I am aiming for. I then break these annual goals into monthly goals and write February's goals under the 2022 goals. Finally I write down what I can do today in each goal category to move me forward. Takes me about 10 min to complete this entire page. Finally, I have my planner (or day timer as I call it) It has the month followed by weekly pages. I can look at the month or the current week at one time. I use this to plot my daily appointments, 4 main tasks for the day, self care habit tracker, and at the bottom, I leave space for success and challenge. Takes me another 5 min or so to fill out in the morning, and I cross things off during the day. At the end of the week I look back at my successes and challenges to see if there are any patterns that are consistently working or not in order to make adjustments. Yeah, I also have OCD, but this method has worked best for me to keep things (including myself) from falling through the cracks.
Great job finding a system that works for you! And thank you so much for sharing!! 😄🧡
Seconding The 5 Minute Journal. I use an app based version since I prefer digital notekeeping, and it's a great concept.
Thank you for sharing your system, I'm still trying to find systems that work for me but get stuck on what systems are out there haha
What are you using for your planner (day timer)? I find myself constantly fighting for one where my dislike for the layout doesn’t distract me into not using it.
Potential for confusion, these two things have similar names:
"The 5 Second Journal" is by Mel Robbins.
"The Five Minute Journal" is by Intelligent Change.
One thing that really helped me in school was having a "semester on a page" calendar. Month s are so arbitrary and really mess up my sense of time. If it's March 28th, April 2nd still feels like a month away, even though it's only a few days. But if it's on a calendar that has January through May on one page I can SEE how soon it is.
@mandrake how do you fit everything on a page? Do you only add the most important dates (quizzes/exams/ projects’ due dates)? Thank you for the tip! I’d love to try that but having a hard time visualizing it as a valuable resource ;)
So many things I never understood why I struggled so bad with, even after an official diagnosis... you really helped me realize I'm not just a lazy, unorganized person who has their priorities messed up and that there's a reason why I struggle every second of every day, with every single task and every aspect of my life. I didn't know sleep problems was an ADHD thing so thank you for that also. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you and these videos.
Welcome to the boat :) The best thing is realizing it; cliche' or not! Just you saying it, I'm sure is helpful. Myself, I am a school teacher, and you'd think I would have figured it out after so many years; I didn't.
I completely feel ya~ 🥺
I use a bullet journal for day-to-day things, but I bought the digital version of the Hero's Journal last week because I have a specific goal I want to achieve.
The fact that the folks at Hero's Journal are making the digital version available to brains who might not be able to afford it otherwise makes my heart so happy that I'm sitting here crying on a Tuesday afternoon while looking at my phone.
The loneliness and guilt neurodiverse people can feel when tools that are "supposed" to work don't is something that I believe we as a community need to acknowledge and discuss more. But in the meantime, offering a lifeline that is literally about changing your narrative means everything.
I know you hear this a lot, but I want you to know that you and the community you’ve built here gave me the courage to discuss ADHD with my doctor and finally start treatment. I always appreciate your tips and insights and your support. That goes for everyone here.
(Edit because I seemingly cant spell)
Yay welcome fellow brain 🧠🙂❤️ Same. I was diagnosed as an adult just a few months ago after learning so much here. This channel and the online brain community have been lifesavers.
LOL, because of 2 things. 1.) it is likely your ADHD brain that caused you to feel the need to edit. And 2.) because there's a typo in your edit, lol. In your disclaimer for your edit, you misspelled the word can't without the apostrophe, but everybody here understands that and is still loving and accepting! (And now I'm wondering if I misspelled the word "misspelled", haha.)
I used to be discouraged in doing journals because I could not always follow through with them, or I just like designing the pages until I get to May or June when I lose interest. Let alone write on them afterwards. But after your first video abt Bullet Journals, I have adapted that to fit what I want to see and it actually worked! Some days I still forget to write on it, but I've learned not to put myself down when that happens. I made Weekly plans instead of Daily, so even if I skipped a day w/o writing anything, I don't feel that bad. Also looking back on previous days is so rewarding and somehow motivates me to keep on working more productively. So, thank you. This channel has helped me tremendously.
Weekly plans also work so much better for me, than daily. Sometimes, if I already know I want/need to do certain tasks on certain days, I'll write the corresponding day-letter in front of the bullet (that also helps, keeps me accountable, especially with tasks I tend to put off).
"my feelings are inconvenient so let me try not to have them"
this hit so hard right now. I've been really hiding from my feelings and avoiding journalling and letting myself think. I've been worried about if people are going to see or if I write things down or let myself think, that'll make things I don't want to be true, true.
what I write down is for me. what I write down is for me to see later. to give grace to my past self. to process things I wasn't able to fully comprehend at the time. to check in with myself and be fully honest with myself.
thanks for this 💚🧡 so much of what you said resonated with me and I needed a reminder that my feelings and boundaries are important and my space is just for me 🌻
I've used a lot of planners over the years and, even though my priorities have shifted from daily listed/lined planners to more structured/reflective bullet journal style planners (good for designing and sketch note-taking), I think it helps to always keep the planner OPEN on a prominent place on your desk and table so you can fill in little details and update plans/tasks throughout the day.
You can get the best, most expensive planner out there but if you're not designing your area for it (and even the area around it with pencil, pens, markers for use) out in the open as a *constant* reminder, then you're just planning for your planner to collect dust and not ideas...
Great idea!💡 I know for me "out of sight, out of mind"😅 I'm going to implement that now. Thank you 💕
YUP this is exactly why planners never work for me, because I never remember to open them & read them 😂🤦🏻
100%. As an out of sight out of mind person (or in sight but stop seeing it after a while if it’s not being used), this is so true!
The best journal/planner I've found is called "intentions and reflections" and only has 3 lines for your goals for that day. At first I thought that was crazy because I normally have at least 10 things on my to do list, however I normally only do half of them so being forced to choose the 3 most important and only do those has been so helpful, also I prefer the word 'goals' to 'do to'. Sometimes my goal is to relax and not to 'do' anything. It has a space to write "How will I make today enjoyable" so I'll either think of something fun to do or if I have a task that's urgent I'll think about how I can get motivated for it like listening to music or playing youtube in the background, maybe I'll make an extra tasty lunch. It has a space to record your mood in the morning and your mood in the evening, a box to write what you did well and 3 lines to write what you're grateful for that day.
Focusing on just 3 tasks a day, planning how to make them enjoyable, and then focusing on what went well has been amazing for me. It's also interesting to see how my mood changes throughout the day and to write 3 things I'm grateful for everyday.
It sounds like 5 minutes journal, isn't it?
I'm so glad you did this video! I actually design and sell journals, planners, and spreadsheets, but I can never find anything that actually works for me. It's kind of embarrassing actually because I design them for others but struggle with it personally. Seeing the comments from the rest of the community saying the same thing makes me want to work harder at designing things that work with our brains instead of having to adjust to a particular system :). Thanks for being so open about your journaling - I need to do more as well!
I’m currently searching for a planner that will work for me. If you’re comfortable, would you mind sharing your website (if you have one) with your planner stuff?
I'm also interested in trying your planners!
yes I'd love to know also!
Alisha, I have planner ideas for you! In the past year or two I've purchased probably 10 to 15 different productivity journals and planners and none of them seem to be right. So I put together a folder of ideas to create a planner that works for entrepreneurs and Marketers. And I also do digital marketing and copywriting, so we might possibly be able to collaborate/brainstorm together Island planner ideas and creations for people in our space professionally. I'll try to find your channel and message you. As my comment here is now five months after yours and I don't know if you are going to see it
@@sarahbaileymarketing I’m making an illustrated ADHD planner for a university project, I’d love to hear any ideas you have!!
I LOVE the idea of having a “parts” check in daily! Totally borrowing that! Thank you for sharing!
It's not a planner, but the Finch app has been keeping me engaged. There's a little pet you name who gives you encouragement. You do different writing exercise, soundscapes or breathing exercises to give the pet energy to explore, and it comes back to you with an item to chat about. Your choices shape its personality. Nice little therapeutic app with a lot of positivity!
Late comment-- I second Finch so much. Mine has changed my life (thank you, my little Birdy buddy Shuffle)
yes!! i love finch
Recognizing how important the tactile aspect of journalling is to my sense of wellbeing was such a huge step for me. A social worker told me that she would write out a prescription for an agenda. Her way of telling me that my attempts to go paperless were sabotaging my health and my family life. I will always always have a paper agenda and journal. The journal can go days without anything being written. But it's my security blanket and ready when I need it.
Personally I hated the bullet journal. I tried it because it seemed amazing being able to personally tailor it for me, but I quickly found out that having to design and then continually redraw the template I made was a HUGE barrier for me. I now use a combo of a planner with a monthly and weekly layout and sticky notes. Sticky notes have been such a huge help with reminding me. I seriously keep them everywhere (even in my car because if I don’t put a sticky note on my steering wheel that says “gas” then the next time I get in I will run out and end up on the side of the road)
When I listen to you talk, I feel like crying a little because you’re so kind to me and I have wanted this for so long. It’s like a thirst I didn’t know I had because I was just “surviving” and getting through my day/week, etc.
Oh wow! I love the idea of choosing someone to check in with everyday as part of my daily planning. I get hyper-focused on my own life and forget to check in with others. Thanks for sharing this!
I really liked the bullet journal system bc it forced me to actively confront my perfectionism. I'm able to tolerate my mistakes now, and I don't feel bad about skipping some weeks, even if they're weeks I set up before. I used mine as a tool to actively combat the exact reasons why journaling is hard for me.
I'm a French teacher. I keep track of everything in a little notebook. The first pages are: my school schedule, my list of students with dyslexia and monthly calenders till June, where I can note birthdays and events. And after that, I work per day. I note all my lesson plans and colour-code them per grade. I also add after-school plans. Once per few weeks I make a longer-term to-do-list, just for an overview. When my notebook is full, I take a new one and start over. It isn't super efficient, but it's the system that I've used for more than 5 years. When the company stopped selling those specific notebooks, I bought all overstocks in the country so now I still have to use it for a decade or so 😉. Thanks for the video! I love bullet journals, but they only work for tracking my reading, not for my task management.
What? this is amazing! I am an elementary teacher and I feel like my planning is a mess! Therefore, my life is a mess. Do you have this in a regular notebook? How about home life? Any further insight would be appreciated! Thank you!! 😊💓
I have journaled for over 20 years. There are gaps of a year here and there, but my journal doesn't get upset at me if I forget it for awhile... it waits and welcomes me whenever I have strong emotions or things to work out. It is only for me so it makes me free. I don't have to filter or edit, if I miss punctuation, or go on a separate diatribe on the edges, or write sloppy, or mis-spell... my journal is my friend that I never have to worry about the feelings or thoughts of!
Planners on the other hand.... make me feel judged😆
I’ve never found a planner that has everything I needed, even bullet journaling bc I don’t have it in me to always have the energy to set it up every week or month. So I started designing my own inserts for a disc bound journal. It changes all the time, but that’s what I love about it. The inserts evolves with me
This is what I do too! "Frankenplan" discbound planners, combining pages of multiple and adding custom inserts so the planner works for me
Just stumbling upon some of the How to ADD videos, do you have examples or have your discbound inserts anywhere to see? Always looking to help my brain!
I've just started using an undated planner with a monthly/weekly spread, and so far it's really nice. I've been pretty low-energy lately, so setting up a journal or planner is kinda hard, and I forget it, especially since I've just started a traineeship, and I'm not entirely used to the amount of time and energy I need for work. So, having something, where I can just quickly add a date, then write down what I need to, is the only way I can keep up.
I also have another journal for diary entries and creative dumps, basically, which I use sporadically, not regularly. That's actually one of my "rules" for that journal - to be allowed to use it, whenever I want/need to. It really helps me relieve some of the pressure.
I do keep both of them in my bag, though, so I won't forget about them.
I like this. I use a bullet journal to layout what I need to do and want to do and to track what I actually do, as well. I have a separate journal for dream work/ thoughts on my emotions and sensations. I actually think it works better for me to separate the two but have them both available. The bullet journal isn't just for productivity, it helps me see what I do when I'm not being"productive": what I've learned, who I've helped, what I've done for self- care, etc. The dream journal is like the good friend who has come over to hang out with me and listen to my thoughts and things.
I have autism so similar issues. Bought the Powersheets planner one year and it didn't matter that I didn't keep up with it because the first section I hyperfocused through and learned a lot about myself, the goals I actually want to tackle, and how to break those goals down into manageable chunks.
Their website is out of actual planners for this year but has downlaodable goal guides that probably do the same thing and also other items that could be useful like a deck of cards with ideas/small actions that can help you focus on your wellness and notepads that are designed to help you break big tasks into smaller tasks.
Ajdkakskjsk I'm so sorry you got targeted lmao but that's really cool!!! Thanks for sharing
I'm not using a journal for staying organized (my life is currently pretty non-busy so I can scrape by without too much planning) but I have started to keep a "happiness journal". It's an intentionally very non-structured collection of positive things in my life: Goals I'm excited about, personal interests I might want to explore, wish lists, ideas for activities, reminders of what makes me feel better when I'm down, a list of people I can talk to, quotes I like, gratitude journaling, doodles... I add whatever I feel good about. I also have a couple of routine trackers in there where I can tick off daily habits I want to stick to. The most important one of them: Open this journal. Ticking that off daily means that I will automatically get a daily dose of some kind of positivity, no matter what I may or may not have achieved that day. I do think it's really helped me stay more positive these last few months :)
Do you know about Andrew Huberman's work with ADHD? ua-cam.com/video/hFL6qRIJZ_Y/v-deo.html
1:40 This is so much issue. Thank you for suggesting a great work around. Set up in high energy excitement but the daily maintenance needs to be simple. Genius. Of a different point I made myself a chore wheel - it's a wheel of fortune with all house duties. It sits on my door and helps with finding ways to chunk jobs.
That's a fun idea, the chore wheel! I am gonna try!
That’s such a fun and helpful idea! 🙌
AmandaRachLee’s doodle planner!!! What keeps me consistent is the dopamine I get from pretty journals and tracking habits, but putting a lot of time and effort into making my own bullet journal that was aesthetically pleasing was not sustainable- the doodle planner is the perfect solution because it is basically a coloring book that leaves blank pages to make your own and if you don’t get around to actually color it, it is still functional unlike the bullet journal I was doing before, which I couldn’t use if I didn’t have the time to make the calendar for that month.
Last summer I decided to start journaling every day. I wanted to write something I would be able to look back at.
I started on a sailing trip, which was a good decision, because I had a lot to write about and was not in the old bad routines. I managed to continue, now I write for at least half an hour every day.
I sometimes describe a situation from today, a memory, a story or a poem. This freedom is important, because I always find something I want to write about.
Even when I was going through a very hard time, I managed to mostly keep going.
Hi, I'm 58yo and was just recently diagnosed w adult ADHD. It seems strange at my age but it explains so much. I'm watching alI Jessica's videos and I'm amazed. I'm learning so much.
I use the Cozi app to keep track of appts, etc. The only journaling I've ever done is on my laptop, and I knew it didn't feel right. Like I s/h put my hand to it. I'm going to keep Cozi for appts and such but I'll try journaling again, this time handwritten.
Just to let you know - I find you really easy to listen to and love to rewatch your videos . Your happy makes me smile :)
Love the different elements of you (Fish, 12, etc) and doing a little check in with them daily. I also have taken that approach in the past and want to refocus on it. Thanks!
Lately I've stuck with a quick daily notes taking habit: Rose, bud, thorn. A rose is a positive from the day, a bud is something you're looking forward to, a thorn is a challenge you experienced that day. It includes some gratitude but feels more genuine since it balances it with acknowledging the challenges too.
It's a concept from the book ADHD and Us. I do what the author recommends which is a check in with your partner. But I had to adapt it to journaling first before the verbal check in. This helps me gauge how I'm feeling by putting it on paper. Otherwise if we just chat without the notes first, I'll get lost and can't articulate my thoughts or feelings well. This daily journal habit has really helped me develop my ability to identify and communicate how I'm feeling and doing.
I've been doing journals like this and here are some tips I have:
* Use erasable pens, they come in different colors, and erasing makes the journal much neater.
* I break up the journal into categories(divided and marked with tabs), it helps me organize by project or task and doesn't make me feel bad for missing a day.
* The cover page is the daily mantra, the back cover is used for goal setting.
Feel free to reply if you have any questions about what I've been doing.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello. Could you possibly give me ideas on categories that you use? My problem is that I lose motivation when I run out of things to write about. I honestly feel like I don’t have much going on in my life (stay at home mom) but my mind races and I can’t seem to organize my thoughts 😅
@Nicole Barthalomew I think the important thing about categories is to only make at most 6. If you do too many it will be difficult to keep track of. If you have too many things you want to write about combine things. For example, instead of having a separate section for diet and another for exercise I put them both in my self-care section.
If you have lots of tiny projects you can put a whole section for projects.
What helps keep me motivated is my journal is a 3-month book, Jan, Feb, March is the one I'm working on now. Once I'm done new book, new goals and it helps me get a fresh start.
My 6 sections are, Problem Solving, Company work stuff, Hobbies, Crafting, Self Care, Reflections and Tracking stats.
@@nicolebart8906 if you also go in with the mentality of filling it in for inspiration instead of obligation it makes it easier to maintain it as you use it only when you have the desire to fill it out.
@@End3rthe3rd wow. Seriously thank you very much ! I will follow what your doing and begin a 3 month book. I feel like I can write and set goals in the 3 moths vs me trying to write out my plans for the whole year. I seriously appreciate your reply. 🙏
A thought (I’m still trying to incorporate this), gratitude for who you have and gratitude for how things happen, not gratitude for what you have. I heard about this in the book Burnout by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski, DMA. I recommend this book highly and would LOVE if you could have them as guests on your channel!❤️❤️❤️❤️
The other thing I’m doing is to use my journal as a record of my accomplishments - big and small - because I’m overwhelmed right now, just surviving. I’ll get back to planning when I have the bandwidth for that. Not now.
Thanks for everything that you do, Jessica! Your channel is awesome and so are you.
Mm yes! That book is on my list thank you for the reminder! I have done a daily "three things I'm proud of" prompt for myself to build confidence in the past. Whether they were small or big actions, it was so helpful. Hope you can shift out of survival mode soon. You got this!
I started a bullet journal two years ago when I was diagnosed and binged watched all your episodes (it was the first lockdown). I'm so glad that I started doing that for my mental health. Every evening I write down three positive things about the day and I check off my mini habits (among others if I took a walk, drank enough water, ate fruit). It's just also really nice to have a notebook to put al my random drawings and ideas in :)
I didn't know bullet journal stencils were a thing! I just ordered notebooks. Will try adding stencils and stickers to my journals in the future. :) Right now, it's pretty bare bones, and I divided it into three sections:
1. Work and Business
2. Reflections and Meditations
3. Mental Health and Therapy Notes
These are the three most important areas of my life right now where I want to focus, so that's why I divided my notebook into three sections. Also, I got those notebooks with detachable pages (binder-style) so it can grow with me. If one area of focus expands, I can just add more pages to it, or if there's a new part of my life that I want to focus on, I just add another section. For me, binders work better because I can take a blank sheet, write on it, and then just add it to the binder. It might not work for others, though, so, try for yourself and see what works. :)
@lidette711 your system of organization is brilliant! I also have three sections, or three categories that I want to write in, but have a continual struggle of whether to keep three separate bullet journals or to use one and divide it into sections. But then I wonder what you do when I run out of pages for a certain section. Love you idea
Unexpected muting. I am so glad I saw you write this. I am my journey to diagnosis of Adhd, and the more I watch your videos the more I understand and the more things make sense.
I didn't know selective mutism can be linked to Adhd. When I am my most overwhelmed, and others are around me, looking at me for an explanation - I freeze up and it feels like the longest 20+ seconds before me voice is free.
You are so right... The diagnosis for those with adhd isn't right. You have already help me understand so much that wasn't common knowledge... Rejection sensitive dysphoria, rushing a relation to continue the dopamine train, poor sleep, the repeative feeling of dispare from being constantly busy and feeling I haven't archived, why I never felt the same, why I am sensitive, why I could never work fast enough in previous jobs, always late no matter how much I tried, poor priority skills.
Because of you I am looking at myself with new eyes! I am excited to carry on this journey of embracing me and the way my brain is ACTUALLY wired, rather than only trying to conform.
Thank you........... Forever thank you!
Alaina x
I have to admit that I was getting put off by the idea of making a journal by hand to physically draw out a routine *shivers*. “That could never be interesting to me, it sounds painful,” I thought.
Then you took out those templates and I remembered I have a 3D printer.
It doesn’t feel like a long-term thing, as usual, but damn do I wanna try making one of those journals with some home-made custom templates. God knows I have the stockpile of notebooks lying around for it.
I have used the hero’s journal for several month and I really love the fact that you can skip days or weeks if you forget to use your planner. To follow the little guy on an epic journey makes my ordinary life feel may more ✨dramatic✨ what helps me stay motivated. And to colour in it sometimes to sort out my thoughts makes it definitely worth the money 🥰 Thank you for recommending the planner!
Hello! ADHD brain & trauma survivor here. Personally I find that I have a tendency towards overthinking, especially wrt my own internal life and identity, and traditional journaling encourages a kind of over-intellectualizing that isn’t healthy for me. Reading old journal entries is kind of emotionally painful because it’s basically watching my past self spin on a mental hamster wheel. Getting into visual art has really been helping me engage with my own internal life in a way that is more intuitive and process-based, rather than the “sitting there and intellectually picking myself apart” approach that words-only journaling encourages. I’ll end up writing little journal entries about my creative process and what I’m learning about myself through art - in my sketchbook right alongside my drawings. And I get to learn something new and build my confidence in my abilities. :)
You should look up the comics artist/writer Lynda Barry’s journal-making tutorials here on UA-cam. They involve drawing and they’re a really cool way to help get perspective on the events happening in your life.
What a great idea! I have the same thing when free journaling.
Problem is: I can‘t draw and don‘t line collages. 🤔
I have the same expirence with you when it comes to free journaling, but just something that has helped me Is guided journaling. There are like daily check in ones and ones for trauma healing/processing, mindfulness, and introspection to kind of break it down in easily digestible chunks
I’ve started bullet journaling several times. I know it’s the best version for me but I’ll do it every day for a week then I won’t remember I forgot about it for 4 months…working in that.
Honestly that's so relatable 🧡
Then, I take a page to write a note to myself. A little reminder that I can reset as many times as I need. Gently encouraging myself to never give up, and some seasons are hard. Sometimes half a year has gone by, but I was there and can reflect on it all in a page or two of basic updates.
I started using mine as a to-do list and let it just evolve on its own lol. Using it as a daily to-do list in the beginning really helped develop the habit of using it everyday.
Procrastination and overwhelm are my Achilles, I'm looking forward to using my new Clever Fox planner journal using some of your wonderful ideas! I ordered the pens and stencils you suggested. Thanks so much! 🌻 🐞
I use the Big Happy Planner and have for a few years now! I've always used similar planners since college and it always helps! I also use Google calendar with my fellow ADHD husband and we link ours so we know when the other has appointments and such. My happy planner serves as a reminder system and a reward system with stickers and colors and fun doodles!
For me journaling in the sense of writing all the work down I had to do and color code it by due date helped a lot during homeschooling but since then it hasn’t helped that much and instead I came up with a NEW METHOD that works really well for me:
I have a few POST ITS on my door that serve as categories (for example: homework, school, try, to-do, what I wanna do (so I can keep a work/life balance and do something that will bring me joy when in a slump) small tasks, #stressful, friends) whenever something comes up that I need to remember or get done I write it on a new post it and stick it to my door underneath a fitting category and whenever I get something done I can take it down (I know it’s not the most environmentally friendly thing to do but it helps sooo much and is probably equivalent to the amount of paper I’d use with a journal) Just thought I’d share this for whoever might be in desperate need of something new to try when all else has failed :))
I do the post its as well. It's much more satisfactory to just toss them away and have a clean space after. I saw somewhere a girl who instead of tossing the post ins, she made origami stars out of each and put it in a BIG jar. So You not only are freeing space on your surface but also can see your accomplishments - aka stars.
@@KajaKlaudiaDusia Omg that’s such a nice idea! Wow! I’ll try that!
I'm not always consistent with my bullet journal, but one of my favorite things that's been really helpful is packing lists for every trip. It's helped me to not forget things because I can go back through years of packing lists before a trip to make sure I'm not missing anything (I literally forgot to pack shirts one trip as a kid 🙃). It also helps ease my anxious brain because I don't have to keep the list in my head.
I started journaling in 2008. I went through fits and starts and finally got into my current, almost-every-workday journaling routine in late 2019. So for anyone who is struggling to be consistent: don't feel discouraged! You might not find the journaling routine that works for you right away, but if you know journaling is good for you, I believe you'll make it a regular part of your life eventually-no matter how long it takes.
I've developed a structure to my daily journal sessions:
- Date (with day of the week now)
- Time (to help me track how I'm doing with my routine...and how long things take me)
- Check-in (sleep, how I'm doing on goals, physical well-being, mental well-being, any notable work stressors, stuff that happened over the past 24 hours that I know future me will be annoyed if I don't record)
- Bible reading
- Written prayer (often roughly following the Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication framework, so if I weren't religious, I guess I'd do something about what I'm thankful for and what I'm working toward)
- End time
- Miscellaneous things in the margins and in boxes that occurred to me as I wrote: to-do items that need to be put in my planner, distracting thoughts that wouldn't go away until I wrote them down, etc.
At this point, if I start a journal entry, habit compels me to do each step, even if I don't think I want to at first. (Exception: when I'm low on time or doing an extra brainstorming or deal-with-stress journal session.) I use a fountain pen (with cartridges that are easy to switch out), which makes me happy. :D
On the planner note: In high school, I reacted to to-do lists viscerally, as they seemed more like to-fail lists. They now feature heavily in my planners. Do I do everything on my to-do lists when I plan to? No. But I can use them without getting anxious-they're in my tool box.
I can get frustrated with other things I'm not doing well, but then I remember the good habits I've integrated over the past couple years, like journaling regularly and brushing my teeth twice a day. I struggled with both, but by keeping pressure to succeed low and trying various approaches, I managed to work them into my routine. What habits will I integrate next?
I got myself a blank bullet journal 2 years ago. I still use it. I always make my monthly calendar and write important appointments, plans with friends, exams and so on. I love taking the time to make each months calendar. I also use lots of washi tape and markers. Sometimes I draw or stick cool pictures and cut outs on a double page and decorate it however I want.
I think I'll start writing down feelings and thoughts that I can then talk in therapy about.
I recently found your channel and because of all the work you’ve done, was able to finally understand what I’ve been struggling with my entire life. I received a formal diagnosis just recently and am excited to try meds, knowing what I do now. It took me almost 47 years to get some answers, what you are doing is a tremendous service to society and to all the kids who may find answers sooner than I did and not have to wait for hope as long as I did. Thank you so very much for what you do. I truly appreciate you.
Diagnosis less than a year ago and I am 41.... so much about my life suddenly became understandable!
To manage doing anything, I use Google Calendar with several calendars:
- a blue one to plan my work hours, I never stick to them but it helps me visualize what I end up actually doing
- an organge one for personal life tasks that I can freely move around, I just treat them as sticky notes on a calendar, having a dedicated todo list tool never worked for me
- a red one for personal life appointments I can't move and must attend
- a green one to keep track of events I may attend if I feel like it, like shows, concerts, whatever, Twitch streams…
I need to have everything on a single place with time stamps, yet I need to be able to move things around. The advandage of using a digital calendar is that I always have it in my pocket, though computers and phones are a huge source of distraction, and I'm more and more considering switching to tools dedicated to a single task. Maybe a paper calendar with sticky notes could work, but I fear they would fall and I'd never end up doing anything, maybe there's a way to manage it…
It literally never occurred to me to have goals tied to my well being. I have always tried to form them around something more external, doing outward (job, etc.). Thank you for that moment of vulnerability. I need to do some reflection now.
This resonates on a lot of levels because I just quit a job that I couldn’t keep from bleeding into and taking over the whole rest of my life. The journal method I used for work was based on the lab notebooks I kept in school (I miss being a science major)-a cheap, small ruled notebook that consecutively records everything I need to think about day-to-day, chronologically. So hours on a project, important meeting outcomes, things I need to take to so-and-so about, hit lists for upcoming meetings… It worked reasonably well for the “story of work.” Priorities and things that needed to be in RAM not ROM I did on a running digital sticky note on my desktop. Writing my way out of depression and anger and whatever I do in a second, larger-format notebook. Now that I’ve got the chance to have a personal life, though, I want to expand the headspace notebook into an actual tracker for other personal things like habits and plans, so maybe a bujo, but I’d need something less artistic. Maybe with a stamp set.
I bullet journal and mine is the least artistic thing ever (despite or maybe because I'm actually quite artistically inclined). I love the pretty ones and I'm totally digging the stencils from the vid, but the only thing I use on mine other than a pen is sometimes a ruler (can't wait to run out of notebooks and get a dot grid one). I just use the basic principles of bujo and totally skip the artsy stuff and even a lot of the layouts that other people seem to view as "essential" - like the 6-month/year/whatever future layout, other than things that never change like birthdays I never know that far in advance that something is going to happen so I skip it. For me the only thing that really makes up a bujo is the index at the front and the flexibility everywhere else! Hope you find something you love, even if it's just for a while (because...adhd)
@@lavendargooms2056 thanks! I’ll look for a dotty notebook next. My mom, incidentally, was a commercial artist. She told me early on, “whatever you want to be in life is fine, just don’t be an artist.” So, I wasn’t an artist. (She tiger-mommied hard later, so “fine” got redefined somewhat more narrowly.) I find the goal-setting wearing, although I would like to track a couple of things, like exercise. Mostly I need a back-up brain, ‘cause the one in front is inclined to overheating.
I admire all who can keep a bullet journal but find them SO overwhelming! I use a Passion Planner and make it my own by drawing in habit trackers and lists. I like the large size as small journals drive me crazy especially since I have such messy writing!
I purchased a bullet journal kit on Amazon for under $25 after watching this. As a person with ADHD I definitely need a journal. Until this video I had never seen stencils. I hate free handing journals so I hope the stencils will help. Thank you for the tips!
I started using a bullet journal after watching your video about it (actually I started while I was still watching it, hyperfocus in action 😂). I've been consistent for 4 months now and it's been a life saver! With every month I change it a bit according to my current needs. Of course I still procrastinate, but I do a lot of to dos out of spite so I don't have to take them into the next week. 😁
I also have a monthly habit tracker in my journal where I fill in a small box per day and item to be able to see progress. I use it to watch my screen time, how much I slept, to track the medication side effects, how good I felt etc etc. It's a form of claiming a bit of control with such a chaotic brain ☺️
Thank you so much for your work!
I use two unlined A5 Leuchtturm 1917 journals. One is my modified day to day life bullet journal and the other I use to dump my brain into at an emotional level. on the second one I have started doing wet wash watercolor paintings as backgrounds for my writing and write with fountain pens, dip pens or whatever I feel like writing with that day and it really holds up.
For the last year I was using CGP Grey's Theme system journal. It worked well for me this past year, because it was a very busy year (planning & executing a big international move.) I needed to stay organized, but didn't have time to do my usual bullet journal layout-ing. CGP's system is cool, cause it has the flexibility of a bullet journal, but he's provided a little bit of a template structure. I don't have to think about setting up lay outs. I just adapt the layout that's there for my needs.
Right now I'm in a sort of transitional period where I don't need to be super on top of things. I'm using a Kanban board to remind myself to take care of myself and I'm using a regular notepad to do stream of conscious writing. It feels good and right for me now.
I think the biggest lesson I've learned over the years of trying to find the "right system" is that there is no right system. What worked last month, might not work for me this month. Trying to find one thing that works for me always and forever is not realistic. My needs change, so my system should change with it.
Journaling has become such a joy for me once I realized what I needed it for!! I didn't need it for productivity, I needed it for remembering and reflecting back on things I did through the day. I use a bullet point system listing out the things I did throughout the day and then have an extra journal for feelings I have. I use an undated planner I got off of Amazon and it's amazing! Gives me space to reflect, keep track of my mood and other things, and just keep track of what I do every do so that I don't feel like I'm constantly forgetting it. Journalling can be a lifesaver if you know what you need it for.
I've been using Google Callender and it's widgets. So all I care about for the day regarding schedule is looking at what I have to do for the day. And for things I have to do, like hw, I'll write it down in a more traditional weekly planner,and use the bullet journal key system for moving things around.
I was doing so well with my bullet journal after your video about it and then I got covid, then long covid and it turned everything upside down. Thank you for doing this video. It has inspired me to get back to how good i was last November.
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through! It's understandable why journaling fell to the side for a bit. Glad the video can help inspire. 🧡 And fingers crossed the long COVID will get better over time as well. Sending hugs! Unless you don't do hugs then sending kittens! media2.giphy.com/media/I9XrL9Tc1jpe/200.gif (Kitten
I’m a very type A ADHDer (which leads to some interesting internal conflict) so a planner is awesome for me! When it comes to journaling and plannering, I find that I just need to take it day by day, and not worry about getting “caught up” if I miss something. It helps to write daily to-do’s and have a place to write deadlines I’ll otherwise forget.
I have a planner and a journal and a wall schedule. My journal is Diarium, and being able to tag the entries and come back to them or find them by date on a calendar is super helpful. My planner is Ship's Log 2 United Front for people who also have DID, but I've adapted that some for my AuDHD brain as well. It comes with monthly and weekly planners, therapeutic elements, and long-term goals that you check back in with when making monthly and weekly goals. I've adapted it to put what I plan to do in the right column and what I actually do that day in the left column, and I can see that my days are pretty full, even if I didn't always follow the plan, which feels good. And then I have a giant schedule on my fridge that has things like meds and feeding the cat and gets updated with things like doctor's appointments or people coming to my home on the days I remember to do it.
I have used possibly every planner ever made from a Franklin Covey to a Bullet Journal. I have landed on the Hobonichi Cousin as my favorite and the one that is most useful for my ADHD brain. It has a monthly, weekly, and daily layout without being cumbersome in size. The layout is minimal and clean specifically in the daily layouts.
I am able to plan my weekly layout to have a visual layout so I can track time and appointments. Then on individual days, I can add appointments and to-do items, but this is what makes it amazing, I also journal on that daily page. Some people draw and even do watercolors in their Hobonichis. It's truly the only planner that for me is structured and functional AND allows me to work the way my brain needs me to.
Sorry for the book, I know I sound like an infomercial, but after a lifetime of feeling scattered and lost I finally feel like I have a planner that can be my anchor. There are a ton of videos about them on youtube if you have any interest in checking them out.
Thanks for the community!
Thank *you* for sharing! What works will be different for each individual and so it's always great to have other options that can be looked at and tried! 😊🧡
@@shelbycook1126 It's the best kept Japanese secret! I hope you love it!
I also love the Hobonichi Cousin, it’s perfection!
im an illustration student, this means i often take notes and to dos in my sketchbook because i always have it on me. recently i have bought a small slim sketchbook which is that perfect place to keep my endless lists so i only have one thing to lose instead of every individual list.
I must say I love the format of this video. The feeling of just hanging out and talking while Jessica fills in her journal is really nice.
Same, it reminds me so much of how chill the bullet journaling sessions were for the first in-person year of my Uni’s Holistic Society. Like, we’d be simply chatting amongst ourselves whilst doing them
I use a color-coded day planner and build in a goals section (the goals are also color-coded) - pink for work, purple for fun/personal, green for health/self-care, blue for travel, orange for Immovable Objects (holidays, birthdays, major life events, etc) and then I deliberately look at my time and my goals to make sure the colors actually align (if I have a self care goal but there’s no green on my planner, I know I need to make changes)
I got one called "The Best Journal Ever" from Amazon which is pretty basic and works well for the few things that I like to reflect on each day and has a simple habit tracker. Simple is VERY important for me. I can't have a bunch of junk I need to fill out every day. I love the stencil idea though--I might try that next. Instead of a bullet journal, I might try it just in a simple unlined sketchbook.
I love the idea of checking in with the different parts of yourself (and others)! that's something I think I often neglect to do
I've been using a bullet journal for a few years now and this past year especially I've really worked on bringing it down to the absolute basics so I stay motivated to keep using it. Now for each month I have a front page and quote, an "overview" (calandar and things I'd like to get done this month), a habit/med tracker (for both making sure I do the things I need to do daily but also just to keep track of the last time I for example watered my plants, so I know if I need to do that soon or not), and a 'weekly log' per week where I have a box for each day and one box for things I'd like to do at some point during the week. I split items into 'tasks' (squares), 'events' (circles), and 'appointments' (triangles) and colour the shape as it gets done. At the start of my journal I also have a small calandar for the whole year and a period tracker, and otherwise that's about it! It sounds like a lot when written out like this but my journal used to be much larger than this, and having used the same system for such a long time means it's really easy and quick for me to set up now.
I also use an app called Daylio for journalling thoughts and feelings, I think it's a brilliant app for that :)
Yeah that's brilliant. My life coach and I are working on thinking about my little 10 year old (I don't have a trauma per se) but we recognize when he is not helping me (and when he is). I also like the checking in on someone else. I love that whole thing actually.
Honestly I got the Hero's Journal on a whim because I loved the way it looked and dateless layout, and by the time it arrived I knew exactly how I was gonna use it. I made it specifically dedicated to one of my goals (Twitch streaming) so that I know that when the journal is out that's what I'm focusing on. I'm glad that it's making me take stock of not just my to-do list but the bigger picture of things.
As much as I L-O-V-E paper journals, I've had a problem with perfectionism when it comes to them. Plus, either the format doesn't fit me, or I spend way too much time creating pages and layouts each month. I'm currently using the Penly app on my Android tablet and love it. I can create my own "template" pages and import pictures, stickers, etc., that make journaling fun but not overwhelming. Also, a game-changer was to buy a paperlike screen protector so writing feels more like paper; not 100%, but close enough.
Updating my bullet journal every morning is something that I've had to keep in my morning routine because it doesn't take much to send me entirely off the rails. Also I need those stencils.
Right? Stencils are such a life saver. The link to the stencils is in the description if you'd like to order them or get an idea of what they look like up close! 😀But I'll drop the link to them here as well! www.amazon.com/dp/B09LYQCZP5/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
@@HowtoADHD trying the free version of the hero journal. looking foward to getting the actually one next month
I love journalling and planners 💕 I think as adults we forget that development can also be playtime. We look at a child colouring in a book and know that they are doing something that's good for them. We don't try and force consistency, productivity or limits on it. You can be both. You can be imperfect and still do something good for yourself. You can jump around, try new things, put them down for awhile, buy the shiny stickers and still be doing something good for yourself.
"You can be imperfect and still do something good for yourself." I love that. Thanks for the reminder! 😊
As much as I love paper journals and handwriting, the perfectionist in me just can’t. When I tried to bullet journal, setting up my weekly spread the way I wanted it to be (drawing boxes, not fancy decorating) took so long that I wouldn’t end up doing it, and therefore had no system. Also, The fact that things move around means that a digital system works much better for me that a physical one. I use Notion, because I’m able to customize it to me. I can set up almost anything I can think of, and add or drop parts as I feel like it. It has been so helpful! Almost every other system I tried to set up failed because I was butting my head against things that didn’t work the way I wanted them to.
I had the same issue, except that I didn't want digital either. I discovered (thanks to a ADHD group, actually, which was recommending a specific website often) that, first off, there are UNDATED!!! planners/calendars! And then I realized that there are also binders/organizers which makes it even better. So now I have a binder with three types of printed pages (weekly pages, daily pages, and dotted lines like in a bullet journal), and I just use the one that I need that day or for that purpose. Since it's printed out, I don't spend ages drawing the boxes/basic structure, but I have most of the flexbility bullet journal allows for.
I’ve tried journals and planners in the past. They always haven’t worked due to the fact that I couldn’t sustain the daily maintenance, as often I would start them at the beginning of a school year/semester, put in due dates and forget after 2 weeks. I never even considered that I was hyperfocusing on them and putting aside time to do what I need to do
Love the idea of journals and planners but I get really stressed while writing (not sure if it's OCD) because letters have to look a certain way, and I press hard so it's stressful for my hand..
I like To Do lists on my phone because I can also create calendar alerts which help remind me if I've forgotten to do something on the list or I zone out for a day or two.
1) This is encouraging me to get stuff off my computer....and into my journal. Thank you!! 2) Word of the year is discipline, but.....apparently I'm doing word of the month too. Didn't see it coming, but hey! It's still doable....☺️ Side note about my word of the year: I've already fallen off the bandwagon, but it's SO encouraging that I've been able to get back on. So...I already can't say I was disciplined 365 days of this year, but I *can* say that I didn't give up. I hope that encourages someone to keep putting the effort in! ❤️
I have been bullet journaling for about 7 years. I've found that I have to keep it super simple or I won't use it. I will do a monthly overview on the first two pages and then for the rest of the month, I will write the date either the night before or the morning of with stuff to do that day. If I plan it out a week ahead, I just won't use it. It doesn't look as fancy as most peoples I see online but I don't need fancy - I need to use it.
Hi Jess! This is great. I usually struggle to watch any video on YT that has over 10 minutes but here I don't even look at a timeline. Planners are my forever hyperfocus.
I really like your ideas around planning. I'm preparing for tomorrow's session with my therapist and those things are so helpful! We are going to discuss how to organise my day at work. I love the quote from the book about boundaries. Any chance you could drop me its title? It would be much appreciated ❤🎉
I've used the standard bullet journal for a while, I think since my second year in hight school...but for some time now it hasn't been working, cause I forget to look at it and sometimes to even use it. So now i'm trying a notebook with clear cover and detachable pages so that I can put the spread forward and keep it closed. It's working so far, takes less space, so it's less bothersome. I make my spreads at the end of the month (for the one ahead) and the weeklies/daylies are done accordingly to what I have to do, sometimes I only have a couple of things and just use a to do list :)
I found an old planner worked for helping me keep track with Christmas gifts for friends and family. The months acted as an index and the days worked as a good holding space for ideas and what I had gotten for someone. Tbh this is a great way to use old unused planners especially the weekly layout :)
When i became a career oriented individual back in the 80's i realised quickly that i needed a way too keep trck of my appointments and meetings, as well as my type 6 ADHD.. I fel in love with my Franklin Covey. Yeah sure it was dry and cold, but it gave me a clear and concise way of tracking everything and adjusting my time. I finally replaced that planner with a new one last month. It was another Franklin Covey.
Oooo stencils!!! ✨BRAIN LIGHTS UP!!!✨
I have been keeping the cutouts from board games I purchased where you have to push out pieces to use in the game so I could use them for stencils for something.
OMG. Did not think I could use them for my bullet journal!!
I started doing bullet journals last year when I watched your video on it. I will be honest there was a couple months I didn’t use it but I’m back to it again. I find it really helpful to use and love that it’s so flexible. I think it will take me a few years to figure out the best system to use for it but that’s kind of exciting for me!
I found my first working diary / planner this year. I’ve kept at it since week 1 of January and that’s unheard of. It’s a “Goals Diary” from Kiki K. It allows me to track habits, highlights, to do lists etc as well as reflect each month.
Working well so far. It’s everything I wanted from a bullet journal without the need to set it up myself. Big fan.
Oh my gosh. I need those stencils in my life. I love the idea of bullet journals because I can tailor it to myself. But I could never keep it going. But setting it up like this with the stencils so that it is consistent would be great!
I just recently bought a bullet journal! I'm using it for motivational purposes. I don't have trouble remembering what I need to do (I use Google Calendar for that), but I do have trouble making myself do them. So I'm writing and drawing on pages why I'm doing what I'm doing, how great it's going to feel when I finally accomplish that goal, etc. Hopefully this gets me through college!
I love my Heros Journal!! I received it for Christmas this past year, and it's fantastic. I fill out a page every two or three days or so. My 3 main goals usually take a few days.
I find a journal for planning a trip is very helpful. You can plan what you are taking, then make your list. That way I am not constantly making a new one but just adding or subtracting. Also I am less likely to lose the list. I then have goals for dates when to have a part of something done. Like packing my clothes the day before, I can then cross it off my list. These are two week trips across country.
Emergent task planner by Dave Seah is great.
Yes! Bullet Journal! I also LOVE the idea of the Hero Journal, and have been following them since their Kickstarter, but I just don't think it would work for me on a long-term basis. I feel like it's too much for my brain to stick to consistently. On your note about bleeding through the paper, there are other journals that have the same features as Leuchtturm, but have better paper. My favorite is Scribbles That Matter, or STM. I encourage you to check them out! They're a small, customer focused company from the UK that is very supportive of journaling for mental health.
I like making a sketch book a journal and planner as well. Kind of chaotic, but since there's a lot going on I find it fun. The more purpose it has, the more I'll remember to use it.
I use a bullet journal in conjunction with a bunch of calendar reminders. I've been bullet journaling for about 5 or so years now, and I've finally got a consistent monthly lay out and then a simple daily log (I put the day and then just let myself write as much or as little as needed beneath, so pages have some variation). Sometimes I'll be in the mood for creativity and I'll make a fun weekly spread, and sometimes I'll have some extra space and I can add some stickers, but mostly I just use a few mildliners for color and it makes me so happy.
I learned from an education class as an undergrad that the more you work with new information the more likely it will go into your long term memory. Recording lectures, playing them back, transcribing them, reviewing them with a highlighter etc helped my son get an A in a very challenging class. He also found bullet journals to be the most helpful! I love how you customized yours with templates!
My planning has multiple layers:
1. I stick a year calendar on the door of my work-room closet. I put on that the very important events - trips, concerts, things like that
2. Every Sunday evening I do a weekly plan on a small sheet that I stick next to my monitor with the important stuff for the week. I write that plan on paper (yep, heard the same thing about writing stuff to remember)
3. I use Trello has my perpetual infinite todo list. I have a card with the things to do today, things to do this week, things that have a date (see 1. above). I shuffle things around for to plan my 2-3 days to come. Many get shuffle back when I do not have time to do them.
I also use Trello for bigger-than-a-line-in-a-checklist things. And somewhat as a database also (here is the list of things related to finance, here is the list related to travel). And I have dedicated boards for very big project (like vacations, World of Warcraft, Pokemon Go, taxes).
Trello is kind of the master list. The weekly sheet is a view of the important things. The calendar is another view of important things.
The best, because of your frank honesty, video in a long time. This is how you help me and (MANY) others. Thank you. I go through the same right now. Therapy, realizing how fragile I am and what I can do about it.
I use a (refillable) Filofax A5 planner organizer and I LOVE it because I'm a graphic artist, so I can make my own inserts that align with what my ADHD needs. It is so HARD to keep up with, but when I do, it helps me manage finances, daily projects, housework, meal planning, and even parenting. Sometimes, I'm ashamed that I need it to keep from falling apart when these things that make up life come so naturally for my neurotypical friends. I mean...what mother needs to be reminded to have one-on-one time with her child? 🥺 But I'm glad I found a way to cope. For the most part.
You are not alone, and you are doing great. I have to schedule lots of common tasks and even discussions to have otherwise they fall through the cracks and get forgetten. I am working on being a better and more involved friend, sister, colleague, dog owner and educator. Being an adult requires us to wear so many 'hats' and keep us constantly busy with tasks. It is okay and important to realise when it is time to start saying 'no' and letting low priority tasks go. Hoping you find clarity and confidence.
:) Imogen
I love the idea of checking in with 5 year old self and 12 year old self, or any other self you have!! I want to come up with mine, I think it would be my 15year old newly diagnosed with diabetes, and my inner writer at a young age before I was 10, I want to say 8 before people told me my stories weren't good or kids started teasing me for other reasons. I've always found journals helpful, I've never done a bullet journal cos I could never get past the designing stage it took so long and I got stuck at a blank page and making time to get started. I have a lot of journals and goal setting journals, Nd I'm looking forward to my next one starting in March 😊 have to get past the feeling it didn't start in January but hey, it's ok. Thanks for reading if you get this far 😅