While many adults with AD/HD have difficulty planning, organizing, and managing their daily schedules, many do not realize that one simple thing can help keep them on track- a planner!
While the idea of using a daily planner seems quite simple, many of our patients with AD/HD report difficulty selecting, consistently using, and keeping up with their planners. The following are suggestions for effectively using and getting the most benefit from your daily planner.
First, you have to choose the right planner for your lifestyle. A good daily planner should have at least three things; a calendar and space for “to do” lists and frequently used contact information (e.g. home and email addresses, phone numbers, etc.); these three basics will help you get on track and organize your day. You can also choose a planner with more “bells and whistles” such as built-in notepads and calculators or slots for business cards. However, if you choose a more detailed planner, make sure you don’t get something so complicated that it becomes overwhelming and confusing.
Now that you know what to look for in a planner, you can choose the type of planner you want. Planners can be paper (e.g. Day Timer and Planner Pad brands), electronic (e.g. Blackberry, Palm Pilot) or software-based (e.g. Windows Outlook). Electronic organizers have several advantages including portability, audible reminders and alarms and the ability to sort, organize and store more information. Software-based organizational tools also have the capability of sorting and organizing to specificity and are housed in the pc– a tool already frequently used by many adults. Still, some of us prefer the old-fashioned paper and pencil method. Regardless of which type you choose, your planner should be user-friendly, easily accessible, and something you can take with you wherever you go.
Once you have selected a planner, write your own contact information (e.g. name, phone number) in the front so, if you lose or forget it, someone can return it to you. Next, take advantage of the “contacts” section mentioned earlier. Record the contact information (e.g. names, phone numbers, physical and email addresses) of frequently used contacts (e.g. family members, friends, instructors, supervisors, co-workers, etc.) and emergency personnel (e.g. physicians, police and fire departments) so you will always have important contact information with you.
Make your new planner your one and only means of organizing your schedule. If you go the paper route, stop using your phone calendar or planning software; if you choose the more high-tech electronic route, get rid of your paper calendar and all those sticky notes! This way, you won’t have to remember where you wrote down what information and you won’t drop the ball on important obligations simply because you couldn’t find the reminder. Make sure to use your planner to organize ALL aspects of your life (e.g. work, school, family, recreation, personal time, etc.). Things will get very confusing very quickly if you try to use different organizational tools for different aspects of your life.
Next, select ONE SPECIFIC place to keep your planner. This could be on the top right-hand corner of your office desk, in the front zipper part of your backpack, beside your home phone or the front door, under your keys, or in a purse or satchel. Wherever you put it, make sure that it is clearly visible, even if the area where you put it gets messy - this will help prevent losing or forgetting your all-important schedule. When you decide on a location, put it there every single time- NO EXCEPTIONS!
Now that you have your planner and know where you will keep it, use it to record important information as it comes; don’t wait until you have two or three things to write down. If you wait until a more convenient time, you are more likely to forget or confuse important details. This leads us to the next point, keep you planner with you at ALL TIMES. If you don’t have your planner with you, it is impossible to record important information as you get it.
Next, check your planner regularly! Again, it does no good whatsoever to write notes and reminders if you forget to refer back to that information. Until you get use to relying on your planner, it may help to schedule certain times to read over your notes. For example, you could do this around mealtime or at particular times throughout the day; setting watch or phone alerts might help get you into the habit of consulting your schedule regularly.
Now that you’re actively using your daily planner, think about other ways you can use it to help keep yourself on track. For example, use that space for “to do” lists mentioned earlier. Whether it’s a reminder to water the plants, pick up skim milk on the way home from work, write a 20-page essay or attend Saturday’s yoga class, write it down in your “to do” list. You can prioritize your list in order of importance, by due dates, etc. Consult your list frequently and be sure to complete tasks by their due dates. When you complete something on your list, cross it off or put a check mark beside it so you know that task is complete and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
These tips should put you well on your way to effectively using a daily planner to manage your time and organize your day. Though it may be a somewhat difficult adjustment at first, using a daily planner could potentially save time, effort and the frustration that comes when you realize you just dropped the ball on an important obligation.
Information taken from www.help4adhd.org
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