Choosing the right planner for you and your lifestyle is very important, especially if you are busy, overwhelmed by your to-do list, and/or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). This is true no matter what profession you are in and no matter how old you are. By third grade, even elementary school students need some kind of planner or way to keep track of assignments.
ADHD is important to people when it comes to using a planner and therefore managing their time.
Your list may be too overwhelming, you may forget to look at your planner, or there may be other reasons. I am frequently asked to recommend the best schedule for someone with ADHD. The bad news is that there is no better planner. The good news is that I can still help you select the best planner, especially if you have ADHD.
prioritize
If you’ve determined that you need a better scheduling system (or just need to start one!), I recommend that you first prioritize which scheduler features are important to you. The checklist at the end of this article will help you focus on your priorities and give you a template of what to have with your next planner.
To use the checklist, place a check mark next to each feature you would like to have in a planner and indicate an A, B, or C priority next to each feature you check.
• A = planner must have this
• B = it would be nice if the scheduler had this
• C = not so important to me
After selecting which features are important, take the list with you to the store or keep it with you while you shop online. This will help narrow down your search and end up with a planner that actually works for you.
• If you currently use multiple schedulers, try consolidating them into one.
• After you buy your planner, commit to using it for at least one month.
• Keep it in a place where you will check it every day.
Select your planner
After you’ve chosen your features, it’s time to go shopping. A couple of sites to check out are www.FamiliesWithPurpose.com and www.DayRunner.com. If you’re interested in electronic planners, be sure to check out the free sites (for example, Google Calendar) as well as all the devices available. If you have a smartphone, integrate it with available online tools if that will help you remember to use it every day. Once you’ve selected your planner, work with it for at least a month before evaluating its effectiveness. If it doesn’t work for you after trying a new planner for at least a month, you might want to consider something different. However, make a commitment to USE IT before you throw it away.
The right scheduler can make a world of difference in getting more done and, more importantly, getting the highest priority tasks done. Please share your feedback to let us know how the checklist is working for you. Good luck finding your planner!
Planner Features Checklist
• _____ Month at a glance view
• _____ Week view at a glance
• _____ The ability to see each day separately from all others
• _____ Spiral bound so as not to lose any pages and to be able to have the whole year in a single product
• _____ Folder format so you can add and remove pages as needed
• _____ Zippered folder so you don’t lose any pages
• _____ Electronic with no need to print
• _____ Electronic with the ability to print a to-do list
• _____ Electronic with the ability to print an appointment schedule
• _____ Paper to write on when necessary
• _____ List of tasks available for each day
• _____ To-do list for the entire month
• _____ To-do list for each week
• _____ Space to plan for multiple roles (ie employee, parent, spouse, business owner)
• _____ Calendar and To Do List integrated into one planner
• _____ Separate Calendar and To Do List
• _____ Small size for easy portability
• _____ Large size for easy writing and room for more articles
• _____ Medium size as a compromise between small and large
• _____ Meeting and appointment times all day
• _____ specific time slots listed in the Calendar section
• _____ Pockets for other items like cell phone or wallet
• _____ wall calendar format
• _____ Notebook size
• _____ Strap attached so it can be carried as a purse or briefcase
• _____ Price is not an issue
• _____ Budget = $______
• _____ Add your own features here: __________________________