Why Do Some Strategies and Tools Not Work for People with ADHD? 

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It’s funny to me the paradox of requiring executive function to help with your executive function

Gonna say the quiet part out loud: people with ADHD like complex organization systems because of the novelty. When the stimulation of the novelty wears off, the punctilious routine is draining.

"I was simultaneously bored AND panicked?!" The contradictions of ADHD!

i hate when i finally find a technique that works for me and then literally all of a sudden, random day it doesnt work anymore and its frustrating😭😭😭

Me: ok brain, let’s get organized Autism: *spends hours hyperfocusing on developing an elaborate system of charts and graphics to manage everything down to the smallest detail, then collapses* ADHD, a week later: *squints* …dude what even is any of this??

And even the stuff specifically for ADHD doesn't take into account comorbidites, like ASD, GAD, Depression, etc. Neurodivergence isn't just a spectrum, it's a kaleidoscopic smorgasbord. 😅

One frustrating thing for me is that after I get used to a system and have everything figured out and set up to work well with my brain - I get bored of it. I find this equal parts irritating and amusing.

I used to forget my keys often. I had gotten locked out of my apartment multiple times. We had a bowl by the door, but sometimes I just, would forget to grab the keys if it was a quick trip and wasn't locking the door. However, I need the key fob to get into the apartment building. Now, I have a key hook on the door right above the handle. Point of performance baby! I'm usually good about putting my key on the hook, but if it isn't there, I see the empty hook and it's a visible reminder about my key and I'll start looking for them. Since we implemented this strategy (lovely NT husband thought of it) I have not once left the apartment without my keys.

6:28 "I had to make the natural assumption something is wrong with me, like I'm broken somehow." oof, this one is unfortunately a lot easier to learn than to unlearn

I don't think there's enough discussion about ADHDers need for control. One commonality I see across the board is our need for autonomy. We can be really stubborn when it comes to anything we've moved into our circle of control. It comes to mind when you described how your mind allowed you to experience a type of therapy, only when you found a perspective that came from you. I think that's really common. I can't think of anyone I know with ADHD, including myself, who hasn't had that exact experience in connection to something.

The only organisational system that worked 100% of time for me was the basement storage room in Minecraft that had a very long hall of chests with a picture of the item category in a frame above it. Sometimes that was one box for "crafts made out of wood" and sometimes it was two boxes for carrots. If I needed to, I could just dig more and add more chests. I could always find everything. Never left anything out, always put it where it belonged. Too bad I can't do that in real life.

I bought a sketch book, and made calendar pages the way I wanted them, and the rest of the book is my "external brain." Thoughts, ideas, and anything I know I will forget if I don't write it. It is a sketch book so that I can write any way I want, no lines. I write tasks, circle them, and color them in when done. The colorful pages are satisfying, and I like to turn it into neurographic art, which is also therapeutic.

I don’t think I ever seen this specific sub-topic, but I would love to see a video summarizing “transition tools.” Different things to help switching activities short of urgent panic. Trying different things to see what works is great, but if you’ve never heard of something, you don’t now to try it.

"Batteries not included, ADHD friendliness not included" best, clearest idea of how to handle something that has some benefits but may need tweaking/adapting for us to find/use those benefits. This is one of your best videos, thank you so much for sharing!

For people who like Jessica (and like me) couldn't handle smart watches for sensory reasons, there are straps that look and feel like scrunchies and those were a GAME CHANGER. gotta clean or swap them regularly because they get gross but I always had a scrunchies on my wrist before and it doesn't tug or hurt the way those awful silicone bands do

Phone alarms with alarm name labels + the alarm name read aloud have been a game changer, ie "take x medication it's 10am" aloud also reminds me of the time. I've also made myself a rule that if it's something that takes less than a minute to do, I let the alarm ring until I've done it (like taking meds) coz if I dismiss it, I'll forget. It gives me a little game to rush to get it done! I also set multiple alarm tones so I don't get sick of them. I also set transition alarms in sync with my time blocks on my google calendar as I tend to dismiss Google calendar reminders sometimes if I'm in hyperfocus.

Speaking of time and how it works ... One really simple thing that has made a big difference for me is having my watch vibrate twice on the hour and once on the half hour. Just a physical reminder of the passing of time helps me stay on track.

My mom was/is always big on “planners” and is still insisting “Yes! This will help!” When I know for a fact I’ll forget. It’s far harder to remember three things instead of one. Explanation: I have to remember to write in the planner, I have to remember I wrote in the planner, and I have to remember to look in the planner. It’s easier for me to just mentally comb through and review each of my classes. She also tells me to use calendars and lists, and honestly I’m not confident in those solutions either. I think one of the worst things that’s happened to me in school because of ADHD is when I forgot to 7 of my homework assignments, and I never got around to doing them until the day before the final and I’m like “AAAAAAA NO” And one time in that class I actually remembered to do the homework assignment on time and I did and I came to school and was so proud of myself, only to find I’d done an entirely different assignment, meaning I didn’t actually do the assignment even though I did the work. I was so frustrated.

Bullet journals overwhelm me, so I went back to the individual notebooks for each "thing": I teach, so one for each class. I do research, so one for each project. I do "service" so one for the service, but then with sections. I also have other notebooks for other personal "things". When everything was all together, including things of personal interest, it was just simply overwhelming. Then I also have a paper calendar (daily planner that I use more as a "diary" or what I've done), a little paper calendar that goes in my purse and only has my medical appointments (I can add them in while at the doctors so I don't forget and with only them there can see them very quickly), and an electronic calendar...that may be too much for some people, but for me it is the right amount. Keeping things more separated even in calendars is better than everything jumbled together...too overwhelming. My "to do lists" are in pretty blank "journals" so I want to use them. Color and visually appealing are very important for me. As is texture and feel of books, notebooks, etc.

Ive done a LOT of therapy and pretty much anything cognitive based sat somewhere between unhelpful and made-things-worse. CBT, DBT, ACT, anything that requires me to be aware of my thoughts and either respond to them or accept them was impossible because they're so. Damn. Fast. Like, "ooh, imagine your thoughts are like leaves floating on the surface of your mind" when my thoughts are speed boats. I figured out that writing can slow them down, so I started an altered form of journalling where I use every second line to free-write. No thinking about what I'm writing, no creating a narrative, just writing everything that comes to mind until I have nothing new. Then I go back with a different pen and use the skipped lines to "edit" the thoughts, make notes, and write responses. It helps to slow the thought, get myself out of emotion-mind and i can practice those therapy skills. Plus if I've got a written record my brain is more likely to accept that I've already gone over this topic.

When you said progressive muscle relaxation I had a visceral shudder-I HATE it for the same reasons you’ve said, as well as issues with the associated sensory overload. Nothing makes me more aware of how acutely uncomfortable a specific part of my body is. Makes me want to crawl out of my skin, but I can’t, cause I’m stuck doing a goddamn meditation 😂 Never heard of anyone else having that same experience with progressive muscle relaxation, and it’s surprisingly comforting to hear.

I just started reading your book and WOW I feel so seen. So many ADHD “resources” over the years had me questioning my own diagnosis (diagnosed 4x) because they never discussed the things I personally struggled with and within a few pages, you’ve knocked everything I deal with, out of the park. Jessica you have helped and continue to help millions to billions of people and I just wanted to say Thank you for being our voice! I don’t feel so alone anymore. 😊❤

I am a father of a 16 year girl who after a recent trama, ADHD and anxiety has become a major part of our lives. I send your videos to my daughter when they come out. She says they do not help her but I will continue to send them hoping she will find a tip here or there that she can incorporate into her life. I watch them because it helps me understand what she goes through and has changed the way I interact with her on a daily basis. FYI I know they are helping her because I have been noticing some differences in how she is organizing her day and dealing with challenges. I’m glad I came across your channel. Much love.

Something that works great for me, but I'm still developing: cards with my regular to do's in stead of a list! A list is too much work to use for everyday stuff like cleaning up after me, feeding the rabbits etc. But I was still trying to track everything in my head and doing everything simultaneously and as fast as I could to free up working memory. My coach suggested making cards for those tasks so it's less work, I just have to chose the cards for the day and lay them out (or put them on the fridge or something). But the best thing about this tool is that I can put cards beneath other tasks I will do first. This way it is not too overwhelming, because I only see the relevant tasks for now, and I know that the tasks for later in the day are accounted for, so I don't have to keep them in mind. I will probably add colours for different categories. Especially being a mum of two toddlers, things get overwhelming easily.

One system that I managed to adapt is Pomodoros! I used to try to do the 25-5 split and it was miserable, but I really wanted it to work, so I made my working part shorter and my resting part longer (20-10) and now it works!

One time in your video you mentioned how you will cycle through hobbies and that's something you just made peace with. I feel the same way about planning and organizing strategies. I will use google calender for a bit and then it's not useful anymore, so I go back to a paper notebook until I have too few things on my to do list, so I'll switch to my digital work agenda or just doing things from the top of my head, until I get overwhelmed and switch back to google calendar... etc etc.

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

I am unpacking old boxes of stuff. People told me to put on A single CD when it ends "ta-da" a box has been unpacked, stuff sorted, and cleared out. NOPE. This did not work. BUT ... Now I have a day of the week that is box day. In the morning I open A box and start clearing it at the end of the day that box is done. And I do not look at another box until nex week's box day. I need a box time block not a little one. So that even when I get side tracked at the end of the day I have done that one box. This aloes me to feel success not failure, so the next time is less stressful.

I think I came across this channel when I was being tested for ADHD -- at age 65! -- and was looking for an insider's view of the condition. Even though my assessment said that I didn't have ADHD, I've found How to ADHD a wonderful resource for understanding myself a bit more compassionately. That said . . . . About tools. One thing I learned in the course of classwork for a PhD in Sociology -- which I didn't complete (Thanks, narcolepsy! Thanks a lot!) -- is that most of the time, we adapt tools to our needs rather than adapting ourselves to our tools. I had an independent study in which I traced the development of electronic digital computers from monstrous devices the size of a house to things like the MacBook Air I'm using right now. Had it not been for people adapting their computers and software to what they wanted computers for -- rather than accepting the "intended" use right out of the box -- we wouldn't have these things today. Of course, I found myself a lot less distracted when I did everything with pencil and paper, but Squirrel! Oh, right. I'm still trying out different ways of using this tool. And if we ONLY allowed ourselves to use tools the way the folks who created them intended, we'd probably still be arguing over the "right" way to make a fire! On a more personal note, I'm sorry to hear you struggled over postpartum depression. Along with narcolepsy, I deal with depression and anxiety, so I feel for you and your family. It looks like you're aware enough to have gotten help with that, and I congratulate you for having the courage to seek help! There are far too many people who don't get help. Now, if someone could just point me to the planet where Marvin got to see God's Final Message to His Creation, I'd be much obliged. And I'd be very grateful for a lift . . . .

My tool for on the phone customer service is to ask for agent or operator to bypass the auto mated list that can be confusing. Finally when I get the operator I mention that I have adhd and need them to take their time most often than not they accomodate for that.

9:11 I related to this section so hard! I always have felt like I need more and more elaborate organization systems to make sure I don't lose stuff.... But then I end up not being able to keep up with said system and everything gets even more disorganized.

In terms of keeping track of my keys and wallet, I use a retractable key ring holder that is attached to the inside of my bag. My main problem was forgetting to put them back into my bag, so I literally gave myself a leash as a reminder to put them back in. When I feel the retractable string pull or touch me after I do what I need to with my item, I just put it back into my bag. It’s a little kinda silly thing, but it’s helped me keep track of my stuff in the long run. Love this video! It’s important to adjust or adapt tools for our own ADHD needs ❤

Alarms are starting to lose their effectiveness on me. I just ignore them and keep scrolling on my phone 😂

I never found wall calendars helpful. I’d hang them in a spot that I didn’t check, or not hang them and they’d get lost under other paperwork! I’ve found a way that works for me! Now I have a cute unicorn one (I allowed myself to spend the money on the calendar I wanted to look at most!), and I’ve hung it on my wall next to my bed! It’s close and facing me at eye level when I’m sitting or laying down, and I it even faces me within touching distance when get out of bed too! I use pretty coloured markers that live on my bedside table next to my calendar so I can easily make changes to the calendar. It’s now super helpful! Yay!

One thing I've been trying is keeping a record of tools that have worked but I got bored of later. I can always come back to them. A person doesn't throw out a hammer when they need to start using a screwdriver. They just move on to the screwdriver (which more often than not needs to be adapted because of different screwdriver bits) and leave the hammer for the relevant project. It does, however, take a lot of skill and practice to recognize what tools can work for a project. It's not as simple as "oh there's a nail I need a hammer" and that's where I struggle a lot with using my organizational and accessibility tools. It's an executive functioning skill to learn or know what tool will work for a project, but I think it's one we can learn, even if learning it takes more time or we aren't great at it.

Keys always hang on my carabiner clip. It’s always on my bag, my pants belt loop, or in the vehicle ignition. It only has three keys: vehicle, home, and mailbox keys. It’s a small piece that is ritualistic for me.

I find that the biggest problem with organizational systems for people with ADHD is that (once the novelty wears off) it requires investing time/resources "now", while any resulting benefit is always in an indeterminate future. I.e. we have to solve what is the fundamental problem with ADHD, in order to use organizational tools to help with the problem.

I just wanted to thank you for allowing us to get the shirts in a V-neck option. I don't like regular t-shirts because I feel choked by things too close to my neck. Your Neurodiversity University shirt in purple is now one of the most comfortable shirts in my wardrobe!

Thank god for my phone with a clock.

My parents bought me a watch when I was very young and I always wondered why, when I forgot to put it on, I felt so chaotic and disorganised. I now realise that it has helped me so much throughout my life. It's interesting you mention the sensitivity issues as I feel there's something wrong if the watch isn't on my wrist!

Yes... Solutions need tweaked to fit our needs and preferences. Simplifying, making things more visible or less visible or putting things where you use them. Or cutting things out in the harder seasons. Easier meals/ more convenient prep, paper plates, limited wardrobe, limited cleaning products or equipment in kitchen or shampoos or whatever. You can always go back to gourmet cooking when that fits back in to your life. Or add something back to your schedule when it fits in better. I love a wall calendar over a planner. I know that about myself. But I also like a spiral notebook to make lists or brain dump.

I had the same issue with Google Calendar! it took some time to learn how to navigate it effectively and how to schedule things in a way that worked for me but now that I have, I use it every day. the built in reminder notifications are a lifesaver haha

I have always stumbled above the common advice to break tasks down into pieces. I will break it down to pieces, spend an hour of planning and then never do it.... my brain works better with the big chunk. Lets say kitchen cleaning, it's often a big chunk. But I have a masterplan in my head and just starting is enough to get a lot done... sometimes I feel bad that I can't keep it clean like other people apperently do, but hey if it comes to winding up a party I am the star of the room. Dishes, bottles and what not standing around can not intimidate me.😂 I am making progress and solve my problems slowly and thats what counts.

I failed a lot and at one point even slept onboard trains because I struggled financially and with lots of mental health issues... still am failing a lot and struggling... but the key is to just not give up and try again or differently! If have been able - despite all my conditions (one of them being ADHD) - to get into Harvard, the World Economic Forum, and to a great startup exit, then I am sure you can achieve your goals too! So yeah, just don't give up and try again maybe with some modifications to your original plan or with another tool! Life - especially for us with ADHD - is trial and error.

A butter knife is a flat head screwdriver. A flat head screwdriver is a chisel. If it works how you apply it then it is the appropriate tool.

Monthly planners are the very devil!!! Ive never been able to use them. I gave up on them all when I turned old.😅

Its funny you mention using a smart watch to track workouts. I do the same with my Garmin, but I keep forgetting to turn it off when I leave. After I do a spin class, I will drive home, realize its on and then save. Lets just say that I have a record breaking pace for a human riding a bike

So relatable! I've recently realized that when I suddenly started managing a task better (esp when I was young) was that I ended up with a perfect combination of a the right tool and just enough anxiety to make sure i took the time to use it. 😅

Maintaining organizational systems is my biggest struggle. I need more refined systems, but not so refined that I can't maintain them.

Honestly the biggest thing I learned to help me was just accepting that i work in stages: over-organzing, followed by over-correction and under-organizing, to finally landing in a middle ground that I can actually maintain. Once I accepted that as my process and started giving myself grace on the matter, the whole thing went from taking months or years with a lot of beating myself up to taking only weeks or sometimes even just days. Self-forgiveness is a heck of a tool.

Not a technique per se, but I exercise in my regular clothing. I also have set up my wardrobe so i have outside/workwear and homewear, so I don't gunk up my "important" clothing.

Morning Pages - from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I typed them for about 2 years before actually reading the book which says to handwrite them. Then I'd do them with a fancy pen and A5 notebook, then a plain pen and white notepad then a plain biro and yellow legal pad. And that last one stuck for 7 years. Removed every last bit of friction - biros are everywhere and I order legal pads in big packs (they're not a thing in the UK) The yellow is easy on the eye and I love draining the biro down to empty in about a month, so it's a routine but one where I write out the mad random stuff in my head with no judgement I box out the bits I want to keep (in a single Google docs doc) and literally throw each page away. It feels gorgeous and not overwhelming. Before this I had about 10 docs that I'd keep stuff in. I stopped hoarding thoughts

In addition, what has worked in the past won’t always work as our needs change, and that’s ok too! My thing was the bullet journal. It worked so well for a couple years, then suddenly it just stopped working. I couldn’t keep up with it despite getting into a rhythm and enjoying it. Eventually I found that I needed to shift to just keeping a dump notebook so I could get thoughts out without needing time to sort them out. After treating my ADHD and finding potential autism underneath, and add female hormonal cycles, it occurred to me just how much our needs can change month to month, or even week to week. Now, faced with having to come off of my meds as they exacerbate other health issues, I’m needing to reevaluate constantly. This video was a great reminder to take things and make them work for me, so thank you! ❤

My phone remains on its charger, right next to my desk, unless I'm either using it or leaving the house. I don't have a key hook, but there's a series of coat hooks right next to my apartment door, so I *TRY* to place my keys either on one of those (designated my key hook) or on the table right beneath the coat hooks. My "appointments calendar" is a sheet of paper attached by magnets to my freezer, since I have to open the refrigerator at least twice daily, which means I have to at least *LOOK* at it every day. 🙃 Keeping things simple really does help ... though I do still sometimes forget to bring my phone with me when I leave the house, which can be a real drag ... 🤣

I can't meditate by focusing on my breathing because it gives me panic attacks, but I can do a stretching routine and focus on the sensation of the stretching which calms my mind and also helps my horrendous shrimp posture :)

Jessica, this channel and your book are helping me so much. After reading the chapter on struggles with the Executive functions, I cried. You have written what I needed that moment! ❤Thank you so much! I wish the book will be translated in german. Can you please make a video about adhd and the female cyclus/hormones.

Hi Jessica. I just got diagnosed with ADHD and dyscalculia (that one was a surprise!)two weeks ago. I want you to know that you've been of great help these past years (Been watching you for five years or so, since I was originally diagnosed by my school counselor) you're a great inspiration to me, and your videos brought me the confort of knowing that out there were people just like me. Your channel's like a good friend to me.

"We are amidst strange beings in a strange land, the flow of time itself is convoluted, with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric of our being wavers, and relations shift and obscure..." -Solaire of Astora \[T]/

regarding the discipline of electronic check registers along with the separate accounts (however you do it) You also get the ability to forecast spending 2-3 months out. This is real-time (not a budget) automatic scheduling to get the recurring bills paid and keep a finger on the pulse of how much money is remaining in a month for fancy groceries or special expenditures, especially taking advantage of 'bargains'. Some months, you can't afford the extra, regardless of how good a deal it is. In some of my different accounts, I stash $100 in savings to cover the occasional overdraft occurrence (happens a lot less often now). It is also a form of emergency fund - I used one recently to make a special purchase to complete a project, at a bargain price. And, wouldn't you know it, I need to go now find the money and schedule that transfer to get the $100 back into a savings account. I forgot. Thanks for reminding me!

I was hospitalized for postpartum too. Hugs.

Adaptation is the best. My therapist (knowing Im Dx Autistic and on an ADHD waiting list) told me to adapt the methods to what works for me. Muscle relaxation:- do in any order I like, add other movements that work better for me, if I miss some out completely that is fine too. Guided Meditation : Therapist pointed out several on yourube and said pick what works best for me, and remember the Speed function is my friend. If none of them work for me that is fine too. If I want to combine different parts that I do like from different guided meditations, I should do it. Sensory Self Soothing kits : Use what works for me, and slowly get more comfortable using my travel kit in public. I am so glad I've had a great therapist that gets that doing certain things one way won't work for me but is happy to adapt and intergrate what works for me. 😊

Progressive muscle relaxation was shown to me before I had been diagnosed with ADHD. I was in the headspace that I had "extreme anxiety". During the practice, I absolutely lost it internally without the counselor even noticing. It was one of the first moments I acknowledged that "successful treatments" didn't necessarily work for me. I didn't understand why in the moment, but it was a moment of clarity for me.

I understand this struggle because every single time I would sit down to memorise notes and I would just forget everything when I turned it over and it was really frustrating and then I found that I worked better with mindmaps for somethings, I used diagrams and notes on the side which seemed chaotic to others were helpful for me because I could memorise information in chunks. I also struggled with focus and getting myself to sit down and study the app FLORA was really helpful for that because whenever I would come home from school or uni I would sit down and study for an hour and a bit and it helped me commit to my studies and if I didn't stick with it I would kill a virtual tree which was really motivational for me It really does depend on the person, it's great to experiment with different methods. Appreciate the video, Jess 💕💕🤗🤗

My god it’s so good to hear stuff like this as it makes you feel normal. Still wish I could find a way past this stuff. my doctor admitted after tests its likely i have ADHD so referred me to a specialist. They (by mail) decided that because I have a stable job and family my condition wasn't severe enough to warrant treatment. I don't even know if I need treatment, but I want to be better.

I love setting up an organization system. I never use them...

When I was in school, I hated using agendas. I always lost track of the date and couldn't quickly find the right one. Plus, I could only see one week at a time. If I had a test on Monday, I would panic because I didn't realize I needed to study. I decided to bring a monthly calendar instead. People laughed at me, but it really helped.

My smart watch is really just a phone locator.

As a 66 yr old who was diagnosed in my 40s, I have found that I use alcohol far too much to dampen down anxiety or guilt about not doing everything that is waiting to be done. I do have medication. My point is that as we age things change, and we need to be aware that it is far too easy to self medicate. Be kind to yourself and reach out for help to make adjustments. I love this program Jessica! So VERY helpful!!

8:55 Adaptation: I use Trello (digital card system) not for collaborating, but for referencing + for task lists. The digital card system allows to rearrange tasks (Cards) according to precedence (I don't like the word priority, never understand what people mean by it).

Up until college I tried various things to stay organize like planners, calendars, etc and while it worked the first few weeks my organization started to fall apart once the pacing increased. When i was in college I tried something a little different which was have the color of my notebook match the color of the folder for the course and on both of them in the center in bold I would put a sticker with the name of the course. The other thing I did which now looking back was probably not the most healthiest for my back is I packed everything in my bag even if I did not have a specific course for the day. Since I physically can't drive I think part of it had to do with the stress of potentially forgetting something at home (which sometimes I did anyways) and not being able to just drive back and grab it. I also hated the thought of being told I was not prepared for class if I forgot something.

I think the possible way to making the envelop system work is to not have loose envelopes, but the plastic zippers pouches that can go in a binder or ringed planner. easy to reuse, everything is in the same place and you can use one pouch for pens, labels and little notepapers for when you are borrowing from the envelops. You can bring the whole planner/binder with you to the store! A lot of the ringed planners also have slots and pockets for debit cards, drivers license and such, so it can be a complete wallet! There are even full kits to buy från amazon or any of the cheap Asian shopping sites.

Jessica, I use your book as an “in case of emergency listen to this!” listening to the Audio version). So I reinforce good behaviour! Thanks Steve from Australia 🇦🇺

Thanks for the video Jessica

Losing the phone, oh yeah 😆 I have an Android, so that's Google. I just loudly ask, "ok Google, what's the weather here today?" Or another question with a long answer, such as, "ok, Google, tell me something about the Grand Canyon." The device answers & leads me to it! (As long as it's charged & on 😉) it's worked great for 3 years.

The most frustrating thing for me is when things that have been working swimmingly suddenly stop working. T_T The first time I was given a day planner (standard issue from the school I'd just moved to), it was amazing! I had never been so organized, it worked perfectly for my whole last year of high school. Then when I moved on to college I bought a new planner... could not make it work no matter what I did. Over the years I tried different types, layouts, nothing - the magical system stopped working. Same with when I found bullet journaling. It was perfect for a whole year. And every year I keep trying and I fail to upkeep with even the most minimal layout. Oh well. The keyhook by the door thing actually does still work for me though - so I got that going for me, which is nice. xD

I watched a bullet journal video where the creator said to use a setup for 1-2 months without changing it (if possible). That way you can see how it works and what does/doesn't work for you. After the 1-2 months, make changes. Additions, subtractions, make only 1-2 if possible, then use it for 1-2 months. That time period gives your brain enough time to actually adjust and adapt, and you can realize what you may actually need. It's hard, but it does help. I will admit by the end of the 1 month, I am frustrated with a system, but that motivates me to make those changes so it can work! It also gives me peace of mind, knowing it's got an end. I know that after 1 month, I don't have to do this anymore, I can do different. It also helps keep me from shopping. I would buy a planner, use it for 2 days then get another because the 1st didn't work, then repeat.... now, I have to use it for a month, make changes, and then another month. Then, I can go shopping if need be.

exactly! If a tool is helping you, you're using it right! No matter how it was "intended" to be used.

Hmmmm, I don't know, but what came to my mind, how to recognize if it doesn't work or it just needs time: - imagine how you'll keep this habit in future - does that make you excited? or are you stressed just with the idea of it? - do you feel like it's meant to be your system/strategy or do you try that cus it works for others? - if you keep failing in the future, is there a way how to make that easier? way that's not ideal but is much easier? would this easier option work fine for you?

I struggle with the google calander too. I still use a pen and paper calander. Only problem is remembering to check it every day 😂

Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, I would like to try them again but it's just so hard to source out here

9:11 Yeah! I love spices and I have a _lot_ of spices (a whole 3 shelve cupboard full + some overflow spices below it... and hot sauces in the fridge... and a chili mill somewhere in the livingroom), and the only system that works for me organising them is to have a few boxes in the cupboard to dump them in. And if I'm feeling extra organised I have labelled them "green spices" (i.e. "herbs", but I forgot that word when I was writing the label), "dark spices", and after a while these two started overflowing so I added two more boxes "chili/paprika" and "indian/asian spices" (I don't think I have gotten around to label these yet, I've only had this system for about 7 years or so😂, but I remember which is which from the contents) and on the top shelf I have a couple more also unlabelled boxes for the big 100g or 250g bags of spices that I use to refill the smaller jars below. Any more detailed organisation than that and the spices will inevitably end up in a pile on the kitchen bench awaiting motivation to sort them.

As I was watching this video, I had the realization that these systems are like recipes. When I find a recipe I want to try, I make it the first time the way it's written. Sometimes it tastes great straight away, and occasionally, the result just plain sucks and I'll never make it again. But most often, it just needs adjustments to make it taste right. No one is a bad cook because of the way a recipe is written. Similarly, no one is a bad or lazy person because of the way an organization system is laid out. They are guides to get a desired result, and we can tweak what we need to to make them work.

Thank you for this. I've been working with google calendar for years, and refining and improving the way it works is a continual process. That's just an example. The takeaway is that I have to look at the tools and give them honest tries, and I am grateful for this video.

Very true: systems are fine, but keep 'em simple! Especially when struggling with anxiety disorders (I have really bad AvPD), depression etc. Keep it simple and don't punish yourself when a system or systems don't work. Thanks again for doing these great vids!

Holy cow - I needed this video. Thank you. My therapist is helping me come up with tools to manage my ADHD but I feel like I hit the wall of awful so frequently with it.

Great video. Definitely worth watching a few times. I also just ordered that anti-planner. 😊 If I'm going to impulse buy a thing, it may as well be something that may help. The reviews are absolutely glowing. And I honestly can't handle more versions of "just break the task into smaller tasks."

I've been using a Bullet Journal on and off for about 5 years now (which I discovered because of your channel, Jessica!), and I'm still working on adapting it to my brain. I LOVE using it for my calendar, keeping track of recipes my partner and I liked, projects that need to be done on what deadlines, when I have migraines, how bad my stress and anxiety are, etc. I just can't seem to keep up with it for daily scheduled tasks, habit tracking, or budgeting. I'm thinking of moving the budgeting to a digital system to see if that works better for me. Maybe I need a sticker chart for my habits (because they are still things I want to track). And I'm starting to wonder if I need to adopt Jessica's suggestion of "if I do these 3 things today, then today will have been a success" idea from another recent video. Instead of scheduling my day, I could make a list of three important goals to meet, with one or two that I'd *like* to do but aren't necessary.

One of the greatest things I have added to my life is pre packed medications that I “subscribe” to. I get a roll with packs every two weeks. I have four little bags a day and it says time and date and everything on each pack. Here in Sweden it’s common for the elderly to have this but for me it is perfect 👌! I do not have to be unsure if I have taken my Meds or not thanks to this. And if I am going away for the day or whatever I rip of the amount I know I will need. It’s brilliant! And I then also never have to remember to contact the doctors to write new medication prescription and such which before used to be such struggle for me. AND: as a bonus I have “linked” the task of taking the current bag vid meds to at the same time reflect on if I need to drink something (or eat) AND if I need to go to the toilet or not. I highly recommend this thing if it is available in the country /state for the one reading this. ❤

I bounce around between a few. some are more helpful than others during different blocks of active time, and adhd also means doing the same thing forever is heck in a bottle. Love your work, you've helped me a lot!

This is great!! Thank you for this. Your other video about things only working for a while was also super helpful. Sunsama worked for me for a good long while. Until it didn’t! And I’m okay with that, partly thanks to you. Right now, I’ve switched over to Trello, because I visually want to see everything at once. Plus I felt empowered to redo my content calendar Sheet so it would be in rainbow order, because that makes my brain happy. I’m just accepting more and more that maybe these things that I think are “small” that are bothering me aren’t actually small and/or can be adapted to work better for me.

Absolutely……Like lefties in a world of righties!! lol and I’m ambidextrous!! 😅😂

I’m an ADHDer who uses a physical planner. Yes, I said it. 😂 BUT!!! I do not use it the way other people do. I write out any important things like when bills are due, therapy appts, when assignments are due for grad school, doctor’s appt, etc. But other than that, nothing is actually “planned.” I let myself do whatever I want each day, and at the end of the day, I write out everything that I did in my planner. It helps me to feel accomplished. And I color-code it with pastel highlighters. Everything related to health (cooking, showering, yoga, etc) I highlight in green, everything that is an “adult” task is purple, anything that’s fun/a hobby is blue, anything with a friend is orange. For the really important stuff, I use a bright yellow highlighter so it sticks out & I probably circle it also

This is so relatable. I think my main issue with tools that I try to help with my ADHD and anxiety is that I get bored of them and they lose their effectiveness. Like for example, I have several alarms on my phone to keep me aware of the time as I easily lose track of it, but they aren't as effective anymore as my brain dismisses it or I convince myself that I have more time than I do

Sad to hear you needed to be in a program for post partum depression and anxiety, but I'm glad it was helpful and you seem to be doing better now ❤️

A lot of what you said helps with my brand of ptsd and depression. Thank you And thank you for saying lots of systems don't work out of the box!!!! I have set up system with my bank, where they pay my bills for me, from my account called "bills". Also they automatically divide my income up into different accounts for me. It helps a lot.

The basket method of cleaning: I keep a decorative basket in the room that gather the most clutter in my house. If I find something out of place, I toss it in the basket. Once a week (per room), I dump the basket's contents on my bed and put everything away. I'm not using the baskets for permanent storage or cozy decor. They have no lids, but I don't care about the mess being visible. The rooms are clutter free and the system works for me.

One therapist told me shortly after I got my diagnosis: „your brain is wired differently, that’s why some strategies that work for many people don’t help you. It’s like having an Apple computer and trying to use Microsoft programs.“ That really helped me

I had to design my own planner in order to use it. Would love to find a way to manufacture it for others but I'm unsure how to go about it.

This is such a nice video thank you so much for putting it out there. I would like to share with you. My experience with consulting usually have been a very tactical person used to do a lot of work that requires a lot of structure and routine in a nutshell. The things that could work while you’re in a professional environment and you like me and can’t get to the point and can’t be concise at the same time and talk really fast These are the three things that work for me 1. Use the PowerPoint function and write script in the notes section. 2. Wireframe and what that basically means is it take a sheet and start putting all the ideas out there because you know we have a ton 3. You’re not gonna get it right the first time.