ADHD

I have found no software solution, premade or coded by myself personally, that beats a pen & paper bullet journal.

I recently tried one that boasted about how it used AI to help organize your tasks, but it didn't and couldn't do the one thing I needed it to, which is automatically populate a daily to-do list with suggested tasks.

I tried one of those "for ADHD" aps tiimo I think it was. It was great for about 3 days because it was new and exciting and the I just never used it again.

I use calendars for birthdays and for the people I need to gift I set up reminders to buy or send gifts that way. Anything I need to do goes in the calendar too or I'll forget about it.

Not so much an app but smart home stuff has been a game changer. I just setup my washer and dryer on a smart plug so I get notifications when my laundry is done. At some point I'll give myself reminders I haven't done anything with it too lmao. I also have lights turn on and off at certain times, doors auto lock after 2 minutes, I'm changing out my bathroom fans soon for humidity sensors, and I'm sure I'll come up with more.

Ohh app stuff. Scheduling text messages! Sometimes I forget people exist so when I remember I'll schedule a text or two for a few days later to keep a conversation going or start a new one so they're not always the one to text first.

I wrote an email service that really helps me with organization of my email.

I wrote this article about it: https://sciactive.com/2023/07/17/the-best-email-for-those-who-struggle-with-organization/

I use plain old mindmaps for many things. When they are related to tasks and todos, I use a tool where it has little checkmarks, possibly completion progress bars, failed-icons, blocker-icons etc.

For understanding a topic, e. g. from a textbook or a job problem, hand-drawn works better with the additional freedoms it provides, such as this one: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/53571999/Mindmapping

It fits in nicely with how I work through a text:

• Think about what I want to get out of this
• Flip through & glance over everything. Whatever draws my personal attention, be it drawings, graphs, tables, the headers - different for everybody. Might occasionally look at one of those things for a bit longer.
• Read the TOC
• Do the actual reading start to end and draw a mindmap
• Possible do-over the mindmap once I understand where I did it "wrong" due to my previous assumption of how things categorise and relate

I use ticktick for medium and long term stuff like

• monthly payments I can't automate
• maintenance tasks (clean filters, check car)
• fill in taxes

I like its natural language input, it's easy enough to just remember something and type it in and get back into what I was doing.

For short term stuff I use my smartwatch and voice assistents reminders. It leaves my wrist for charging and not much else. (I use Bixby because it integrates well with a Samsung phone, has persistent annoying reminders that don't go away. Also Google can't keep their shit straight and just keep a system for two years without killing it). Some examples of that I use my smartwatch for:

• do laundry in a few days when I just saw its going to be sunny
• timers for the oven or laundry
• take non routine medications

I keep a notebook at my desk for brain dumps and generally as a working memory replacement. I bullet journal on and off every few months, I like it when I'm using it, but as soon as something disrupts my routine it's gone.

Im certain I have ADHD so lately Ive been using Proton Calendar as a todo list and its helped a lot but I still find myself procrastinating sometimes.

As for avoidance earlier in the year I decided to change my habits with the internet, especially youtube. Which is becoming more and more of a burden and waste of time to use imo.

So I created a patreon account and looked through my YT subscriptions choosing a small group of people to donate to that I found to be worth while content wise then deleted my channel. I also subscribed to nebula for a couple other channels such as NotJustBikes. Then I switched to using Grayjay which supports this method since I can see it all in one place.

Also its not like I completely avoid YT as a whole I just merely use it as a search engine now instead of being subjected to the ads, thumbnails, clickbait, shorts, drama, etc in every waking moment.

I recently discovered the PARA method: the idea that most of what we do falls into one of 4 categories:

Project

Area of Responsibility

Resource

Archive

I've setup a OneNote notebook and a paper planner using this approach, and it's been very helpful with de-chaos-ing so much stuff. Now it hasn't halped much with specific tasks, other than I can more easily record and then find them.

Lately I've been using my shopping list app (Anylist) for my daily to-do's since it syncs with Android and iOS, and I'm in it all the time for other lists on every device (I keep a browser window open just for it on my laptop). Unfortunately it doesn't have reminders.

I've found to do lists to be quite effective. Just jotting down tasks I need to get to help keep them present even if we won't be doing it immediately. I also like to give a priority number starting from 1 to more urgent tasks, so I know where to start.

I'm also adult diagnosed ADHD. With non stimulant medication my short term memory has improved noticeably (so less walking through a doorway and immediately forgetting why you're here).

I have used 3 different tools more often so far for task tracking:

1. Trello - good for making tasks into cards, and also creating a dashboard to links you need to regularly access. I have categories like pending and currently active so I know where my tasks are at.

2. Excel - surprisingly great for this, you can see all your remarks and notes on each task at a glance. I use it kind of like a ticket system where I close and hide the rows of tasks that I've completed. Being able to see notes on tasks at a glance is also a plus.

3. Pen and paper - when all else fails, pen(cil) and paper are really great for scribbling down tasks too. I usually fall back to this when I start neglecting my digital notes.

My rule of thumb is to make things as easy to do as possible. Pack your bags the night before so you can grab your stuff and run out the next morning. Have your pen and pencil in easy reach so noting stuff down is as easy as possible.

When tasks seem complicated with too many steps, breaking them down into individual items helps make it feel less impossible/daunting. I still deal with task paralysis from time to time, but this gives me the nest possible chance that I'll get things done sooner than later.

Additionally, I've read about accountability buddies. I don't practice this often myself, but it does help to discuss and mention to a trusted or friendly colleague what tasks you're working on. They can help you keep some accountability to your work by asking you about it later in the day.