✅ Today’s checklist:
🤔 Trivia: In the “Harry Potter” series, what is the full name of Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts? Find out.
👔 Side hustle: 15-minute strategy to find the perfect side hustle.
💸 Finances: Anxious about money? Five financial therapists share their advice.
👩💼 Leadership: What does “Feminine Leadership” look like?
🧠 Mind: Understand the profound experience of ego death.
🖼 Decor: 20 DIY wall decor ideas worth all the craftiness.
Diagnosed with ADHD at 31, my life up until then had been a series of unwitting experiments in self-management. I never knew why certain systems and routines worked so well for me—I just knew they did.
It wasn’t until I immersed myself in personal development and entrepreneurial seminars in my late 20s that I started to understand the “life hacks” I was adopting could be particularly beneficial for someone with ADHD.
Now, I recognize these strategies as essential tools that help me manage my day-to-day life effectively.
These tips aren’t just for those with ADHD—they can enhance anyone’s organizational skills and productivity:
1. Morning Exercise for Focus
Exercising daily, especially in the morning, is crucial for my focus. It kickstarts my day with clarity and primes my brain for the tasks ahead.
Six times a week, I make it a point to get my body moving, and it makes a significant difference in how I navigate the rest of my day.
2. Visual Cues Everywhere
I’ve learned that out of sight truly is out of mind for me. I have visual cues all over my house to remind me of tasks.
A huge whiteboard in my office, notes stuck on the fridge, reminders taped to the bathroom mirror—these visual prompts help keep me on track.
3. Meticulous Note-Taking
During meetings, I write everything down in a Google Doc. This not only helps me retain information but also keeps me engaged and focused.
The act of listening and writing simultaneously provides just enough stimulation to keep me from getting distracted.
4. Daily Brain Dump and To-Do Lists
Every day begins with a brain dump to-do list. Each task gets a checkbox, and ticking these off provides a satisfying hit of dopamine.
Unfinished tasks? They simply roll over to the next day’s list. This method keeps me accountable and gives me a visual progress report.
5. Color Coding and Aesthetics
I color-code a lot of things and invest time in making them aesthetically pleasing. If a spreadsheet is ugly, I find ways to make it visually appealing.
My brain responds with enthusiasm to colorful and well-organized information, turning a mundane task into something enjoyable.
6. Triggers and Routines
I’ve established routines linked to specific triggers to help me remember essential tasks.
For example, I leave my meds in the bathroom so that the first thing I do after using the toilet and brushing my teeth is take them. These small, ritualized actions form the backbone of my daily routine.
7. Simplifying Spaces
Clutter is the enemy. My desk is a model of simplicity—just my computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a single desk organizer.
Everything else is out of sight. This minimal setup helps reduce distractions and keeps my mind clear.
8. Religiously Using Google Calendar
My Google Calendar is my external brain. Every appointment, every plan, every reminder goes in there. If it’s not scheduled, there’s a good chance it won’t be remembered.
Each night, I review the next day’s agenda, and throughout the day, Google reminds me of what’s coming up. This system is crucial for keeping me organized and punctual.
9. Using ‘Do Not Disturb’
When it’s time to focus, I use the ‘Do Not Disturb‘ and ‘Focus’ settings on my devices.
This blocks out potential distractions like Slack messages or emails and allows me to work undisturbed on tasks that require deep concentration.
10. Embracing Routine and Regular Maintenance
Setting specific days for specific tasks, like a designated laundry day, helps in building a routine that eventually becomes second nature. This method reduces the cognitive load of deciding when to do tasks, which can be a challenge for those with ADHD.
By understanding how your brain works, you can adapt your environment to suit its needs, and manage to turn potential obstacles into opportunities for efficiency and success.
Thania (TA Content Mgr)
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Halfway through the year is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Whether you’re on track, ahead, or behind, a mid-year review can provide a crucial adjustment point to ensure you end the year strong.
Here’s a guide on conducting an effective mid-year review.
Reflect on Your Progress
Begin by assessing the progress you’ve made towards your goals so far. Look at each goal individually and note whether you’re ahead, on track, or behind.
It’s essential not to get discouraged by setbacks; instead, see them as opportunities to recalibrate. Celebrate the small victories along the way, as these can be great motivators.
Reevaluate Your Objectives
Sometimes, goals set at the beginning of the year may no longer be relevant due to changing circumstances. Ask yourself if your goals still align with your overall vision and make adjustments if necessary.
This might involve setting entirely new goals or tweaking the existing ones to be more achievable.
Set Clear Milestones
For each goal, define clear, actionable milestones and attach deadlines to them. This will help break down larger goals into manageable tasks, making them less daunting and easier to tackle.
For instance, if your goal is to improve your physical health, you might set milestones like joining a gym by a certain date or prepping meals weekly.
Refine Your Strategies
Reflect on the strategies you’ve used so far to pursue your goals. What’s working? What isn’t?
This mid-year point is an excellent opportunity to tweak or overhaul your approaches based on your experiences.
For instance, if you find that you’re more productive in the evenings rather than mornings, adjust your schedule accordingly.
Or, if a particular method or tool isn’t helping you progress as expected, consider exploring alternative options that might yield better results.
Enhance Accountability
Sharing your goals and progress with a friend, family member, or a coach can significantly increase your accountability.
If comfortable, make your goals public to a trusted circle to help you stay committed and receive support when needed.
Prioritize Self-Care
A successful mid-year check-in isn’t just about pushing harder; it’s also about ensuring you’re taking care of yourself.
Make sure you’re getting enough rest, eating well, and setting aside time for relaxation. Self-care is crucial for maintaining the energy levels necessary to achieve your goals.
Adjust Your Tactics
Based on your review, adjust your strategies to better align with your goals. This might involve trying out new approaches or doubling down on what’s working.
Flexibility is key in navigating the path to your goals effectively.
Set Up Regular Check-Ins
Finally, set up regular intervals to review your progress moving forward.
This could be monthly or quarterly, depending on what works best for you. Regular reviews keep your goals fresh in your mind and allow for continuous adjustment.
By taking the time to thoroughly review and realign your goals mid-year, you set yourself up for success in the second half. Remember, the path to achieving your goals is rarely linear, and adjustments are part of the journey.
Last quarter, we hired an engineer to build us our very own GoalsHQ template in Notion.
It’s the exact system our team uses to help us set, track, and achieve our goals.
This free template will help you and your team:
Strengthen team alignment and watch your productivity soar this quarter.
Our team is obsessed with Starbucks’ fluffy sous vide egg bites—but at over $5 for 2 egg bites, it can stack into an expensive habit.
But making them at home is surprisingly easy, and you don’t even need a sous vide machine to make them (we reco silicone muffin pans).
Plus, you can make them healthier by selecting a lower fat cottage cheese.
📝 Transform your instructions into engaging how-tos with Guidde (free option avail).
🧰 Perfect for home projects, this tool kit is compact, functional and stylish.
🥜 These cashew clusters are a perfect healthy snack and only has 4g of sugar.
📘 The Mountain is You provides a blueprint for transforming inner conflicts into confidence, helping you navigate and conquer life’s challenges.
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