At the beginning, or the end, of each month I do a precursory plan for the month ahead. I simply add birthdays, business deadlines, and holidays we celebrate on a monthly calendar page I create on Canva. And this page becomes the cover of my planner binder.
Planning with ADHD is very hard. It’s hard to nail down those thoughts. Or sort them out from all the others racing around. We rely a lot more on routines and habits than plans. My goal with the monthly calendar is to remind me of what’s ahead, so I don’t forget something important. Like a sister’s birthday! This is a bigger chore for me than them since I am the youngest.
No year planning
I don’t go into planning my year either. For the same reasons, ADHD. One year I tried to plan by the quarters. So, I said to Mr. Wonderful, “we have a cool weather quarter here, what do we want to get done?” So, we brainstormed and came up with a page long list of tasks and projects. And we picked the most urgent & important item on the list and dug in. Three months later we were still working on that one project. Mind you, we took it as far as we could. But that was all we got done. After 3 months, it was discouraging not see more of our tasks checked off the list. It’s important to realize that ADHD people fight discouragement. And, after all, a task list that doesn’t move is not a good thing for any of us.
Life is hard, be real, show grace.
Time for grace and mercy. I am only one woman, he one man. We have limits, are battle weary. We demand a day of rest, maybe two. Weekly, preferred.
So, when it comes to monthly & yearly planning, do whatever is going to help you. If making grand goals is your jam, do it. But if it gives you a headache, leave it off.
Extend grace to others
As the spouse without ADHD, I do the planning in my family. The planning reminds me of what we need to do. Then I bring it to Mr. Wonderful’s attention. After that we decide how we will get it done.
I do not ask Mr. Wonderful to sit down and plan with me. And Mr. Wonderful relies on me to keep him in good standing.
Why I don’t plan way ahead.
Things change quickly when you live with ADHD. But as a Christian, I find it works much better to plan my months gently and plan my days after spending time with my LORD. Matthew 6: 34, LITV, says “Then do not be anxious for tomorrow. For the morrow will be anxious of itself. Sufficient to each day is its own trouble.”
I hear take life one day at a time, get all you can out of that one day. Go to bed sufficiently tired. Rest soundly. So, you can rise, ready to take on another day.