When someone with ADHD buys a planner

Ah, the age-old question that often sparks a knowing nod among those of us with ADHD: do people with ADHD buy multiple planners? The short answer? Absolutely, yes! If you're wondering if you're alone in your collection of half-used, beautifully designed, yet ultimately abandoned planners, let me assure you, you are in excellent company. I’ve lost count of how many planners I’ve bought over the years. It's almost a running joke among my ADHD friends and me: 'Oh, you bought another one?' Each purchase starts with such high hopes. When someone with ADHD gets a planner, it's often a moment filled with genuine optimism. We envision a perfectly organized life unfolding before us – every task checked, every appointment met, every goal crushed. This time, it will be different, right? So, why do we fall into this cycle? There are a few key reasons why people with ADHD buy multiple planners: The Allure of the Fresh Start: Our brains thrive on novelty. A new planner feels like a clean slate, a chance to shed the failures of the past and start anew. The crisp pages, the beautiful layout, the promise of a perfectly structured week – it's incredibly enticing. The Quest for the “Perfect” System: We’re constantly searching for the external structure that will finally compensate for our internal organizational challenges. Maybe a daily planner will work better than a weekly one? Or perhaps a bullet journal is the answer? We hyperfocus on researching different systems, convinced that the right planner will unlock our productivity potential. Executive Dysfunction and Habit Formation: Sticking to one system consistently is incredibly difficult for many with ADHD. Our executive functions, responsible for planning, prioritizing, and sustained effort, can falter. What works for a few days might become overwhelming or simply forgotten, leading us to seek out the 'next best thing' when the current one inevitably loses its shine. Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Sometimes, we genuinely forget about a planner we started. It gets tucked away, and when the need for organization strikes again, it feels easier to buy a new one than to dig out the old, possibly guilt-inducing, one. The Hope for Motivation: The act of buying a planner itself can feel like a productive step. It's an investment in our future, an outward sign that we intend to be organized. For a brief period, the excitement of a new tool can provide a temporary boost in motivation, even if it doesn't always translate into sustained use. My own planner graveyard is a testament to this cycle. I have everything from elaborate academic planners to minimalist daily journals, each bought with the best intentions. The truth is, while buying multiple planners might seem counterproductive, it often stems from a genuine desire to improve and manage our lives better. It’s not about a lack of effort; it's about navigating a brain that works a little differently. So, if you identify with this struggle, know that you’re not alone. Instead of feeling guilty about your planner collection, perhaps we can reframe it. Each planner represents a moment of hope, a creative attempt to find a tool that fits our unique neurotype. And sometimes, even just the attempt to externalize our thoughts onto a page, however briefly, can be beneficial.