this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2026
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ADHD
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I use a bullet journal, the original Rider Carrol method: No advance planning, just dump your brain into ink and paper, organize what's there, index what's important so you can find it later, eliminate unfulfilled tasks that aren't as important, move important tasks to today's list.
It's not perfect but it's very resilient and works well with my brain. And if I don't use it your a day or a month or a year it still works fine when I come back, it doesn't require consistency.
I strong second this. The data dump and end /start of day review is what I do and it is very helpful. To be honest, I check my journal constantly and it is quite common to spot something I forgot that I had literally written down an hour before.
Do you have any readings/resources you’d recommend on this?
Right now I’m using TickTick but I loaded it up with so many things, most of which will be abandoned and never cleaned up. Eventually my lists will get too messy and I’ll abandon the software. And the cycle continues lol
The best resource, in my opinion, is Ryder's own book, The Bullet Journal Method.
EDIT: My journal tech is literally a notebook and a pencil. Simple, tactile and readily available is what I need. Apps, in my opinion, add to the problem rather than help.
Perfect, thank you!
I currently use a plain old brown bound journal for occasional reflective writing and there’s something about the physical act of pen to paper that helps me calm down so this may be the way. I’ll check out the book.
(Not adhd here)
This method is great, extremely flexible and applicable in many areas.
On the practical side, I found that using something is determined by more than just being practical. Initially I started with the Todoist app. It has both the data dump function, prioritizing functionality, calendar. Perfect.
I also often used random pieces of paper to brainstorm better, I find physicality to be important for longer lists.
Somehow, though, the list format doesn’t always click for me and I over time pivoted to Google Calendar. I find it easy to just dump new events for tomorrow/next Monday and then organize them when I get there. The recurrences are easier to visualize too. And I can at a glance look at a given day and figure out I will not make it to the end of the pile and restructure. I also keep “the past” organized and looking at all the tasks completed gives a boost of motivation.
I love the idea of dumping stuff into Monday and then dealing with it when you get there.
I overscheduled myself out too much in advance and I never stick to that schedule, which adds to the feeling of failure/defeat. Especially for both my work and work style, I think dumping it somewhere (like the coming Monday) and then sorting it out when I get there may work better.
Appreciate your post!
It feels really great to be done with stuff and pick off an extra one from “the future”.
I hope it helps you out!
Thanks. This does seem like a helpful method, and, pardon the pun, fairly bulletproof.
If I brain dump into the journal, then I'll feel less anxious. However, a big part of my anxiety is that I have many other apps and to-do lists floating around at the same time as using the bullet journal.
Journaling for sure. I share this story and teach my clients this technique; one question so simple yet so effective that it helped a British rowing team win Olympic gold. This question didn’t just shape their training and teamwork; it became a guiding principle for how they approached every decision. So, what was the question? "Will it make the boat go faster?"
The story begins back in the 1990s. The British rowing team hadn’t won a gold medal since 1912. They weren’t favorites for the Olympics and hadn’t been on the winning track for a long time. But when the team started preparing for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, they embraced a single, unifying question—one that would change everything.
Their guiding principle was rooted in "implementation intentions," a concept in performance psychology where you prepare for tough situations in advance. It’s a strategy that strengthens mental resilience, enabling you to stick to your goals even when things get hard. So, instead of just visualizing winning, the rowing team focused on every challenge that could come their way. With every decision, big or small, they asked themselves, "Will it make the boat go faster?"
Imagine someone invites you to a party the night before early practice. You’re exhausted from training all week, and a night out sounds tempting. But then, you ask, "Will it make the boat go faster?" If the answer is no, the decision is no. They chose actions aligned with their goal.
Some might say that kind of mindset is intense, maybe even extreme. But if you’re truly serious about reaching a meaningful goal, that level of commitment becomes essential. This mindset fueled the team, strengthened their unity, and inspired them to push harder than ever. And, ultimately, they won. The British rowing team didn’t just win; they crushed the competition in Sydney and brought home Olympic gold.
Joe De Sena, founder of Spartan Race, once said that while this approach might seem intense, it’s exactly what it takes to achieve greatness. Imagine competing against someone who makes every choice with that kind of clarity. Someone whose every action aligns with a clear purpose. These people are focused, disciplined, and intentional, and they make an impact because they’re moving toward something bigger.
For every decision, ask yourself, would it make my boat go faster? It keeps you grounded and focused without the anxiety of feeling something is missing.
I'll be happy to assist and provide tools for free.
This reads like the kind of story used by office bosses to motivate their employees to work harder.