For decades I thought I was just naturally untidy. I was the person who always seemed to be running late, forgetting appointments, misplacing important documents, and constantly feeling like I was trying to catch up with everyone else.
No matter how hard I tried, organisation never seemed to come naturally to me. I’d start new routines on a Monday, and promise myself that this time things would be different.
Usually, by Thursday, I’d be overwhelmed with the effort, burnt out and completely abandoned the new routine altogether.
When I later learned more about ADHD and executive functioning, so many pieces of the puzzle suddenly fell into place.
One of the lesser-known aspects of ADHD is the impact it can have on executive function. Executive functions are the mental skills that help us plan, organise, prioritise, manage time, remember tasks, and follow through on goals. They are the behind-the-scenes processes that help us navigate daily life.
For many people with ADHD, these skills don’t come automatically, thats certainly true for me . It isn’t about laziness, a lack of desire or not caring enough. In fact, many of us care deeply. The challenge is often bridging the gap between intention and action. I always had good intentions.
I genuinely wanted a tidy home. I wanted to remember birthdays. I wanted to arrive early. I wanted to stay on top of paperwork, meal planning, household tasks, and work deadlines. But, the problem wasn’t knowing what needed to be done. The problem was keeping track of it all consistently.
Like many people with ADHD, my brain seemed to hold information loosely. A task could feel incredibly important one moment and completely disappear from my mind the next. If something wasn’t directly in front of me, it often stopped existing altogether.
This created a cycle of stress. I would forget something….again, feel frustrated with myself, try harder, become overwhelmed, and then repeat the whole process again.
Over time, though, I realised something important.
I didn’t need to become a different person. I didn’t need to force myself to be “naturally” organised. I simply needed systems that worked WITH my brain rather than against it.
That realisation changed everything.
Around twelve years ago, I started creating my own planning systems. Instead of trying to fit into planners designed for people who naturally remember everything, I began designing very crude but helpful tools just for me that supported me the way I actually think.
I had simple layouts on scraps of paper, visual reminders on “post its” stuck to the cupboards. Dumped thoughts into any old left over note pad. I just needed somewhere to capture the endless stream of thoughts, appointments, ideas, and tasks that seemed to bounce around my head all day.
Most importantly, I needed systems that felt realistic and helpful rather than perfect.
Little by little, those systems transformed my daily life.
Today, my home is organised. My appointments get remembered. My deadlines are managed. Of course, I still have ADHD moments—I’m a proud neurodivergent human after all—but the difference is that I no longer rely solely on memory or motivation. I rely on the systems I have created so they do the work for me.
Fast forward to now, what started as rather basic personal tools eventually became something I am super proud to share with others. That’s why I opened my Etsy store and began selling the (vastly new and improved) planners and organisational resources I had developed for myself.
Every planner I create comes from real-life experience. They’re designed by someone who understands what it’s like to stare at a growing to-do list and not know where to begin. They’re built for people who need structure without rigidity, guidance without overwhelm, and organisation that feels achievable. they are used by me, my family, my friends!
I know firsthand that getting organised isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about reducing stress. It’s about creating a little more calm in your day. It’s about giving your future self a helping hand.
Whether you have ADHD, struggle with executive function, or simply find life a bit chaotic sometimes, having the right tools can make a remarkable difference.
The systems I use today aren’t complicated. In fact, their simplicity is exactly why they work. They help me keep track of the things my brain naturally struggles to hold onto, freeing up more energy for the things that matter most.
If you’ve ever felt like organisation just wasn’t “your thing,” I hope this serves as a reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Sometimes the answer isn’t trying harder.
The answer is finding a system that works for you.
After twelve years of living with systems that support my ADHD brain, I can honestly say that organisation isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating tools that make everyday life easier.
And that is exactly what I hope my planners help others do too.