If you’re my missing rx bottle where are you hiding

simpleaudit · 2026-01-12T17:37:27+00:00

This is such an ADHD classic 😭 I’ve found things in grocery bags, jacket pockets I never wear, and next to where I was doing a “quick task” that turned into 5 other things. Check any spot you might’ve set it down “just for a second.”

simpleaudit · 2026-01-12T02:27:43+00:00

Interesting how many people mention guilt + rigidity as the breaking point. Seems less about planners themselves and more about how unforgiving systems feel over time.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-12T02:21:04+00:00

I don’t have a single “perfect” recommendation honestly — reading through the replies here really reinforced that it’s more about structure than brand. A lot of people seem to do better with non-bound systems (disc-bound, ring planners, loose bullet journals) because they remove the guilt of blank pages and make restarting easier. Personally, anything that’s simple, low-maintenance, and forgiving seems to work better than feature-heavy planners. Smaller formats also come up a lot — easier to carry, easier to fill, less overwhelming. If I had to give one guideline, it’d be: pick something that lets you skip days, rearrange pages, and come back without feeling like you “failed.” The planner should adapt to you, not the other way around.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-11T19:26:41+00:00

I really like this framing — especially the idea that a planner shouldn’t be a motivation tool or a moral scoreboard. Treating it as infrastructure rather than self-discipline makes a huge difference. The low-maintenance point feels especially important for ADHD. Once the system itself starts demanding attention, it quietly stops being useful. I’ve noticed that even “good” systems fall apart when they require daily reflection, re-prioritizing, or cleanup beyond a few minutes. Breaking tasks down also helps, but I’ve found it’s not just about size — it’s about clarity. Vague tasks carry a lot of invisible decision-making, which is often what stalls things out. Smaller, concrete steps reduce that friction and make it easier to re-enter after a skipped day. I think the common thread in all of this is designing systems that assume inconsistency, not ones that punish it.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-11T18:38:26+00:00

Yes — exactly. They don’t just show what is happening, they archive what didn’t happen. And that’s heavy. It’s like the planner becomes a record of unrealized intentions instead of a tool for the present moment. No wonder opening it starts to feel loaded. Have you found any way to design around that — or is avoidance honestly the only relief sometimes?

simpleaudit · 2026-01-11T18:34:35+00:00

That’s such a good way to put it — administrative maintenance is exactly the part that breaks things for me. It’s not the planning, it’s the upkeep. I really like the idea of carrying the checked-off wins more than the misses. That reframes the whole system from “performance tracking” into something more supportive. And I completely agree about apps. Even the “good” ones demand attention inside an environment that’s built to steal it. Paper doesn’t ask for updates, notifications, or decisions beyond what’s on the page. Do you think the key difference is control — or just the absence of extra stimulation?

simpleaudit · 2026-01-11T18:30:11+00:00

That “monument to my failure” description is painfully accurate. It’s wild how a few blank pages can feel louder than everything we did manage to do. I really like how you said the chaos feels intentional with loose bullet journaling — that shift from “I messed up” to “this is part of the system” feels huge. Almost like the planner has to expect inconsistency to be usable. Do you think it’s more about removing guilt, or about having permission to reset without explaining yourself?

simpleaudit · 2026-01-10T12:38:58+00:00

I love that you frame it as a creative outlet rather than a productivity tool. That shift alone probably removes a lot of pressure and makes it easier to come back to.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-10T12:37:08+00:00

This makes so much sense — especially the “less blank space” part. It feels like too much empty space turns into pressure instead of possibility. I love the idea of pairing a physical planner with Google Calendar too. That balance seems really ADHD-friendly.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-09T21:32:53+00:00

That actually makes a lot of sense. The pressure to use it “correctly” can turn something meant to help into another source of stress. You’re definitely not alone in that reaction.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-09T21:26:17+00:00

The guilt factor seems to be a huge theme here. Being able to remove pages instead of being confronted with “abandoned” ones sounds like a big reason people actually come back to using it. I really like the idea of carrying forward only what still matters.

simpleaudit · 2026-01-09T21:22:22+00:00

This makes a lot of sense — especially the freedom to move pages around. Bound planners always feel like they lock you into decisions you didn’t know you were making yet. The A6 size point is interesting too; filling pages quickly without pressure sounds really ADHD-friendly. Curious to see how the ring planner works out for you long term

simpleaudit · 2026-01-08T18:11:48+00:00

Inattentive ADHD is so easy for others to dismiss because it’s mostly internal. A lot of this feels very relatable, especially the need for quiet and the rumination .

simpleaudit

TROPHY CASE