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One thing for certain, two things for sure if I don't have a routine and a notebook to write down everything I need to do, my life will fall apart... 

I was officially diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 and it finally provided answers to the difficulties I had growing up. I could finally explain why I would become fixated on a topic for a few weeks only to drop it all together once I learned everything I wanted to know... With a diagnoses, I’m able to get prescribed medication, which combined with support from my therapist and lifestyle hacks, allows me to be productive and happy!

For my first blog post of 2023, I wanted to share the three tools I've been using to keep my life on track and increase productivity…

Notion

Notion is an adaptive note-taking software designed to aid planning and productivity. I use it like a second brain to dumb my ideas, organize, and keep track of deliverables for everything Imani At Home related. I love the endless template options and the IOS widget, which is great for quick access to my content calendar on the go.

Configuring templates takes time, but the Down To Biz pack by Jules Acree is my jam! It has everything I need as a full-time content creator, and allows me to stay organized at all times. The Down To Biz pack is specifically for content creators or entrepreneurs, but the Design Your Year pack is excellent for individual planning and day-to-day task management.

Appointed Notebook

I've talked A LOT about my deep and dying love for Appointed - who knew a purchase I made in 2017 would profoundly affect my life five years later? I take the signature notebook everywhere because hand-written to-do list and doodling in the margins brings me joy! I recently switched to the grid style because nothing motivates me more than coloring in little boxes with my all time favorite pen.

Also, Appointed has FREE downloadable pages for everything from time-blocking to meal prep planning and they’re based right here in Washington, DC! Use code IMANIATHOME for 15% off any product. 

Google Calendar

The 'newest edition" to my success trinity is an updated Google Calendar. All last year, I struggled to finish tasks because I planned everything in Notion but did not set aside time to actually do the work. But, I was inspired by Alexis Barber and Rowena Tsai, and decided to jazz up my calendar with my brand colors. This is where I carve out time to plan, film, and edit everything for the biz while also setting aside time for a manicures & therapy!

I split my week into creation days and potato days (s/o to Jules), to determine if I must put on real pants or get to wear cute loungewear all day. Potato days are for admin, finance, and scheduling, while Content days are when I physically create the DIY videos you see on Instagram.

I'm a one-person band, so planning time to send invoices is just as important as going to Home Depot to purchase DIY supplies because one supports the other. However, to support my ADHD brain, I”ve made a few lifestyle tweaks that help me I remain mentally healthy, and here they are...

Leaving My House

My house is my work, and my work is my house, which creates so much stress. So at least 2x/week, I pack up my Telfeezy and take my electric scooter to a coffee shop or hotel to work for a few hours. Getting out of this space helps me think about the task at hand and not get distracted by Salazar or the dishes in the sink.

Working Out

I've been hitting Organe Theory and my beginner pilates classes with Isa Welly for the better part of 3 months, and it's doing great things for my physical wellness, but it's also doing great things for my brain. The mental fortitude that comes with pushing through on the treadmill for 23 minutes is the same discipline it takes to conceptualize, shoot and edit a within a 24-hour turnaround.  

Call A Friend

It is easier for me to work next to a friend than to sit in my dining room alone, so if I need an energy boost, I'll invite a friend over for a co-working date or meet at a coffee shop to work together. This allows me to be in a community with others, so my mental well-being is taken care of, but it also gives me a chance to talk with another person and bounce ideas.

Seek Therapy & Adjust Your Mindset

The hardest part about living with ADHD, especially when you go undiagnosed for years, is that it warps your mind into thinking you're a failure when you just needed a to-do list and appropriate stimulate to help you out. For years, I struggled with feeling like my brain was working against my abilities, only to find out that my brain simply needs different tools in order to get things done. Since working with a therapist, I constantly work to interpret negative self talk and adjust my perception of what success looks like.

Now that I'm armed with therapy, Notion, my notebooks, and a bomb calendar, I have what I need to succeed, and I hope this helps you too. Please share this post with anyone who might find this helpful & comment with your thoughts below.

xoxo, Imani

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