This Planning Hack Changed Everything (Especially for ADHD Moms!)

 

Let me tell you a secret. I don’t plan with feelings, themes, or vibes. My ADHD brain doesn’t work that way.

The Problem: Why Traditional Planning Didn't Work for Me

Most planners assume you function in a straight line: list it, schedule it, tick it off. But my brain? It works in spirals, loops, and leaps. I'd write plans only to abandon them two days later because the system didn't fit me. My energy, focus, and responsibilities shift daily - and no rigid schedule could keep up. 

And then I figured, I need to see the thing.

It could be a book, a printable, a basket of manipulatives, even a single toy or sticker sheet — and my brain starts building the day around it. The learning flow, the conversation starters, the possible tangents — they all come alive after my brain sees the item in front of me.

That’s why this one planning tip has changed everything for me as a homeschool mom:

👉 Physically pull out the materials the night before.

Not just writing it in your planner. Not listing “science experiment” or “read-aloud time.” I mean, actually pulling the book off the shelf. Printing the worksheet. Laying out the math blocks or map puzzle, or lapbook pieces.

Because when you’re an ADHD mom, “mental clutter” is real — and it’s usually louder than any planner.

But if I walk into the homeschool nook and see our materials already arranged — no guessing, no hunting, no decisions to make — I don’t get derailed. I stay on track. My brain relaxes. And best of all? Zac responds better, too. The day flows more peacefully because I’m not flustered.

The Tools I Use:

• A notebook or an actual lesson planner! Just to write down my thoughts and maybe the lesson flow. I also write down the little things that I might forget during the lesson.

• Colorful sticky notes for labeling the materials i.e., for what subject and what topic. Or even when to use them during the course of the lesson. 

• Colored pens. Because color makes my ADHD brain happy! 

Why it works:

Visual cue = instant focus

Seeing the materials kicks my brain into action faster than rereading a to-do list. Plus, the colors make my brain excited! 

Reduces decision fatigue

Everything’s ready. No “What are we doing today?” stress at 8 a.m. or whatever time it is I get up. 

Energizes your morning self

That future version of you? The one trying to function on four hours of sleep and reheated coffee? She’s going to thank you.

ADHD Bonus:

This system gives you just enough structure to function without feeling boxed in. You still get the creative freedom to adapt the lesson as it unfolds, but without the chaos of starting from scratch.

Try this tonight:

Pick one subject for tomorrow. Pull out the actual materials. Put them where you can’t miss them — your desk, the homeschool shelf, or even the kitchen table. Watch how your morning shifts.

You’re not lazy. You’re not scattered. You just need your environment to work with your brain.

And with one small change, it can.