Why Bullet Journaling May Not Work for Those with ADHD
Have you ever heard of bullet journaling? It’s a popular way to organize your thoughts, schedule, and goals in a visually appealing manner. However, what works for some may not work for others, especially for those with ADHD. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the negatives of bullet journaling for individuals with ADHD.
The Overwhelming Amount of Information
One of the biggest challenges of bullet journaling for ADHD individuals is the overwhelming amount of information that needs to be processed. While organizing your tasks and goals is great, it can create a sense of overload that can be especially difficult for those with ADHD. With multiple pages dedicated to different tasks and goals, a bullet journal can make you feel scattered and disorganized, which can make it difficult for ADHD individuals to stay focused and on-task.
Regular reviews to sift through what is important and what is just noise is very important. Try to review what you have written down every two to three days to keep yourself from being overwhelmed. Make good use of a Someday/Maybe spread, where you can put things you don’t want to throw out but you aren’t ready (or may never be ready) to act on.
The Perfectionism and Overthinking Trap
Another negative aspect of bullet journaling for ADHD individuals is the potential for perfectionism and overthinking. While striving for organization and productivity is great, perfectionism can be detrimental to our mental health. ADHD individuals may have a tendency to overthink and obsess over the details of their bullet journal, leading to a sense of paralysis and procrastination. This can be counterproductive to the purpose of the bullet journal, which is to help individuals stay organized and on-task.
Use a pencil and eraser if occasional poor handwriting bothers you or if you need to make changes to your calendar. I’m a fan of correction tape and washi tape.
The Time-Consuming Nature of Bullet Journaling
Bullet journaling can be time-consuming, which can be overwhelming for those with ADHD, who may have difficulty sustaining attention and focus for long periods of time. Additionally, the time-consuming nature of bullet journaling can take away from other important activities, such as self-care and socialization.
Stay out of the pretty bullet journal rabbit holes on social media. Minimalist is more efficient, and, most importantly, does not overwhelm busy brains. I like to switch up things with different pens and the occasional sticker, but I only use washi tape to mark the edges of pages. For example, I run washi tape along the long edge of each month so they are easy to flip to. I use a paper clip to mark my current day. I will use a small piece of washi tape to mark important spreads that I reference often. But nothing more.
The Lack of Flexibility and Accessibility
While some individuals may benefit from the flexibility and adaptability of a bullet journal, others may find it difficult to create structure and routine in their day-to-day life. ADHD individuals may benefit from a more structured system, such as a planner or calendar, which provides clear guidelines and expectations for daily tasks and goals. Additionally, the lack of accessibility and cost of supplies and materials can be prohibitive for some individuals.
Use what works for you. I like structured and guided planners, but I get bored. So I like to hop back and forth from a Panda Planner to a bullet journal and then to an Evo Planner. Each lasts me about 3 months and the rotation is enough to keep me from getting bored. The prompts and routines that the Panda and Evo Planners give me are helpful, but after a while I need to switch up, so I move to a bullet journal and write out my own prompts.
Bottom line — do what works best for you.
Conclusion
While bullet journaling can be a great tool for some individuals, it may not be the best fit for everyone, especially for those with ADHD. It’s important to find a system that works for your individual needs and preferences. Whether it’s a planner, calendar, or other organizational tool, finding a system that is accessible, flexible, and adaptable can help you stay organized and on-task.
Howling Yeti 
Leave a comment