When we think about productivity, we often think of ourselves in terms of the word ‘busy’, because this is seen in some circles as being successful. The freelance writer Sian Meades Williams, who has just released the long awaited The Pyjama Myth, has several passages in the book about this very subject; Emma Gannon has also analysed the impact of things such as office environments and set ups on our productivity too. However, we do very often fail to take into account that productivity - which much of our working lives is devoted to - can differ from individual to individual.
If you are Neurodivergent, you might find that having to work in certain environments is extremely hard and stressful, especially if you have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) You may well experience other challenges that impact productivity, such as executive functioning. This can make the sequencing of tasks, as well as starting and finishing them, quite difficult.
Everyone is different and has different needs and different ways of completing tasks. That being said, while there is often a lot of discussions of productivity methods, very few take into account how suitable they are from a Neurodivergent perspective. We hope this list gives you some ideas on whether these methods could work for you.
You may have seen a few freelancers on social media recently speaking to how great this method can be! In essence, you choose the task you need to complete; set a time limit of 25 minutes. Work until the timer has finished, and take a break for 5 minutes. Complete four sets, and then have a longer break! You can find a premade Pomodoro routine in the Tiimo App.
Pros: The Pomodoro Technique is particularly beneficial during periods of hyperfocus, acting as an effective tool to set healthy time boundaries. Hyperfocusing, while productive, can lead to overlooking basic self-care like eating or taking bathroom breaks. This method serves as a crucial reminder to allocate time for essential personal care.
Cons: The 25-minute work interval might feel extensive for some individuals. If you find that shorter work periods enhance your productivity, exploring alternatives to the Pomodoro Technique could be more suitable.
The bullet journal method was actually created by someone who is Neurodivergent! (Bet you didn’t expect that!) This is a method used to catalogue information in a notebook, in order to plot the future and the present. This is the practice of mindfulness, wrapped up as a system to help you be organised and live your most productive life! And it doesn’t have to be that elaborate, either.
Pros: The beauty of the Bullet Journal method lies in its adaptability; it's entirely up to you. While it follows some basic principles for information organization, it's highly individualized for each user. Simple in its requirements, you just need a pen, a notebook, and perhaps a ruler. It's flexible in terms of time investment and also considers the challenges of executive functioning.
Cons: The Bullet Journal approach may require time before its benefits become apparent, and some may find its structure a bit rigid. From personal experience, I switched back to a Filofax, as I found Bullet Journaling challenging. Additionally, there's a tendency to focus more on crafting aesthetically pleasing journal layouts rather than on the actual tasks at hand.
Visual prompts are exactly what they sound like: using things you can see to remind you to do something or help you function better. For example, you might stick a list of daily tasks on your bedroom wall, put your weekly meal plan on the fridge, or keep a notepad by your bed to jot down morning reminders.
Pros: This method is really helpful if you tend to forget things, which can happen for those who are Neurodivergent. Putting these visual reminders in places where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom or living room, can make a big difference. Since everyone's memory works differently, having these visual cues can be a big help.
Cons: However, this approach does require you to follow through with what the prompts tell you. If you find it hard to maintain a routine or organize tasks in order, this might be challenging. One way to make it easier is to write out your daily plan, including specific times and places for activities like meals, and stick it somewhere you'll see it often.
The SMART goals method is an effective approach for setting goals, particularly useful for detailed and structured planning. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method involves defining your goal with precision, ensuring it's quantifiable, realistic, pertinent to your objectives, and set within a defined timeframe. This structured approach helps in breaking down larger goals into manageable steps, making it easier to focus and track progress.
Pros:
Cons:
The SMART goals method, while beneficial in many respects, requires a balanced approach. It's important to remain flexible and adjust your goals as needed. This method can be particularly advantageous for those who benefit from a structured approach to planning and task execution. However, it's crucial to be mindful of the potential drawbacks, such as rigidity and the temptation to focus too much on planning at the expense of action. For Neurodivergent individuals, adapting this method to suit personal needs and working styles can make it a valuable tool for achieving both short-term and long-term objectives.
In today's fast-paced world, it seems like everyone uses a planner. The market is flooded with options, ranging from the Passion Planner and Filofax to the classic appointment diary. These planners come in various formats and styles, each designed to cater to different planning needs and preferences. They can be a crucial tool in managing your daily life, keeping track of appointments, and setting goals.
Pros:
Cons:
Everyone's needs and preferences vary greatly, so you might find that certain productivity methods work better for you than others. It may also depend on the nature of the task at hand. For instance, the Pomodoro Technique might be great for getting through household chores, while the SMART method could be more effective for tracking long-term goals.
Experiment with different methods and combinations to find what suits you best. Share your experiences with us in the comments on our Instagram or Twitter posts. But remember, productivity isn't a constant state. It’s perfectly normal to have 'off' days, weeks, or even longer periods. It’s important to recognize and accept these fluctuations as part of your productivity journey.
Lydia is an Autistic UK-based journalist. She is particularly passionate about disability and social justice issues. She is also the author of the Autism Friendly cook book which will be out in November 2022. You can find her blog and newsletter here
When we think about productivity, we often think of ourselves in terms of the word ‘busy’, because this is seen in some circles as being successful. The freelance writer Sian Meades Williams, who has just released the long awaited The Pyjama Myth, has several passages in the book about this very subject; Emma Gannon has also analysed the impact of things such as office environments and set ups on our productivity too. However, we do very often fail to take into account that productivity - which much of our working lives is devoted to - can differ from individual to individual.
If you are Neurodivergent, you might find that having to work in certain environments is extremely hard and stressful, especially if you have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) You may well experience other challenges that impact productivity, such as executive functioning. This can make the sequencing of tasks, as well as starting and finishing them, quite difficult.
Everyone is different and has different needs and different ways of completing tasks. That being said, while there is often a lot of discussions of productivity methods, very few take into account how suitable they are from a Neurodivergent perspective. We hope this list gives you some ideas on whether these methods could work for you.
You may have seen a few freelancers on social media recently speaking to how great this method can be! In essence, you choose the task you need to complete; set a time limit of 25 minutes. Work until the timer has finished, and take a break for 5 minutes. Complete four sets, and then have a longer break! You can find a premade Pomodoro routine in the Tiimo App.
Pros: The Pomodoro Technique is particularly beneficial during periods of hyperfocus, acting as an effective tool to set healthy time boundaries. Hyperfocusing, while productive, can lead to overlooking basic self-care like eating or taking bathroom breaks. This method serves as a crucial reminder to allocate time for essential personal care.
Cons: The 25-minute work interval might feel extensive for some individuals. If you find that shorter work periods enhance your productivity, exploring alternatives to the Pomodoro Technique could be more suitable.
The bullet journal method was actually created by someone who is Neurodivergent! (Bet you didn’t expect that!) This is a method used to catalogue information in a notebook, in order to plot the future and the present. This is the practice of mindfulness, wrapped up as a system to help you be organised and live your most productive life! And it doesn’t have to be that elaborate, either.
Pros: The beauty of the Bullet Journal method lies in its adaptability; it's entirely up to you. While it follows some basic principles for information organization, it's highly individualized for each user. Simple in its requirements, you just need a pen, a notebook, and perhaps a ruler. It's flexible in terms of time investment and also considers the challenges of executive functioning.
Cons: The Bullet Journal approach may require time before its benefits become apparent, and some may find its structure a bit rigid. From personal experience, I switched back to a Filofax, as I found Bullet Journaling challenging. Additionally, there's a tendency to focus more on crafting aesthetically pleasing journal layouts rather than on the actual tasks at hand.
Visual prompts are exactly what they sound like: using things you can see to remind you to do something or help you function better. For example, you might stick a list of daily tasks on your bedroom wall, put your weekly meal plan on the fridge, or keep a notepad by your bed to jot down morning reminders.
Pros: This method is really helpful if you tend to forget things, which can happen for those who are Neurodivergent. Putting these visual reminders in places where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom or living room, can make a big difference. Since everyone's memory works differently, having these visual cues can be a big help.
Cons: However, this approach does require you to follow through with what the prompts tell you. If you find it hard to maintain a routine or organize tasks in order, this might be challenging. One way to make it easier is to write out your daily plan, including specific times and places for activities like meals, and stick it somewhere you'll see it often.
The SMART goals method is an effective approach for setting goals, particularly useful for detailed and structured planning. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method involves defining your goal with precision, ensuring it's quantifiable, realistic, pertinent to your objectives, and set within a defined timeframe. This structured approach helps in breaking down larger goals into manageable steps, making it easier to focus and track progress.
Pros:
Cons:
The SMART goals method, while beneficial in many respects, requires a balanced approach. It's important to remain flexible and adjust your goals as needed. This method can be particularly advantageous for those who benefit from a structured approach to planning and task execution. However, it's crucial to be mindful of the potential drawbacks, such as rigidity and the temptation to focus too much on planning at the expense of action. For Neurodivergent individuals, adapting this method to suit personal needs and working styles can make it a valuable tool for achieving both short-term and long-term objectives.
In today's fast-paced world, it seems like everyone uses a planner. The market is flooded with options, ranging from the Passion Planner and Filofax to the classic appointment diary. These planners come in various formats and styles, each designed to cater to different planning needs and preferences. They can be a crucial tool in managing your daily life, keeping track of appointments, and setting goals.
Pros:
Cons:
Everyone's needs and preferences vary greatly, so you might find that certain productivity methods work better for you than others. It may also depend on the nature of the task at hand. For instance, the Pomodoro Technique might be great for getting through household chores, while the SMART method could be more effective for tracking long-term goals.
Experiment with different methods and combinations to find what suits you best. Share your experiences with us in the comments on our Instagram or Twitter posts. But remember, productivity isn't a constant state. It’s perfectly normal to have 'off' days, weeks, or even longer periods. It’s important to recognize and accept these fluctuations as part of your productivity journey.
Lydia is an Autistic UK-based journalist. She is particularly passionate about disability and social justice issues. She is also the author of the Autism Friendly cook book which will be out in November 2022. You can find her blog and newsletter here
When we think about productivity, we often think of ourselves in terms of the word ‘busy’, because this is seen in some circles as being successful. The freelance writer Sian Meades Williams, who has just released the long awaited The Pyjama Myth, has several passages in the book about this very subject; Emma Gannon has also analysed the impact of things such as office environments and set ups on our productivity too. However, we do very often fail to take into account that productivity - which much of our working lives is devoted to - can differ from individual to individual.
If you are Neurodivergent, you might find that having to work in certain environments is extremely hard and stressful, especially if you have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) You may well experience other challenges that impact productivity, such as executive functioning. This can make the sequencing of tasks, as well as starting and finishing them, quite difficult.
Everyone is different and has different needs and different ways of completing tasks. That being said, while there is often a lot of discussions of productivity methods, very few take into account how suitable they are from a Neurodivergent perspective. We hope this list gives you some ideas on whether these methods could work for you.
You may have seen a few freelancers on social media recently speaking to how great this method can be! In essence, you choose the task you need to complete; set a time limit of 25 minutes. Work until the timer has finished, and take a break for 5 minutes. Complete four sets, and then have a longer break! You can find a premade Pomodoro routine in the Tiimo App.
Pros: The Pomodoro Technique is particularly beneficial during periods of hyperfocus, acting as an effective tool to set healthy time boundaries. Hyperfocusing, while productive, can lead to overlooking basic self-care like eating or taking bathroom breaks. This method serves as a crucial reminder to allocate time for essential personal care.
Cons: The 25-minute work interval might feel extensive for some individuals. If you find that shorter work periods enhance your productivity, exploring alternatives to the Pomodoro Technique could be more suitable.
The bullet journal method was actually created by someone who is Neurodivergent! (Bet you didn’t expect that!) This is a method used to catalogue information in a notebook, in order to plot the future and the present. This is the practice of mindfulness, wrapped up as a system to help you be organised and live your most productive life! And it doesn’t have to be that elaborate, either.
Pros: The beauty of the Bullet Journal method lies in its adaptability; it's entirely up to you. While it follows some basic principles for information organization, it's highly individualized for each user. Simple in its requirements, you just need a pen, a notebook, and perhaps a ruler. It's flexible in terms of time investment and also considers the challenges of executive functioning.
Cons: The Bullet Journal approach may require time before its benefits become apparent, and some may find its structure a bit rigid. From personal experience, I switched back to a Filofax, as I found Bullet Journaling challenging. Additionally, there's a tendency to focus more on crafting aesthetically pleasing journal layouts rather than on the actual tasks at hand.
Visual prompts are exactly what they sound like: using things you can see to remind you to do something or help you function better. For example, you might stick a list of daily tasks on your bedroom wall, put your weekly meal plan on the fridge, or keep a notepad by your bed to jot down morning reminders.
Pros: This method is really helpful if you tend to forget things, which can happen for those who are Neurodivergent. Putting these visual reminders in places where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom or living room, can make a big difference. Since everyone's memory works differently, having these visual cues can be a big help.
Cons: However, this approach does require you to follow through with what the prompts tell you. If you find it hard to maintain a routine or organize tasks in order, this might be challenging. One way to make it easier is to write out your daily plan, including specific times and places for activities like meals, and stick it somewhere you'll see it often.
The SMART goals method is an effective approach for setting goals, particularly useful for detailed and structured planning. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This method involves defining your goal with precision, ensuring it's quantifiable, realistic, pertinent to your objectives, and set within a defined timeframe. This structured approach helps in breaking down larger goals into manageable steps, making it easier to focus and track progress.
Pros:
Cons:
The SMART goals method, while beneficial in many respects, requires a balanced approach. It's important to remain flexible and adjust your goals as needed. This method can be particularly advantageous for those who benefit from a structured approach to planning and task execution. However, it's crucial to be mindful of the potential drawbacks, such as rigidity and the temptation to focus too much on planning at the expense of action. For Neurodivergent individuals, adapting this method to suit personal needs and working styles can make it a valuable tool for achieving both short-term and long-term objectives.
In today's fast-paced world, it seems like everyone uses a planner. The market is flooded with options, ranging from the Passion Planner and Filofax to the classic appointment diary. These planners come in various formats and styles, each designed to cater to different planning needs and preferences. They can be a crucial tool in managing your daily life, keeping track of appointments, and setting goals.
Pros:
Cons:
Everyone's needs and preferences vary greatly, so you might find that certain productivity methods work better for you than others. It may also depend on the nature of the task at hand. For instance, the Pomodoro Technique might be great for getting through household chores, while the SMART method could be more effective for tracking long-term goals.
Experiment with different methods and combinations to find what suits you best. Share your experiences with us in the comments on our Instagram or Twitter posts. But remember, productivity isn't a constant state. It’s perfectly normal to have 'off' days, weeks, or even longer periods. It’s important to recognize and accept these fluctuations as part of your productivity journey.
Lydia is an Autistic UK-based journalist. She is particularly passionate about disability and social justice issues. She is also the author of the Autism Friendly cook book which will be out in November 2022. You can find her blog and newsletter here
Get started with Tiimo’s innovative, neuroinclusive planning tools with guidance from Inclusion and Belonging Lead, Beaux. This course covers Tiimo’s core iOS features, showing you how to organize tasks, schedule reminders, and focus your day visually. Created with neurodivergent folks in mind, Tiimo makes planning intuitive, flexible, and fun by breaking down tasks, building routines, and customizing reminders with colors, icons, and visuals. Discover how Tiimo’s tools can help you manage your day more effectively, whether it’s for work, study, or daily self-care.
Discover the transformative power of body doubling with Tiimo's Inclusion and Belonging Lead, Beaux. This course explores the science and practical applications of body doubling, or working alongside another person or group to enhance focus and productivity. Designed for neurodivergent folks, this course offers strategies to use body doubling for various tasks, from work and study to self care and daily chores. Learn how to create supportive environments that improves task initiation, completion, and overall productivity.
.png)
Tiimo for web is here, bringing all the planning tools you love to your desktop with a bigger, easier-to-use layout. Seamlessly synced with the mobile app, Tiimo for web makes organizing your week simple and keeps you focused, wherever you plan.
