Author: Jenna

Jenna Volden has a degree in business and has spent the last 10 plus years working for others. She believes it is time to start her own photography and writing business. She enjoys running, coffee and helping others achieve their goals. Gluten-free foods are a lifestyle, not a choice, for her due to celiac disease. She is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona.

How to Capture Your Family Adventures

Posted on by Jenna

You love heading out for family adventures but aren’t sure how to best capture those memories.

You’ve tried getting good photos of little Tommy running down the hiking path but it’s blurry or the sun is blowing everything out. You’ve tried and decided it’s not going to happen. You will never capture all those fun memories. 

Hopefully, this guide will help you build your confidence and get better photos of your adventures! 

*Please note links are Amazon Associate links and I may earn a commission.

You won’t become an expert overnight. It does take time and practice to build up your skills. But I know if you practice, your photos will be amazing and you will be proud to show them off on Facebook to your friends and family!

Adventure photography falls under the travel genre but tends to capture outdoor action. Professional adventure photographers may take photos of rock climbing, skiing, or whitewater rafting where you are probably looking to capture your hikes, kayaking, or other family friendly activities.

Learn

The first thing you need to do is learn your equipment. If you are using your cell phone, get familiar with all the settings or different modes available. Practice around the house. If you want to capture action, like your kids, make sure to practice with them at home or even your pet. Kids and pets are always moving!

If you have a DSLR, mirrorless, or GoPro camera, pull up the guide online or search for youtube videos and really get to know the camera and what settings you may want to use. 

I would also suggest getting a tripod. I use a PlatyPod with a cell phone holder. This will allow you to get into the photos too!

Plan

This might be the most important step, the planning.

First, you will want to plan your family adventures. Pick where you want to go and what you want to do. Think about the where, when, and who. Start looking at other images and get ideas of what you want to capture. Put together a shot list. 

Tell

You want to tell a story. Pretend you are putting together a magazine story about your adventure. What would you show? Your “cover image” is the one image that will show where you are. Take a moment to look around and find what would best represent your story.

You can show the human experience of being surrounded by nature and beautiful scenery, the highs and lows of adventures. Because we all know there are lows, even on the best trips! The best way to do this is to show emotion. If your son is struggling to climb a large boulder, capture his intense concentration and once he conquers it, show how proud he is to have made it! 

If you are on a week-long camping trip, take the first couple of days to observe your surroundings and how your family interacts. Make a note of what you’ve observed and how you want to capture it. Be intentional. 

Tips

  • Composition
    • Use leading lines. A hiking path is perfect for this!
    • Look for small details like a close up of a flower
    • Use trees or arches as a frame for your subject
    • Go high or low, don’t shoot at eye level. We are all used to that viewpoint
  • Lighting
    • Know where the sun is, often times it’s best to have it behind you while shooting
    • You can also stand in the shade and shoot out, or have your subjects stand in shade. Experiment! You can preview on your camera. 
    • Don’t be discouraged by cloudy, overcast days. They are perfect for getting moody photos!
  • Point of View
    • Use people to show scale. A person standing next to a redwood will show just how LARGE they really are!
    • Show your point of view to really put the audience there
      • The front of your kayak in water
      • Looking out the door of your tent
    • Try to capture a variety of perspectives. Shoot things wide and close up

Go on adventures, enjoy yourself, and take photos. 

What family adventures do you have planned? Will you put some of these ideas into practice on your next adventure? I’d love to know where you are going next!

Cafe Noir | July 2024

Posted on by Jenna

July was a slower month for me and I only read three books. I focused on non-fiction this month and improving my skills. What did you read in July?

How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck by Steve Stockman
☕☕☕☕☕ / 5

Although this was more directed at people making movies or capturing their family events, I took a lot away from it for my own videos. It was very easy to read and flowed really well. You could also skip around and find the sections you need at the moment. It felt like a friend was teaching you how to do video. 

The ideas were well stated and easy to implement. I found it to be useful and would recommend to someont that wants to improve their videos. 

How to Make Money While You Are Sleeping by Rick Sammon
☕☕☕☕☕ / 5

I may be a bit biased, but I do really love all of Rick Sammon’s books. This one is no different! It was easy to read and I learned a lot about different passive income and most of the ideas would be easy to implement. He also used other photographers to help fill in his knowledge gaps.

I took a lot away from this book and thought it was very useful. I would recommend to photographers looking to get into more passive income. 

Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna
Audiobook read by Kathleen Hanna
☕☕☕☕☕ / 5

I realized my non-fiction book review system doesn’t work as well with memoirs but I tried! I listened to the audiobook and it was so easy to listen to and flowed very well. Since it’s an autobiography, it’s easy for her to be an expert of her own story. I thought she did a great job putting together her stories and getting her thoughts/reflections on the stories across well.

I LOVED this audiobook and having the author read it was perfection. I almost finished it in one day! I did not want to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a fan of Kathleen Hanna or the Riot Grrl movement. 

How to Write Fiction Book Reviews

Posted on by Jenna

Have you ever finished a really great (or maybe really bad) book and wanted to write an objective fiction book review?

That’s how I felt when I started receiving more ARCs (advanced reader copies). I wanted to really put thought into my review and give it a fair rating. I didn’t have a system, but I tried. My fiction book reviews still weren’t that good. Then, I saw a YouTube video about the CAWPILE system. I was intrigued and looked into it more. The math seemed needlessly complicated. 

I wanted something simpler.

I googled and then googled some more and finally came across SPECS. There weren’t many sources for SPECS, so I’ve taken the original method and adjusted it a bit over time. I like SPECS because you divide your total by five to get your star rating, which is great since we use a five-star rating.

What is SPECS?

SPECS stands for Setting, Plot, Engagement, Characters, and Style. I use the questions below to generate a few thoughts for my review. 

Setting
Where does the story take place? How good of a job does the author do with world-building or creating lore? Would you want to see this as a TV show or movie?

Plot
What is the story and conflict? How were the hooks or twists? How is the pacing, and did the climax happen at the right time?  Was the conflict resolved? 

Engagement
Did you enjoy the story? Did the author follow accepted genre tropes? How was the theme?

Characters
Who are the main characters? Do they have depth and personality? Did the characters grow or change? How was their arc?

Style
How was the writing? Did the author use relatable dialogue? How was the narrator or point of view? Did the book flow well?

Once I have answered the questions, I rate each category on a scale of 1 to 5. Below is how I determine what rating each section deserves.

1 – nothing hit well

2 – one or two things were great, but the rest were not

3 – average across the board

4 – most was done well, but something wasn’t quite there

5 – everything hits just right

Once I have all my ratings, I add them up, divide them by five, and have my overall rating! You will still get a fraction most of the time, so I use two rounding scales: Goodreads and Storygraph. 

Goodreads

0 – 1.4 1

1.5 – 2.4 2

2.5 – 3.4 3

3.5 – 4.4 4

4.5 – 5 5

Storygraph (using 2 as the starting number for simplicity)

.85 – .14 2.0

.15 – .44 2.25

.45 – .64 2.5

.65 – .84 2.75

.85 – .14 3.0

I find using SPECS and the questions for each category makes it easier for me to be objective and write good fiction book reviews. I put together my rating scale and star ratings to keep them consistent.

How do you write your book reviews? Do you have a system? Be sure to let me know! I’m always looking for ways to improve my system. 

Will the Simple Elephant Planner Work for ADHD?

Posted on by Jenna

They say an elephant never forgets. Is it because they use the Simple Elephant Planner?

simple elephant planner

I found the Simple Elephant Planner on a list of planners for ADHD and found it on Amazon. It’s currently available for $7.75 to $9.99, depending on color choice. This is a great price point and not a huge investment if you want to give it a try. 

All links are Amazon Associate links. I may earn a commission. 

What’s Included

  • About Page
  • Small sheet of icon stickers
  • Black elastic closure and pen loop
  • Vegan leather cover with stamped elephant imprint
  • Back cover pocket
  • 3 ribbon bookmarks
  • 110 gsm, off-white paper

The first four pages are your prep pages. You have a two-page spread titled “My Focus”. The left side has space for affirmations and gratitude, while the right-hand side has a place for five goals. You could also use the space for goals in five areas of life. You also get a mindmap and vision board spread.

simple elephant planner

Next, we move into the 12 monthly spreads. Yes, the 12 months are all at the front of the planner. Across the top, you can fill in the date and year and have one line for goals. I guess you have to pick just one for a monthly focus. There is a nice lined notes column, perfect for monthly tasks or action steps. 

The month’s pages start on Sunday. You only get five rows or weeks, so you may not always have room for the last one or two days of the month. 

After the monthly spreads, you have 52 horizontal weekly spreads. At the top, you have room for weekly goals. It’s larger than the monthly one, so you can put a few in there. Monday through Wednesday are below the goals. On the next side, you have a box for success and what I can do better, followed by the rest of the week. Saturday and Sunday split the space. 

There are a few things I don’t like about the weekly spread. I tend to have more tasks on Saturdays and Sundays, so I hate when planners give them less space. I would have preferred the success and do better boxes to be at the bottom of the second page. 

The what can I do better wording is negative. I’d like to see something more positive, like adjustments or changes. It’s a minor thing, but I think the connotations of words can have a big impact on if we continue to use something. 

The weekly spreads randomly place an elephant in the corner to remind you to check that you are on track to complete your goals. I looked for the first four elephants, which were randomly placed at four weeks, five weeks, six weeks, and three weeks. 

At the back of the planner, you have 56 note pages. These are great for keeping all your notes and plans together. You can use one for each week and track whatever you need. Maybe the first week you need to write out your shopping list, then the next week you have a lot of action steps for goal work to keep track of, and then after that, you are planning for a big birthday party and need the space for planning. 

What do we think about the Simple Elephant planner?

You cannot beat the price point. For under $10, you can have a simple, portable planner. It’s simple and straightforward, with no bells and whistles or a lot of extras you don’t need. You also get three ribbon bookmarks, which are great for keeping in the current month, week, and note section. 

The off-white paper may not be your jam, and the planner spreads could be improved.

Will it work for someone with ADHD?

It’s not for me, but others may consider it a great planner. The simple design can help you focus, while the little elephant can be a great reminder to go back and look at those goals you set! You basically get a notebook in the back and can make those whatever you need them to be. And if you try it and it’s not for you, you are only out $10 or less!

What do you think of the Simple Elephant Planner? Would you pick it up?

How to Find Mindfulness in Nature

Posted on by Jenna

There is just something about spending time in nature that really makes you feel better. Why not get even more benefits by practicing mindfulness in nature? The rewards are worth it.

mindfulness in nature

Getting outside and doing mindfulness activities can help you feel more invigorated and present in your everyday life. Spending an hour in nature each week can also help us relax, reduce our stress, and improve our mood. 

But how can we practice mindfulness?

Ready to step into nature and embrace mindfulness? Here are three simple yet effective ways to get started.

  1. Nature walk – pick a place that inspires you, and you can wander aimlessly. A local park or trail system would be the perfect location. As you wander, look for a spot where you can spend a moment to connect with nature. Find a place to stand or sit, like a big boulder, fallen tree, or even just a nice patch of grass, and start to notice what’s around you. What do you feel? See? Hear? Touch? I won’t suggest taste. 😂 If you feel like it, bring a notebook with you and journal about your experience.
  2. Sit and Listen – find a spot away from noise pollution and people (if possible). This one is pretty easy: sit and listen to the world around you. What do you hear? The birds chirping? The wind in the trees? If your thoughts start to wander, pause, acknowledge them, and let them go. If you want to journal after you’ve listened for a bit, pull out your notebook. You could also bring a sketchbook to draw the scene.
  3. Keep it at home – this is for those little moments when you can’t go wander/sit in nature for an hour. If you have time in the morning, take your coffee, and only your coffee, outside and sip while you watch the sunrise or listen to the world come alive. Leave your thoughts and stressors in the house. You can also spend time in your backyard doing stretches or yoga while noticing the breeze and leaves rustling. Is yoga not your thing? Take your journal or sketchbook out back and write or draw what you see and hear. 
mindfulness in nature

Finding mindfulness in nature doesn’t have to be extravagant or time-consuming. You could find a park in your neighborhood and sit and listen. Yes, you may hear some cars or your neighbors, but put those out of your mind and focus on grounding and centering yourself. It’s about finding peace in the simple moments. 

Having your coffee on the porch for 15 minutes each morning will give you over an hour and a half of time outside. On the weekdays, you can do something simple and short around your house and neighborhood, and then on the weekend, head out to a trail or larger park and put in a longer session.

Do you take your mindfulness practice outdoors? What is your favorite way to connect with Mother Nature?

Cafe Noir | June 2024

Posted on by Jenna

June was a slower month for me. I only read three books instead of four, but they were all focused on improving my skill sets! I find that if I read more nonfiction, I tend to read less, as it takes me longer to finish them. I always want to make sure I understand the concept and take any notes I may want to reference later. 

What did you read in June? Do you find you take longer with nonfiction books?

Anatomy of Running by Philip Striano

☕☕☕☕ / 5

I was disappointed in this one, but it was still well-written and easy to understand. I was expecting more about the actual running anatomy, but this was a glorified book of stretches with some strength exercises. Even though the writer seemed knowledgeable, I won’t reference this book in the future because I already know all the information presented. 

Even though I gave it four stars, I would not recommend it. The info can be found easily online (or you may already know it).

Course Design Formula by Rebecca Frost Cuevas

☕☕☕☕ / 5

I thought this book was easy to read and understand. The author presents her ideas clearly and in a logical order. The author clearly has an agenda: they want you to use their system and other paid options. Some might find it useful if they’re making a paid course, which is not my intention. 

Overall, it was fairly easy to understand. However, a few parts weren’t as clear, and I had to reread them. I liked how the author repeated previous concepts to build on your knowledge base. I did take a lot away from this book and will implement several concepts.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in creating a course or, in my case, a video series.

Outlining Your Novel by KM Weiland

☕☕☕☕☕ / 5

Overall, this book was pretty much perfect! It was easy to follow and presented in a way that made sense. The author used many examples to demonstrate her point. The author was biased in that you should be outlining your novel and not pantsing, but that’s the entire point of the book.

It was easy to follow each step or stage, and I have already started implementing some if the steps. I loved this book and found it very useful. I will definitely reference or re-read this one in the future, and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

I would recommend this book if you are interested in writing novels and not really sure where to begin.

How to Stay Safe in Summer Heat

Posted on by Jenna

We all love heading out to the trails when the weather gets warmer. After hibernating all winter and avoiding a rainy, muddy spring, the summer heat feels good on our skin!

summer heat

But the summer heat can be dangerous.

I always see people say things like, “I’m an expert; I can go out at 2 pm in 120 degrees and hike for hours because I take my 16.9 oz bottle of water!”. Yes, I’m an expert hiker, too, but I’m not dumb. The desert doesn’t care if you’re an expert. You need to respect mother nature and know that even though you’re an “expert,” shit can still happen.

And it does.

How can you stay safe and still get outside this summer heat?

  • Plan your route and let someone know your plan. Use a program like Strava Safety Beacon to let them know your location. Some will even alert if you haven’t moved in a certain amount of time.
  • Go out early (or late). The earlier, the better. Plan to be done before 9 a.m. If you can’t get out early, start after 7 p.m.
  • Wear light-colored, lightweight, breathable clothing. Sweat-wicking is best. Cover as much as you can with long sleeves and pants. Put on a hat. And don’t forget sunscreen for any exposed skin.
  • Be sure to stay hydrated. Start before you go out with a glass of water. During your activity, sip water every 15-20 minutes. I keep it simple when running/hiking and sip every mile. Supplement with electrolytes if you plan to be out for 60 minutes or more. And don’t forget to drink water after you get done.
  • Before you get halfway through your water, turn around (if on out and back). You don’t want to run out of water and still be miles from your house/car!
  • Go slower than your usual pace.
  • Take rests as needed in shaded areas.
  • And if you get too warm, cutting it short is okay. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

You can still spend time outdoors; take the dangers of summer seriously. Heat illness can come on quickly and surprise even the most experienced hikers. Know how to stay safe.

How do you stay cool in the summer?

hero's planner

Will the Hero’s Planner work for someone with ADHD?

Posted on by Jenna

The newest product from the Hero’s Journal, the Hero’s Planner, is available in perfect or spiral bound for $79.99. While it may seem a bit on the pricey side, I assure you that the value it provides will outweigh the higher price point. 

hero's planner box

So, what exactly does the Hero’s Planner offer? Designed with the needs of individuals with ADHD in mind, it provides a comprehensive system to help you manage your time, tasks, and goals effectively. And you also get:

  • Stick on pen loop
  • Four (4) sticker sheets – 3 functional, 1 decorative
  • Elastic band closure
  • Folder in back
  • Ribbon bookmark

I do wish it came with two ribbon bookmarks. I like being able to mark the current month and week. It’s a minor thing in the long run, as I can also use clips or magnetic page markers. I like the included sticker sheets. They are bright and fun and would make me want to keep looking at my planner. 

If you’ve been around a while, you may remember the Hero’s Journal, which is a daily goals-focused version. It comes in different versions: space, magic, and fantasy/dragon. The Hero’s Planner is the weekly version with a dinosaur theme! Also, the pages are white, unlike the cream/yellow in the Hero’s Journal. 

Personally, I hate the cream/yellow and am super excited to see the white pages in the weekly planner!

As with many planners like this, there’s an intro section with instructions, and you get the story’s start, which will be carried through the planner. 

hero's planner

Now, we move into the planning parts and start with a year at a glance. On the left-hand side, you have seven boxes, and on the right, six, for a total of 13. You can set up each box as a month in the year and put in birthdays, appointments, or other future dates. You can also use them to set goals or track habits. With the page being mostly blank, you have a lot of freedom in setting up and using these boxes.

We have a pre-monthly checklist followed by our monthly calendar. I absolutely LOVE that the calendar has six rows, so you will never have to double updates until the end of the month. You get a few lines along the bottom and a dot grid side column. 

hero's planner

Moving into the weekly spreads, you get two pages per week. You get four weekly spreads. The left-hand side is a horizontal weekly spread with Monday through Sunday. There is room for a headline each day and five lines underneath. At the top is a habit’s icon key. You get five icons and a line. You can assign a habit to each icon, and then, on each day of the week, you can color in the icon as you complete the habit. 

The bottom has a fun drawing you can color in on the right-hand side, while the top is split into two columns. The first column has space to write in your main quest for the week and your to-dos and sidequests. You also get a quote. The other side has a dot grids notes section for whatever your heart desires!

Each month, the weekly spreads change just enough to keep it interesting and help you keep using it—after all, what will next month look like?!

After three months, you will have your quarterly check-in, and at the end of the year, you have a yearly inventory. I really like this idea and would probably bookmark this page to refer to throughout the year. You can track your books, music/podcasts, movies/shows, milestones, and quotes. You also get three puzzles and many blank pages (26).

I believe the Hero’s Planner would make a great weekly planner for someone with ADHD. It offers a fun story to follow, a way to gamify your habits, and changes throughout to keep you interested. There are minor things I would change, like adding a second ribbon bookmark, but those things wouldn’t stop me from buying or using this.

Tell me: Would you use the Hero’s Planner? What would you use the year at a glance page for?

Watch video version of review:

Cafe Noir | May 2024

Posted on by Jenna

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

☕☕☕☕ / 5

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing, for the advanced copy. 

The Summer Pact opened with a storyline that drew me in. I was excited to read on and discover what happened to the characters. And then it happened. One of the main female characters found out her fiance was cheating on her. I almost threw my Kindle across the room. I was this close to marking it “did not finish” and moving on to another book.

I’m glad I decided to keep reading, although I still hate that the catalyst for growth was because of cheating. I’m very much over female main characters finding happiness or changing because their significant other was cheating. 

The events of the book start when the three main characters, Lainey, Tyson, and Hannah, are in college and fast-forward to their early thirties. The point of view shifts between each of the three, but it is easy to follow and interesting to see the same events through different eyes. The characters each have great arcs throughout and change over the course of the story. I also enjoyed the dynamics between the three of them. I wish there had been more to show the dynamic between Tyson and Hannah. It was there but didn’t feel as fleshed out as Lainey and Hannah or Lainey and Tyson.

The book was easy to read and understand. The sentences flowed well, and the dialogue was relatable. Giffin also did a great job setting the scene and describing the various settings. I could picture them in my mind and could see this making a cute movie. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and it probably would have had five stars if cheating hadn’t been involved. For me, it’s become a lazy plot point to spur a woman to “find herself”! I would have preferred that Hannah’s jumping-off point have something to do with her relationship with her mother instead. It would have been something different and more intriguing. 

The plot around death and grief was well-written and made me reflect. Each character reacted differently, making for an interesting read. Much of the storyline also revolved around family and what that means, blood and found. I really feel these plotlines were stronger and more relatable than the cheating.

If you enjoy found family and friends who will be there for you no matter what, The Summer Pact may be for you.

Booked for Murder by PJ Nelson

☕☕☕☕ / 5

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the advanced copy for review. 

Are you ready to be transported to a small town in Georgia? 

Then you need to read Booked for Murder by PJ Nelson. Nelson captures the feel of a small town and builds up the history around the Old Juniper Book Store and its characters. It reminded me of Cabot Cove of Murder, She Wrote fame.

Who is threatening the bookstore and the church down the street? You will want to keep reading to find out! There is good pacing and tension throughout, and the resolution felt satisfactory but left enough open for future books in the series. There were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, but the main one was predictable. It didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, though.

This book hooked me from the start, and I did not want to put it down. It definitely fits the cozy mystery genre right down to the cat trope! I enjoyed a couple of themes, which mostly revolved around ghosts of the past and what makes a place home. Is it where you were born, or is it more about the people? 

Booked for Murder is definitely setting up for a series, and you got an excellent introduction to the cast of characters and their dynamics. There is limited development because the author wants to save some of that for future books. The main female character had more chemistry with the fire chief over the gardener, but it feels like the author will push her to the gardener. They had too much in common and were too similar of characters to make a good match. I look forward to seeing if I’m wrong about future love interests! Overall, the main characters had some change and were likable. 

Nelson’s writing was straightforward to read and follow. The main female character’s point of view helped maintain consistency throughout and limited us to only what she knew and felt. I did feel some of the dialogue wasn’t as relatable. The characters sometimes spoke in depth and quoted things off the top of their head, which felt a bit pretentious. I don’t believe every character would have such a great memory!

If you are a cozy mystery lover, definitely check out Booked for Murder!

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

☕☕☕☕ / 5

It felt like we jumped into the middle of a world, and it took a little bit to build up the lore and worldbuilding. It started to come together in the second half. I thought the plot started a little slow, but it was needed to build the background information. I thought it resolved a little too quickly and easily, but it did leave room for future books.

The main character, a self-proclaimed murderbot, did change, and I liked the dynamics between the murder bot and humans. The murderbot’s motivation and wants were a little harder to figure out. I expect it in a series because we should learn a little more about the murderbot as the series goes on.

The book was very easy to read. I did feel like I was shoved off a cliff at first, and it took me a bit to understand. I enjoyed the point of view of the murderbot. It could also allow access to others so you can see some of their thoughts. I was very engaged and wanted to keep reading. I thought it fit the genre tropes well. 

The YouTube Formula by Derral Eves

☕☕ / 5

This book was very dry, despite listening to the audio version. It made sense and was easy to digest, but he used only the same two or three stories as examples. I thought having a new example each time would be better rather than going back over the same few. It got old fast.

It was too redundant, and I have no desire to re-read or reference it. Using the same stories over and over did not keep my attention. I felt the author didn’t bring anything new to the topic and only knew what he was doing three times in his career. It wasn’t a broad enough range.

It was easy to understand and follow. I got a couple of ideas I could implement. 

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

☕☕☕☕☕ / 5

The Creative Act’s text flows well, makes a lot of sense, and is easy to read. The sentences and chapters are short and digestible, and the writing flows well from chapter to chapter. I liked the little snippets between some of the chapters. I highlighted a lot of good tidbits throughout.

Most of the examples were focused on music, which doesn’t surprise me, but I would have liked some other examples of different creative outlets. For the most part, Rubin knows what he’s talking about. I would not take his medical advice, which he did touch on in this book.

I liked that the concepts and chapters were short and sweet. You wouldn’t think it was a 400+ page book. The items here could be easily implemented; I started some of them while reading the book! I really enjoyed this book and took a lot away from it. It was useful, enriched my understanding, and will have a lasting impact. 

What have you read recently? Any five-star reads?

Will the Passion Planner work for the ADHD brain?

Posted on by Jenna

In our quest to find the perfect planner for your ADHD brain, we will look at the Passion Planner today.

I grabbed this one because I loved the rainbow ombre cover. It is a soft, faux leather cover that is nice to the touch. The Passion Planner logo on the front and the quote on the back are holographic foil.

I ordered the medium (approximately 7×10). It is also available in small (approximately 6×8) and large (approximately 8×11). I like the medium size because it’s small enough to carry with you but large enough to write in. I sometimes feel the smaller ones are hard for my handwriting. The medium, undated planner is $52.99.

You can check it out here.

It has a pink elastic strap, one green ribbon bookmark, and a pocket in the back. Unlike most pockets, the pocket is fabric, not paper. There is no pen loop. In the pocket are two large, round stickers and five sticker sheets. Only one sticker sheet is functional; the rest are decorative. The paper is 120 gsm and should hold up to your usual pens and highlighters. The paper is quite smooth to the touch, so some dry time may be needed. 

I also ordered monthly tabs and date stickers. These would both be helpful with an undated planner. 

Now, to dig into the planning pages!

As with all planners, we start without a nameplate. Passion Planner also includes a line for your email and reward. Does anyone ever write a reward there? If so, have you ever had to pay someone when you’ve lost your planner? I don’t usually take my planner places, so this has never been an issue. 

Next, we have a how you will benefit and a welcome page. Following that is a how to use page. I appreciate that this is a “simple 4-step guide”. This is much more palatable than the booklet and many instruction pages with the Law of Attraction planner. Turning the page, we have the passion roadmap where you can dream big and plan your goals.

This undated version comes with mini calendars for 2023 to 2026. There isn’t room to write any future plans. You could highlight or use transparent dots to mark dates. There’s not a lot of room for a key, but you could add it around the years above the calendar sections.  

We start with the monthly calendars. As you can see, I went with the undated Monday start. You can also get it as a Sunday start. On the left hand side bar, you can write in your personal and work focus, people to see, places to go, and things to learn. Similar to the Law of Attraction, the page is split with the bottom third having personal and work projects and a blank space for a mindmap. You could use that for notes or any other important info you want to have at hand. 

The month view has six rows, so you won’t need to wonder if all the days will fit. I appreciate it when undated planners have six rows instead of five. The rectangles for the month are about 1.5 inches wide by 1 inch tall. After the monthly calendar, we have two pages of monthly reflection. There are seven questions to answer, and then you can rate your month on a scale of 1-10. There is also an end-of-the-month checklist. 

The undated Passion Planner frontloads all 12 months. After six months, there is a mid-year roadmap. This way, you can make sure you are still on track for those big dreams and goals. After the 12th month, you have your monthly reflection plus one for the year. 

After the months, we get into the weeks. The lefthand column of ther weekly has this week’s focus and good things that happened. There is also a quote and a little challenge you can do for the week. The bottom third has a personal and work to-do list and a “space of infinite possibility”. 

The columns for each day are about 1.5 inches lacrosse and about 5.5 inches tall. Under each day header as a spot for the day’s focus. The columns start at 6 am and go through 10:30 am. There is a line for every half hour. Unlike the Law of Attraction, you can use the last hourly spot. They didn’t put a random water tracker there. 

After the weekly pages, you get blank and dot grid pages. There are 20 blank and 23 dot grid pages. There is plenty of space for notes, goal planning, trackers, or whatever you need. 

Overall, I think the Passion Planner could work for the ADHD brain. It isn’t overwhelming in terms of setup and pre-planning pages. Plenty of room exists to add notes and items to the monthly and weekly pages. The one thing I don’t like is having all the monthly pages at the front. I prefer to have month, week, reflection, repeat. I also prefer a paper with a bit more tooth to it over the smoothness of this paper. 

If you don’t mind all the months together and smooth paper, this might be your planner!

Would or do, you use the Passion Planner? What do you think about the setup and layouts?