Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy’s Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap
☕☕☕☕/5
Tori Dunlap seemed to speak with authority and knew what she was talking about throughout Financial Feminist, but I didn’t feel she brought anything new to the table. Maybe because I have studied finance and read several books on personal finance and budgeting, I learned nothing from this book.
It was still an enjoyable read. It flowed well, made sense, and was easy to read. It wasn’t dry like many financial books can be. This book would be good for someone early on in their budgeting journey. I think they could definitely implement the ideas and concepts in the book.
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
☕☕☕☕☕/5
When I first started The Book Swap, I wasn’t sure it would be the right book for me. I was so wrong! I ended up loving this story about love, loss, and forgiveness. The first few chapters were a bit slow, but the story picked up once I started to get to know Erin and James. Overall, there was good flow throughout the story, easily switching between points of view. We see the story from both James and Erin.
I thought The Book Swap fits its genre and tropes well without falling into typical cliches. Both Erin and James were relatable, and the dialogue felt natural. Both of them changed from who they were when the book started. The dynamics between the main characters, their friends, and their family were excellent. There was plenty of tension to go around, too, not just between Erin and James. I want to see a sequel starring Cassie and Joel (and maybe a third with Elliot and Carl).
I thought the messages in the book’s margins were a great way to move the story forward. I could also picture the cute little library! I thought Bickers did a great job painting the locations of the story. I could see this as a cute rom-com.
The Book Swap was easy to read with relatable dialogue. Overall, the flow of the book was good, but there were a few hiccups at the start. I would recommend this to people who love an enemy-to-lovers book. There are some descriptive scenes involving mental health and bullying that may not be for everyone.
I was initially drawn to this book because of the title and cover image. Romance isn’t one of my go-to genres, but I was really glad to have read this book! It was enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for sending me this ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
What do you get when you put thousands of planners in one location?
Chaos! And Go Wild.
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend my first Go Wild this year. I was going alone and didn’t have any friends going. To say I was nervous is an understatement! But I quickly learned there was no need to be nervous. Most everyone was welcoming, and there was so much going on that it didn’t matter if you were alone.
Go Wild is quite expensive, but I highly recommend attending at least once if you can afford it. It was fun to be around like-minded individuals and meet people you’ve chatted with online, and the speakers were quite inspiring! I feel like I took a lot away from most of the sessions.
How much did it cost me? Here is a rough estimate.
Ticket $720 Hotel $1055 Airfare $12 Lyft $111 Food $190
Total $2076
I did have a single room. I didn’t want to room with anyone. You could share a room to lower the cost. I used airline miles for my flight; otherwise, it would have been around $250-300. The Lyft includes to and from the airport and one off-site meet-up. The trip back to the airport has half of the total. It must have been a busy time! It was still cheaper than renting a car and paying for parking/valet at the hotel.
I have celiac disease, and I door-dash some groceries to my room. I ordered snacks, breakfast, and items to make sandwiches. The food also includes two hotel breakfasts, one airport dinner, and snacks. It may have been different if the area around the hotel had more gluten free options. I researched ahead of time, and nothing safe was within walking distance.
There are ways to make it less expensive, especially if you don’t have dietary restrictions.
You do get a ton of swag, both from the conference and from other attendees. I did swaps and tablemate gifts, but those are completely optional. I sat at the Happy Planner sponsored table and received the Retro Sunset box (retail $49.99), a pencil pouch, a bracelet kit, and several discs.
We also received items from Archer and Olive, Altenew, sticker books from Amber Plans Her Day and Mojo JoJo, stickers from KrissyAnne Designs, a bunch of Zebra items (mildliners, brush pens, Sarasa pens, and more), Pipsticks Hello Kitty sub, A Kel of a Plan self-care planner, and an Erin Condren bag filled with even more goodies! I’m sure I’m probably missing something…
Not all of my tablemates brought gifts, and I was okay with that—those who did also brought smaller gifts. I was grateful for this because I was worried about the room in my suitcase and going over the weight limit! I thought all the tablemate gifts I received were thoughtful and mostly items I will use. Hopefully, others thought the same about mine!
VJ from Notiq was my favorite speaker. She gave me a lot to think about. Martha Stewart had a lot of funny responses to questions. I also really enjoyed V from Under the Desk News. They spoke a lot about TikTok but the ideas behind it could translate to other social media. And, of course, I was excited to see Frank Warren from Post Sewcretys. I started reading the Sunday Secrets when they first started.
Would I go again? Yes. Would I go if I couldn’t truly afford it? No. Don’t get me wrong—I had fun. I met some people. But I wouldn’t go into debt to attend. The sessions could have been longer and focused more on planning, personal branding/social media, productivity, etc. I also found the morning line-up before each day stressful and poorly run.
I heard some people lined up around 3 a.m. when we weren’t supposed to be in line before 6:30. I heard the ADA accommodations were supposed to be limited to two per sponsored table, but that was not enforced. I also heard some volunteers were “saving” spots at their table for friends, which they weren’t supposed to do.
I feel like if there are rules, then those should be followed and enforced.
I’m curious about how some of the other conferences compare, but I don’t know if I will get a chance to attend any of them since Go Wild was so expensive. Does anyone want to sponsor me?! 😂
Did you go to Go Wild? What did you think? Is it worth it for you? If you didn’t go this year, would you go next year?
I read only ebooks this March because I wanted to hit all 15 Kindle Reading Challenges for the quarter finally. I usually switch between physical and ebooks, so I never hit all the challenges. I feel so accomplished. 😂
What did you read this month?
Links are Amazon Associates and I may earn a commission if you purchase.
This felt like a long, drawn-out blog post from someone who thinks they know more than you because they got out of debt! Many of us have gotten out of debt but don’t immediately tell people to “cut out coffee shop trips.” I will not re-read or reference this book in the future; most is common sense and nothing to really help do a no-spend challenge.
I was also turned off by the author offering no concrete examples of what she said she did to become debt-free. She claims she can’t show us her budget or rules because it’s not helpful, and we are all unique! Like, no shit, but some of us like to see a visual representation to get an idea of how to frame our own.
It makes it harder to implement her ideas because there are no real examples, just a list of items you could try. It also undermines her credibility because she lists items anyone could give without showing anything to back up that these have worked or how she implemented them.
I would not recommend this to anyone. Do a Google search, and you’ll get much better ideas.
This was my first manga, and I really enjoyed it! The drawings worked well to help set the scene and tell the story. There was good pacing and enough tension to move the story forward. I wanted to hang around with the main characters at the bar. It would be a fun evening, and it would make a cute TV show.
I struggle with short story reviews. I liked this one, but I always want more from short stories. Hendrix did a nice job setting the scene and building the atmosphere. There was really only one character, and I felt he had a decent arc, but something was missing. Maybe I want to get to know the characters better.
Tracy Otsuka was someone I found when I was first diagnosed with ADHD. I joined her Facebook group, listened to her podcast, and tried her planning system. I’m still a member of her Facebook group, but I no longer feel the need to listen to her podcasts, and her planning system did not work for me. I was interested in reading her book when it came out.
Overall, I liked ADHD for Smartass Women. I thought it was well-written and easy to read. Because Otsuka isn’t a doctor or scientist, her dialogue is very relatable. She shared many personal stories of her life and those of her listeners/group members.
It kept my attention because it was fairly short and to the point. It is also a book you could skip around and read what applies to you. You don’t miss anything by skipping the chapters or sections that don’t apply.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Mystery Writer is set in Laurence, Kansas, but it could have been set in a small suburb of any town in the USA. Overall, I thought the story had good tension and resolution but did drag in some parts. There were definitely twists I did not see coming, which is rare.
I didn’t like or dislike the characters. A few felt too flat and one-dimensional, while others were too over-the-top and unbelievable. I thought Theo came across as very naive for someone who was in law school, and Gus fell into the stereotypical “big brother” trope.
I thought using Theo’s point of view was good; we only know what she knows. In the beginning, I was thrown by the conspiracist forum chats. I didn’t quite get what they were there for, and there wasn’t any differentiation between the chats and the start of the chapter. It was a bit jarring in the first few chapters until you got the flow. I would have liked to have seen these as a page between the chapters.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It hits a lot of genre tropes. I could see some filmmaker trying to make this into a movie (and it could be either really good or really bad, lol).
The setting for Murder Road was well-described, and St. James made sure to build an atmosphere. The lore was literally given to the reader in the book (and it worked well). The book had great pacing and decent tension, although some of the tension felt forced/fake. The ending wrapped up all questions.
I thought all of the main characters had a nice story arc and changed appropriately for the story. Some of the dynamics between characters felt a little forced. I felt the main characters changed from the story’s start to end.
I finished this book in only a couple of days. I didn’t want to put it down. It followed genre tropes, and although I was pretty sure I saw the twists coming, there was enough there (or not there) to have me second-guessing. It was easy to read, with a consistent point of view, flow, and relatable dialogue.
Will the Law of Attraction Planner be the elusive unicorn for those with ADHD?
Law of Attraction Planner $39.05 (Amazon Associate link – I earn from qualifying purchases) B5 size, 100 gsm paper
The short answer? No.
The longer answer? The planner part isn’t bad and would probably work well, but the system and prep pages are overwhelming just flipping through them. I could barely get through it to do the review!
The longest answer?
The Law of Attraction is a 12-month “journey to creating a dream life” through its eight steps. Inside, you get several 10% off coupons, a 15% off code, a postcard with a “handwritten” message on it, including info for two free gifts, a bookmark with two ribbons on top, more free gifts on one side, and a manifestation routine on the other, six sticker sheets (a mix of functional and decorative, and a booklet with instructions on using the planner (and more free gifts and coupons). The planner also has two ribbon bookmarks, an elastic closure, pen loop, and a large pocket in the back.
Yes, there is a lot of free stuff, and don’t worry—there is more in the planner. It feels desperate.
When you open the planner, the first section is a blank index, which feels odd since there are no blank pages. All the pages have already been pre-printed. A pre-made index would make more sense and be helpful to find things in this book.
The first section is a flip-out with questions, emotions, affirmations, action steps, and energy-level ideas. Then, we dig into the pre-work, with plenty of questions to answer. Next, it moves into goal setting with space for 50 (!) goals. Who is setting 50 goals? I’m overwhelmed just thinking about that many.
We move into another flip-out that starts with “My Journey,” and this page is actually helpful. It has three columns: where I am now, where I am going, and how I get there. You would fill these in for seven different areas of your life. This might be something I would use in my journal. The rest of the flip-out is for planning how you will achieve your goals and for making space for what you love and are grateful for.
There are a couple of pages for skills, habits, and people (which reads like Skills I Habits I People on the header). And lastly, mind mapping for breaking down goals and daily action plans.
And finally! We get to the planner!
The planner has a monthly spread, five weeks, two pages for reflection, and two dot grid pages before starting the next month. At the end, you can reflect on your year. There are also several dot grid pages, some of which are perforated for easy tear-out.
The monthly and weekly spreads remind me of Passion Planner or other similar planners. The monthly page is split in half, with the top having a column on the left for your goal of the month, reward, intention, and skills/habits to learn, followed by your monthly calendar. The bottom half has three desired goals for the month and the top action steps to take to reach those goals. Then, there is a large dot grid rectangle to use however you need.
The weekly spread has a column on the left side with the goal of the week and priorities, broken down into top priority, priority, and errands and tasks to delegate. A to-do list and a positive habit maker (a habit tracker) are at the bottom. Each day has space for the day’s goal, the top three priorities, and a line for every half hour from 5 am to 9:30 pm. Technically, they have 10 pm but used that place to put a daily water tracker. There is also a small dot grid rectangle for any notes or thoughts you may have during the week.
The planner part of this could help plan your month and week, especially if you’re focusing on a couple of goals.
The monthly and yearly reflection pages would be good. The yearly reflection has space for events, books, or movies that impacted me the most, and I wish that had been included on the monthly instead of the box with hours of exercise, total expenses, money saved, self-help, etc. I love the Top 10 achievements, What did I learn this month, and other spots on these pages.
What do I think of the Law of Attraction Planner? The pre-planning stuff is overwhelming, and there is no need for 18367485 coupons. Would I recommend this to someone with ADHD? No. Too much is going on, and it would be easy to give up and never return.
What do you think? Would you use the Law of Attraction Planner? Why or why not?
Do you ever feel like planning just isn’t for you, and why should you even bother? Let’s look at why planning matters, especially for someone with ADHD.
Before I was diagnosed, I would joke that my planners, calendars, and sticky notes were my second brain.
I wasn’t wrong.
Planning and planners become executive functions many of us struggle with. Writing things down can help you remember better, and you can always refer to your planner to ensure you haven’t forgotten something. You can add as much information to your planning system as you need, and your planner won’t forget any of it.
Plus, writing down things can free up your brain so you can focus on other important things, like your job.
You can use planning to create action plans and manage your time. Imagine you have a to do list that is a mile long; it’s not hard to do, huh? You can look at your planner to see what you have going on today or this week and see where you can slot in your different to do. You can also see what tasks may need to be rolled to next week, delegated, or maybe even dropped.
Not sure how long a task will take?
Your planning system can help with that, too! You can track when you start and end a task. For example, you need to give the dog a bath and think it will take only a few minutes. But does it really? Mark down the time, then gather the supplies, start the water, get the dog, wash the dog, clean up, and groom the dog. When you are done, note the time. Now, you have a baseline for how long your task actually takes.
I know time management can be tricky. I’ve struggled with it—I still do, actually. But I’ve gotten much better since taking HB90 and using Pomodoro-type techniques.
It’s hard, but it does help!
You can also use your planning system to create balance and learn when you need to say no. Pretend someone asks you if you can help them move this weekend. You check your calendar, and you have your niece’s birthday that afternoon. You could help move in the morning, but do you really have the time and energy to do both? When you put everything on your calendar, you can easily see what you have going on each day and make an informed decision.
The last two reasons go together. Planning can help reduce overwhelm, stress, and anxiety and give you a sense of control over your time and life.
Have you ever felt like a million thoughts are zooming around your brain? You can’t focus on any one thing because there are so many thoughts. Well, writing down all those thoughts, sorting them, and adding to dos and events into your planning system can help stop the overwhelming, anxiety-inducing thoughts.
You have now set those thoughts free and can go about your day.
Getting all those to dos out of your brain gives you back control. You can decide what you need to do with each thought and when you will do it. Now that you’ve booted all those stressful, zooming thoughts, you can also find time in your schedule to relax.
Why do you plan? Let me know in the comments.
Remember, every to-do list needs a caffeine boost, so grab your coffee and get planning!
Another month in which I surpassed my goal! Only one book was a short read. The other four were average length for their genres. Two took me a little longer to read because I wasn’t as into them, while I read quickly for the other two because I wanted to know what had happened!
How was your February? What book(s) was your favorite? Least favorite? Let me know in the comments!
Norse Magic for Beginners by Frank Bawdoe
☕☕☕
The book was well-written, and the sentences were short and easy to digest. It was easy to understand and follow, and I could easily implement some ideas. Most of the ideas were very surface-level, and I feel like I need to read more books to dig into the topic.
I feel like the author has a very superficial understanding of Norse magic and may not actually practice it. It felt like a book anyone with the internet could have put together. I was hoping for something a little deeper on the topic.
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
☕☕☕☕
When I started this book, I wasn’t sure I would like it or want to keep reading. It wasn’t bad; it just didn’t seem like a genre I liked. But I was wrong. After the first couple of chapters, I really got into it!
There wasn’t a strong description of place or world-building. It could have been set anywhere (I think it was London). The homes it was set in weren’t really described either. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I just prefer more details about the houses, at least since they are characters in the book.
The character arcs were slow but made sense as the book takes place over many years. The pacing was too slow for the first half and rushed in the second. I liked all of the characters and their relationships with each other. They had good dynamics and motivation and cared what happened to them.
The point of view switched throughout the book but it worked well and was easy to follow.
The Broken Girls by Simone St James
☕☕☕☕☕
Simone St James does an excellent job of creating a spooky atmosphere. I could picture the town and run-down school. The past and present locations were compared and contrasted well. I felt immersed in the story and wanted to keep reading. I thought it followed the tropes for the genre, and I really wanted to figure out the story. I did figure out the twist early, but I was kept guessing if I was right up until the reveal.
I loved all of the characters and could see their development and growth over the course of the book. The dialogue felt realistic and relatable. I could see this as a limited series or movie.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
☕☕☕
Despite the title, this didn’t feel like it was Paris. It could have been any insular apartment building in any large city, such as London, New York, or LA. There were little bits of French dialogue that were immediately translated into English by the character, which kept taking me out of the story. I’d have preferred no French or leave the simple phrases as is.
The only character that seemed to have any real growth was Jess. The rest were insufferable and not in a way that I wanted to read more about them. I had hoped the other characters had gotten what they deserved.
There was good tension throughout, but the resolution felt rushed, and the twists cliched. The pacing seemed off; some were great, but other parts were either too slow or too fast. The switching point of view switched too often, and the flow between the past and present was jilted and hard to follow at times.
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
☕☕☕☕☕
Are monsters born or created?
In Horror Movie, Paul Tremblay explores the idea of creating monsters. He sets up the world of 1993, a low-budget horror movie set, and contrasts it with the present time when the movie is being rebooted. The tension builds throughout, and I kept checking doorways for the Thin Kid as I read.
The structure of Horror Movie is more unique than most horror books. It flashes between the past and present, using chapters titled Then or Now, making it easy to follow. What makes it unique is the screenplay interspersed throughout the book to help tell the story.
Horror Movie was an enjoyable, easy read. The dialogue was relatable, and I could imagine the early 90s and how the movie could achieve cult status without ever being released. The characters were flawed from beginning to end but still seemed to have some growth. You don’t necessarily like these characters, but you like reading about them.
The biggest downfall was the ending. It didn’t feel like it fit the build-up of tension and the climax. It seemed… too easy of an ending for what felt like a complicated theme. I thought there would be a less obvious ending, for lack of a better word.
Horror Movie fit the genre and tropes of horror but not in a cliched way. I wanted to keep reading to discover what would happen to the characters. I could see a couple of the arcs but wasn’t sure how they would end. It was the perfect mix of familiar yet different.
If you like horror that makes you think, this might be the book for you!
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for sending me an ARC of Horror Movie. All opinions are my own.
Have you ever wondered how you can use ADHD to your advantage and be more productive? Let’s look at some strengths and weaknesses of ADHD and how you can use them to turn your to do list into a ta-da list!
Disclosure: I’m not a doctor or a professional. Just a person with ADHD trying to get stuff done. Please remember ADHD is a spectrum, and no two people will have the same experience. Use what works and leave the rest!
First, what are some weaknesses in tackling our to do lists?
Focus: like the meme I saw today, we are squirrels trying to cross a road
Impulsivity: sometimes, we just gotta do a project!
Procrastination: we put off things because they are boring.
Time blindness: we think everything will take 10 minutes.
And what are some strengths for getting stuff done?
Creativity/problem-solving: we can come up with lots of ways to do things!
Hyperfocus/flow: we can get into the zone when we love a task.
Enthusiasm: when we LOVE something, we get super excited to work on it.
How do we take those strengths and weaknesses and use them to our advantage and get stuff done?
Use hyperfocus.
Don’t fight it; use it to your advantage, get in that hyperfocus mode, and finish the project (but don’t forget to eat and drink water!)
Break it down.
Take those large, overwhelming tasks and projects and break them down into smaller, easier-to-manage tasks.
Start with the easiest or most enjoyable.
Knock something easy off your list and pat yourself on the back! Use that motivation to tackle the next item on your list.
Timers or power hours
Set a timer or schedule a power hour where you know you will work for a solid 25 to 60 minutes.
Reminders.
Use tech to your advantage and set up Google/Alexa reminders when it’s time to do a task.
Create visual time blocks.
It might help to visualize how much time you have. Or you can block off a set time for whatever you need to get done that day.
Estimate how long tasks take.
Start estimating how long you think something will take, and give yourself more time than you think. Then, you can gamify it and race against the clock to get it done!
Leave room in your schedule.
You know you will impulsively want to do something. Make sure you have some cushion in your schedule to tackle those tasks!
Tackle urgent tasks.
Use that impulse to take care of items as they come up. But make sure you have a list or post-it with where you left off before you run off to do that impulse task.
Reward yourself.
If you’ve finished a tough task, give yourself a small reward like a coffee break or 15 minutes to scroll social media. Soon, you’ll start connecting that task with that reward and will get excited to do the thing!
Pair tasks with something you enjoy.
Only listen to your favorite podcast while doing the dreaded deed. Or create some productivity playlists you only listen to while doing some of those tasks you dislike.
Turn off distractions.
We all know how tempting social media can be. Put your phone on airplane mode or do not disturb while you take care of business!
At the end of the day, these are only some suggestions. You need to find what works for you through experimenting or combining some ideas. Don’t be afraid to change it if something stops working for you. We often need newness.
Lastly, recognize there will be setbacks. It happens to us all. You need to acknowledge it and keep moving forward.
What tips and tricks do you use to leverage your ADHD strengths? I’d love to hear them, so be sure to drop them in the comments!
January was a good month for me! I finished seven, yes seven, books! It was quite the month but it’s not normal or attainable for me to read that much every month. I had some extra time due to vacation, airplane, and car rides, which made it much easier to finish several books. Plus my free trial of Kindle Unlimited ends in February and there was a series I wanted to finally finish!
This year, I decided to track how much I save by using the library or Amazon Prime (and KU while I have the free trial) and in January I read one library book and four KU books for a total savings of $38.44! I use the current price on Amazon for the format I’m reading. I hope this will motivate me to stop buying books and use these resources more.
I haven’t written my reviews yet so trying something new! Listing the book and rating (determined based on SPECS notes). I may come back and add the reviews. I’m undecided if I want to keep writing reviews. I may pull from my SPECS notes and I do plan to do a blog about how I come to a rating and SPECS.
So, what did I read?
All links are Amazon Associate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase.
I read the first book in the series, The Butterfly Garden, several years ago through Amazon Prime Reading. I wanted to finish the series but they never seemed to come up. I saw they were on KU and decided to use my free trial to finish the series.
Have you ever found yourself with a bunch of purchased online courses, yet they remain unwatched, gathering digital dust? Or maybe it’s a stack of books, unread in the corner. If so, it’s time to put those to use for your personal growth!
Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about why personal growth is important. It’s about learning new skills and empowering yourself. So, what areas of your life do you want to improve?
Once you’ve pinpointed the areas you want to get better at,, it’s time to set some goals. This is where most people would tell you to set SMART goals. On the surface, I “get” SMART goals, but they never work for me. I never stick to them. I always struggle with at least one of the letters per goal.
This isn’t necessarily about goals though, and you probably already have set goals for this year, so let’s dig into how those untouched video courses and books can be put to work! To start, list out all your courses and books then note any that you’ve started but haven’t finished yet.
Next, compare your goals to your list. Find ones that align with your goals then decide which ones you want to work on, and remember, you have limited time. Map out a general idea of how much time you have each month, week, and day. Maybe you can read your book at lunch or watch a course in the morning before you get ready for work. Don’t go crazy and try to do too much! You will burn out.
Now that you’ve got an overall plan, it’s time to… procrastinate!
Procrastination – the enemy of progress. We’ve all been there. Let’s tackle it head-on! I’ve got some tips to kick procrastination to the curb and get you moving.
Chunk it down – does the course have 17 different videos? Start with just one. Start with one chapter in your book.
Use a timer – sit down and watch or read for 25 minutes, then take a short break.
Stop distractions – turn off notifications, stay off social media, and find a quiet place to watch or read.
Reward yourself – when you finish a module, unit, or chapter, however, it makes sense to break it up, and treat yourself to small rewards, like a walk, a coffee break, or watching an episode of your favorite show.
Now we gotta make the plan!
Create a study plan that suits your schedule. Make it manageable so you can be consistent.
Start with why: What do you hope to achieve by taking this course or reading this book? Write it down.
Map out the course content: Familiarize yourself with the course structure, modules, and video lengths. For a book, look at the table of contents and review the chapter titles. This will give you a sense of the commitment needed and help you break it down into manageable chunks.
Schedule your sessions: Dedicate specific time slots for watching videos or reading, taking notes, completing assignments (if any), and reviewing material. Be realistic about your available time and energy levels, and factor in breaks to avoid burnout.
Some books have assignments at the end of chapters. I find it helps if I keep track of them in a notebook and work on them separately from reading. I keep reading even if I haven’t done the assignment. Sometimes assignments take a while to complete and I like to read through the book in about a week. And remember, not all assignments need to be done. You aren’t being graded. If they don’t apply to your goals, skip it!
Tailor your plan: Adapt the schedule and make adjustments as needed. I like to do this at the end of the month, what’s working, what’s not, and what do I need to change?
Watching passively won’t cut it.
You need to be engaged or you’ll find yourself re-reading the same paragraph seven times. Here are some techniques to keep you engaged, taking notes, and applying those concepts in real life.
Take notes, highlight key points, and summarize what you’ve learned after each video or chapter. This helps solidify your understanding and identify things you want to look into more.
Pause while watching or reading and reflect on it, ask yourself questions, and connect the information to your existing knowledge. You could create flashcards or mind maps to test your understanding.
Look for additional resources like textbooks, articles, or online forums to help your understanding.
And don’t forget to track your progress.
Watching your progress is motivating. Keep tabs on your achievements and areas you want to improve. Celebrate those wins along the way!
Create a dedicated journal for your personal and learning goals. Regularly update it with your achievements, big or small. This not only serves as a tracker but also helps you reflect on your progress.
Develop a simple spreadsheet to track your progress. List your goals, and update regularly with milestones, completion dates, and any challenges faced. Use color coding to represent different achievements, making it easy to spot your successes and identify areas that need attention.
Set aside time each week or month for reflection. Review your goals, assess your efforts, and note any achievements or improvements.
Congratulations, my fellow learners! You’ve got a plan to watch those untouched courses and read that stack of books! Consider them conquered.
Leave your favorite tips or tricks for watching courses or reading those books in the comments!
Could using the Anti-Planner be your key to managing ADHD?
We are looking at The Anti-Planner by Dani Donovan to see if it will work for someone with ADHD. Remember, even though we all have ADHD, different things will work for some of us. What works for me may not be for you, and that’s okay. This series will give you a closer look to help determine if it would work for you.
Looking at the actual book, it has an o-ring coil. These are not my favorite type of coil. I find it hard to turn the cover and pages, often having it get stuck. The front and back covers are quite heavy-duty and will probably hold up well over time. The material on the cover is very soft to the touch, maybe vegan leather, with The Anti-Planner printed to stand out. It does have an elastic closure, but it seems a bit thin for this chonky boy. I’d be worried it won’t hold up.
Opening it up, the paper is very smooth. I would be worried about some pens on it, but Donovan recommends using a pencil to use the pages repeatedly. There are cardstock dividers with tabs. I wish the tabs were laminated. They are just cardstock, meaning they will get dinged up and maybe even rip sooner than if laminated.
These minor complaints can be mitigated by not shoving your copy places or tossing it in the corner. You know, actually taking care of your stuff.
The book starts with a note from Donovan, followed by one of her comics. Then we have a forward and an introduction with instructions. The book is divided into five sections: Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unmotivated, Disorganized, and Discouraged. An index for each section is broken down by how you feel with a list of activities.
Now, we get into the actual activities!
Each section starts with your tabbed page that says “I’m feeling ______” and the four areas/feelings in the section. The back of the tab page is titled “How are You Feeling?” and has a section for each of the four feelings. There are several statements to help you narrow down where to start.
The opposite page has some information, advice, and a checklist of what being ____ looks like. Next, we move into the first of four areas of each section. There is more information on the specific feeling, the contents, and other activities you may like. Then, we move into the activities.
I like that there are many ways to help you figure out your feelings and needs.
Overall, I love the idea of the Anti-Planner. It will be helpful to identify why you aren’t getting stuff done. The hard part will be actually doing the activities. I think it’s a great tool for those with ADHD, but like anything else, we have to commit to using it for it to work.
Which can be difficult.
Let me know if you would use the Anti-Planner? If so, what do you think is the most helpful part? If not, why not?
Shop the Anti-Planner, now available in original (with swears), clean version, and PDF bundle with 30 activities. The PDF bundle would be great if you want to do some of the activities multiple times.
