Mastering Time and Organization: Neurodivergent Productivity

Planning, time management and organization is oftentimes a daunting task, but when paired with a neurodiverse mind-these jobs can seem almost impossible to complete. 

The concept of punctuality affects all aspects of daily life-through academics, employment and even social standing. Yet, while the neurodivergent community knows where their goals and expectations lie, the journey to accomplishing these deadlines more often than not becomes insurmountable

Through breakdowns, tracking and timer techniques- working smarter and not harder can transform your life for the better.

Taking on an entire project all at once is never a good idea. Instead of approaching something with stress and dread, break your assignment down into small, manageable parts. This will prevent future burnout and procrastination.

EX: The task is to clean my bedroom. I first start with picking up any dirty articles of clothing or trash on the floor, then I move to placing belongings into specific drawers or cabinets. Finally, I decide to make your bed and dust furniture.

Bullet points and lists are a saving grace if used correctly. Digital or physical, meticulously planning out your day-to-day life aids in keeping your life on track.

But remembering what you need to do isn’t the only important thing. In order to create a system of positive reinforcement, build downtime and satisfying activities into your daily schedule as well. Incentives are important when it comes to motivation and well-balanced mental health. 

EX: After my hour-long study session, I’ll give myself 30 minutes of downtime before starting my other homework assignment.

Furthermore, creating long term rewards are equally as important for the completion of larger projects.

EX: I completed my writing challenge for the month, so I can now go on a shopping spree with my friends at the mall.

This practice ties into the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management routine which involves breaking down tasks into specific intervals. This technique has proved to successfully implement a sense of productivity and routine into users’ schedules.

EX: I will set a timer for 25 minutes and work for that entire time on my work brief. Once the timer goes off, I will take a 5 minute break then return back to the task at hand. After four of these timing intervals have passed, I will allow myself to take longer breaks that are up to 15-20 minutes. 

While considering reinforcing time for relaxation into your schedule, also be sure to leave cushion room for unexpected events or interruptions. Once you have become comfortable with the art of time management and scheduling, this barrier time gradually becomes smaller and smaller.

Building off the idea of motivational journaling, the depth of daily trackers goes far beyond necessary work deadlines and to-do lists. Daily trackers also hold the ability to encompass mood, sleep, exercise and nutrition logs. 

There are countless habit-enforcing apps that can be found on mobile, but I will list a selection of free applications below.

EX: Productive, Habit, Streaks, Done, Habitify, Tangerine, Avocation and Confetti.        

Neurodivergent individuals are all unique and respond to different programs in different ways. Therefore, it is best to use a system of trial and error to find a technique which works best for you.

Some points on this list might not work for you, and that’s okay: Being aware of your habits and mindset is the first step to ensuring peak productivity.