As someone with ADHD, it’s easy to get stressed and overwhelmed while planning activities for my family. Dates sneak up on me, and when it comes down to the last minute, I tend to procrastinate and get stressed. Life is so short, and I like to look forward to something happy and exciting. Planning my family calendar for the year has been a game changer for me and my work-life balance. I want to explain how I planned an entire year of activities for my family and the benefits of doing so.

How I Plan My Family Calendar for the Year

I first bought this giant dry-erase calendar. I love it because the entire year is on this whiteboard. Unlike traditional paper calendars, I don’t have to flip a page to see the next month. I can see everything for the entire year. It helped me plan 75% of the year in one week. I highly recommend it!

I laid out everything I already knew about, from birthdays and wedding anniversaries to vacations and school events. I even planned our family photoshoot several months ahead. I set the tone and knew what would happen far in advance so dates wouldn’t sneak up on me anymore! 

As my boys are getting a little older, I involve them in planning family activities together (and my husband is involved, too, of course!) You can make it a fun family activity, and it allows everyone to have a say in what you do together. Plan activities for the summer, birthdays, trips, weekends, etc.

Planning an entire year can be intense, but you don’t have to get it all down in one day or week. It took me about two weeks to plan our entire family calendar, but once you do it, it’s done! You don’t have to plan for the rest of the year. Take your time, involve your family, and have fun!

Benefits of Planning Ahead for ADHD

Since starting a family calendar, I’ve felt much more organized and proactive. It has helped me in so many ways; these are just a few.

Prioritization

One thing that we struggle with as individuals with ADHD is executive functioning. It isn’t easy knowing when to start and stop something important and make it a priority. It leads to procrastination and overwhelm. Planning and having deadlines help counteract this.

Stick to a Budget

When I’m aware of the activities coming up throughout the year, I can budget for them. For our family photo shoot, I knew I had to buy outfits for everyone, pay the photographer, and purchase frames and physical prints. By knowing these expenses were coming up ahead of time, I could save and shop sales to anticipate the cost. 

Stay in the Moment

Planning helps me stay in the moment and unplug from social media. Life is so short, especially with two toddlers running around. I want to cherish every moment with them. Planning activities helps keep my boys active and makes time for quality family time. I hope they remember these special moments as they grow up.

Looking Forward to Events

My family and I took a special vacation to Harry Potter World in February 2024. I spent months looking forward to it, and it was so much fun! As the trip was ending, I knew I had other activities and events planned that I could look forward to next. It makes me happy to have fun things on my calendar, and it helps me focus on what’s yet to come.

Fun Activities for ADHD Students

So, besides the obvious annual events, what are some fun things you can plan to do with your family throughout the year? These are some of my favorite activities:

• Farmers markets
• Nature walks
• Camping
• Trying new recipes
• Board games
• Visiting family

Planning our entire family calendar at the beginning of the year is beyond worth it. Last year was one of my best planned-out years ever. In addition to my month of intensive decluttering in January, planning the year is now my newest life routine. Plans don’t have to be set in stone, but you are setting yourself up for success by at least thinking about the things you want to do. Starting is always the hardest, but I hope this episode inspires you to make it a goal to try it out.

Questions about planning? Send me a message on Instagram and let’s chat! I’d love to hear from you and learn more about how you plan your family calendar.

Related Episodes:

Episode 14: Welcoming 2024: New Year’s Resolutions and Setting Realistic Goals

Episode 21: A Tailored Daily Routine at Home for ADHD Adults to Boost Focus