Abbie’s Favorite Resources

I wanted to share the tricks and tools I use every day to organize my year…and my life.

(Of course no system is effective without the thoughts that support it. Meaning, if you think it will work and are committed to trying it, it will. If you doubt it, it won’t. So thought management is the backbone of all productivity and working systems.)

Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

I need things to be visual and this giant wall calendar allows me to mark out my entire year. Green for work projects/work travel. Pink for joyful travel and vacations. I cross off each day to see where I am in the year to keep me on track with my goals. 

Desk Agenda by Plum Paper

Everyone asks me what agenda I use to stay organized. I recommended this one so often that I became an affiliate to the company. But I will say that agendas have to work with your lifestyle. I work from a home office and sit at a desk with lots of hour-by-hour appointments so I need a week at a glance with each day measured hourly. If you’re an on-the-go freelancer you need something light that you can carry in your bag (and if that’s the case, I love these from Target). Either way, it’s important to see the whole week at a glance, and that it lay flat on a desk. 

My planner is the 8x11 week at a glance, hourly view.

Unplug Meditation App

I used to think I was terrible at meditation because my ADHD brain couldn’t slow down. Then I realized that emptying your mind wasn’t the point of meditation - the point was to watch your thoughts and this reframe changed everything because I can do that! This is my favorite app for several reasons: 1. It isn’t overwhelming. The app serves up a new 10-minute guided meditation a day and it usually hits just right. If I prefer to do another meditation, the search is super easy - by time, teacher or topic. 2. I love keeping a streak. They have gamified a meditation habit which keeps me coming back. 3. It is a woman-run business by my friend Suze Yalof Schwartz and she’s a good human. 

Try 1 month free with this link here. 

Noise Canceling Headphones

I’ve trained my attention like a Pavlovian dog. When I put these headphones on, and start playing my Spotify “calm piano music,” my brain knows it’s time for business. Plus my family knows it’s not time to bother me. 

Colorful Pens

I color code all items that go into my agenda so I can have a visual on the work/life balance of each week. I use green for work, pink for fun, and blue for family. I love these highlighters.

Non-digital Timer

As someone with an ADHD brain, I thrive with timers. I set them for my client appointments so I don’t lose track of time and I set them to start short bursts of focused work. I specifically do not use my phone for this task because when I want to focus, I cannot have my phone near me or I’ll forever be distracted. 

Hydration Goal

Many people try to drink more water and when I had that goal, I noticed that the main obstacles were two things: 1. I had to keep refilling my glass - which didn’t happen, and 2. When I used a water bottle, I was self conscious taking a swig while I was working on Zoom. Hence, this brilliant (and attractive) 32 oz glass with a lid and straw which allows me to drink 90 oz of water a day seamlessly. 

 PS: To make all these tools and systems work, join my 1-day workshop - Year You Want Workshop - to make a plan for your year and learn how to manage your thoughts (to actually make it happen).