Link: https://musarium.gumroad.com/l/pocketplanner

Building a Personal Operations System That Works With ADHD, Not Against It

Role: System Designer & Creator | Timeline: 6+ months iterative development | Platform: Notion

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At a glance

Most productivity tools assume consistent motivation, perfect memory, and rigid routines. In practice, people—especially those with ADHD—struggle with fragmented task lists, forgotten commitments, and an unclear sense of progress.

Pocket Planner applies operations-grade system design to personal planning, creating a modular architecture that remains functional even when users are inconsistent. The result: a planning system with automated progress tracking, exception-driven dashboards, and a repeatable pattern users can adapt to any life area.

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The Challenge

Traditional productivity systems fail neurodivergent users because they're built for ideal humans, not real ones. They assume you can:

Maintain consistent daily routines
Remember to check multiple different tools
Estimate time and energy accurately
Stay motivated without tangible progress feedback
Navigate complex systems without getting overwhelmed
Manually organize and categorize everything correctly

The problems these assumptions create:

Fragmented information. Tasks scattered across apps, sticky notes, email drafts, and mental reminders
No safety net. When memory fails or motivation crashes, commitments fall through the cracks
Invisible progress. Working hard but having no tangible proof of effort or accomplishment
Organizational chaos. Unclear where things belong, leading to decision fatigue and avoidance