Overwhelmed by a big job? An ADHD checklist on one printed page

This fall I decided to close my own pool. I knew there were a lot of steps, and I didn't have them in my head, and that was enough to make me freeze. What got me moving was an ADHD checklist on one printed page.

So I said the command I use for this: "one pager". It means one printable page for the whole job. Nothing more.

One page, in order

What came back was simple. At the top, what to buy. Below it, thirteen steps, in order, one line each.

I printed it. Then I did step one. Then step two. I stopped freezing and started.

Why paper works for me

A screen is full of other things. Messages, tabs, the thing I meant to look up. Paper holds one job and nothing else.

• I can see the whole job at once, so it stops feeling endless.
• I can see where I am, so I don't lose my place.
• I get to tick each step with a pen. That little win keeps me going.

How to make your own page

Tell your assistant what the job is and say "one pager". A few things make the page better:

• Ask for what to buy or gather at the top, before the steps.
• Ask for the steps in order, one line each, short enough to read at a glance.
• Ask for big, clear type. Colour is fine, as long as it's easy to read.
• Read it before you print it, so you only print it once.

What to do next

Pick a job you've been circling. Say "one pager". Print it, tape it up, and do step one today. Only step one.

This is my own experience, not a doctor's advice. The kit shows you how to ask your assistant for pages like this.