As a 50-year-old woman with ADHD, keeping my thoughts organized has always been tough. I’ve tried lots of different apps, but recently, I started using a free, private blog (so the search engines can’t find it) and it’s really helping.

It’s not just a place to dump my ideas and feelings. It’s actually a great space for sorting through my thoughts and keeping track of everything—both personal and work related.

Here’s why I think it’s great for women business owners and creatives with ADHD.

1. Easy, Unique Organization

Keeping my thoughts organized is hard with ADHD. My blog helps by using categories and tags, which sort everything like a digital file cabinet. Whether it’s health tips, personal stories, or business plans, everything finds its place.

2. Accessible Anywhere

One big plus is how it cuts down barriers to use, which is crucial for ADHD. I can use it anywhere, anytime – whether I’m at the park, on the couch, or in a coffee shop. This convenience beats dealing with paper and pen any day. Since my phone is always on me, there’s no need to go running around looking for my journal and a pen.

And bonus: I can relax knowing my private journal entries won’t accidentally end up in someone else’s hands.

3. Mixing Business and Personal

I don’t really use my blog for to-do lists, but it’s my go-to for sorting out both work and personal stuff.

I jot down all sorts of experiments and projects, like trying out different teas to stay focused or planning upgrades for my office and tweaking my marketing plans. When I’m tackling big business problems, writing them out in my blog helps me break them down and handle one thing at a time, which is a lifesaver for me.

With tags and categories, keeping things organized between work and personal life is so much easier!

4. No Fear of Losing Notes

I often found myself juggling multiple notebooks because I’ve misplaced one or two in the past. It’s frustrating because even though the info I need is probably floating around somewhere, it might as well be lost because I can’t seem to find it half the time. That’s where tags and categories come in handy—they’re great for organizing stuff. But you know what’s even better? The search function. It’s a real lifesaver when I need to track down a specific note, idea, or piece of info.

5. Looks Good

Adding visuals and sprucing up the layout really boosts my motivation to keep my blog updated. Even though it’s just for me, I make sure it looks good because it makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Having pictures and attractive layouts makes it easier for me to stay engaged and interested in coming back to it. It’s like giving my brain a treat—a little bit of eye-candy along with a creative activity that keeps me hooked, especially important for many of us ADHD’ers.

6. Helpful Blog Features

Apart from categories, tags, and the search, there are plenty more features to explore. Up until a week ago, I was using a free WordPress.com blog, so my ability to use plugins was restricted. However, it’s reassuring to know that I could add extra features later if I needed to. That kind of flexibility is exactly what my ADHD brain craves. But for now, not having all of that flexibility can help me to stay focused on its intention, instead of get caught up in tech stuff.

Choosing the Right Blogging Platform

I started with WordPress.com because I’m already familiar with it. However, if you’re not, I wouldn’t recommend diving in—unless, of course, you’re eager to learn, which could be a low-pressure way to get started with it.

If you’re exploring other options, look for platforms that let you create without publishing your site. Some of the more popular platforms to consider are Tumblr, Medium, Wix, and Weebly.

Another one, which I didn’t even realize was still around, is Blogger.com. I’ve actually switched to this one recently, after realizing there’s a maximum image upload limit for a free WordPress.com account.

Just keep in mind that with some of the options, the free versions may not give you access to all the features (i.e. like unlimited image uploads or plugins for WordPress.com). Plus, your domain name might look a bit unusual, like “name.wordpress.com”.

*Important note: Make sure to set your blog (or each post, as is the case with Medium) to “Private” in the settings so that no one can stumble upon it. Each platform has its own way of doing this.

What It Can Do For You

This can help with the chaos of ADHD and the pressures of running a business and daily life. It can help give you clarity, efficiency, and room for every thought, making challenges less overwhelming.

For anyone handling the complexities of ADHD and entrepreneurship, this approach offers more than just organization—it gives a sense of empowerment, making the journey a bit smoother.

Now What?

If this sounds like something that could help you too, here’s how you can get started:

1. Start Your Own Private Blog: Create a free account on platforms like WordPress.com, Tumblr, Medium, Wix, or Weebly. Take your time to explore the features and become familiar with the interface. Remember to set your blog to private. Or, if you use Medium, you’ll need to mark each post as private individually.
2. Experiment with Organization: Begin by categorizing your thoughts and ideas into different sections or tags. Try out various organizational methods until you find what suits you best.
3. Make it Your Own: Personalize your blog by customizing the layout and adding visuals. Make it a space you enjoy returning to and feel motivated to update regularly.

Remember, start small and gradually build up your blog as you become more comfortable with it. Enjoy the journey of using your private blog to manage life and business with all the challenges of ADHD!