Mastering Year-End Reflection and Planning with ADHD

 As the year comes to a close, many individuals—especially those navigating life with ADHD—find themselves facing the challenge of organizing their thoughts and plans. In a recent discussion, marketing expert Stephanie Scheller, CEO and Founder of Grow Disrupt, shared insights on mastering the art of year-end reflection and planning for adults with ADHD. Through practical tools and a flexible approach, Scheller offers a path to approach the new year with clarity, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment.

Understanding the Challenges of Year-End Planning with ADHD

According to Scheller, adults with ADHD often swing between two extremes: getting stuck in planning mode or avoiding the planning process altogether. The year-end period can feel like a high-pressure deadline, prompting last-minute scrambles or paralyzing overwhelm. Scheller emphasizes that success lies in acknowledging these patterns and adopting strategies that make reflection and planning more approachable and less daunting.

The Importance of Reflection

Before diving into future plans, Scheller stresses the value of reflection. To set realistic goals, it’s essential to know where you stand and how far you’ve come. Adults with ADHD may be tempted to set overly ambitious targets, failing to consider previous achievements and current capacities. By taking time to reflect, individuals can ground their ambitions in reality and build on their strengths.

Tools for Effective Reflection

Scheller recommends three key tools for reflection:

1. The Inner CEO Meeting:
   At the end of each month, Scheller suggests holding an “inner CEO meeting” to recap emotions, lessons learned, and wins. All reflections are recorded in a single journal, making it easy to review the entire year’s progress when it’s time to plan for the new year.
   
   
2. Journaling:
   For those who haven’t practiced monthly reflection, journaling at year’s end is a valuable alternative. By turning off distractions and focusing on pen-and-paper writing, individuals can recreate the past year’s highlights, low points, and lessons, ensuring that insights remain top-of-mind during the planning phase.
   
   
3. Mind Mapping:
   Scheller also recommends mind mapping, a visual technique that breaks life areas into categories. With different colors representing personal life, business goals, wins, and frustrations, this method provides a clear, visual overview of the year’s events. Mind mapping helps chunk information, making it easier to understand and remember.
   
   

From Reflection to Goal-Setting

After completing the reflection phase, Scheller advises transitioning to planning mode. One practical approach is to keep a notepad handy during the last quarter of the year. Whenever a goal idea pops into your head, jot it down. These notes serve as a reference point during the formal goal-setting session.

The first step in planning involves clarifying long-term vision and mission. Scheller encourages individuals to define what they want to build—personally or professionally—and understand the ultimate “why” behind it. This foundational understanding ensures that every goal set moves you closer to your vision and mission.

Setting Goals that Fit Your Life

Scheller recommends setting no more than six to nine significant goals for the upcoming year. This limit prevents overwhelm and ensures meaningful traction. Each goal should be large enough to require steady effort throughout the year, rather than something easily completed in a day or a month.

For each major goal, break it down into monthly mini-goals or steps. If you’re writing a book, for instance, start by completing an outline this month. Identifying baseline activities—repeated actions that progress each goal—is also crucial. For example, writing a few pages or dedicating a set number of hours each week builds momentum.

Embrace Flexibility and Visibility

Scheller reminds us that goals can evolve. As you achieve milestones and grow personally and professionally, you may discover a new direction. It’s perfectly okay to adjust your goals. Regularly reviewing and refining plans ensures they remain relevant and aligned with your vision.

Yet, to avoid the classic “out of sight, out of mind” trap, goals must remain visible. Scheller shares a childhood anecdote: writing New Year’s resolutions, hiding them away, and forgetting them by mid-year. Instead, incorporate goals into project management tools—calendars, Trello, Asana, or ClickUp—and set reminders. Visible goals prompt consistent action and help maintain focus.

Turning Insights into Action

Scheller’s approach to year-end reflection and planning for ADHD adults is rooted in practicality and self-awareness. By embracing reflection, setting a manageable number of goals, breaking them into actionable steps, and remaining flexible, individuals can enter the new year with a clear path forward.

With consistent application of these techniques—mind mapping, journaling, inner CEO meetings, and structured goal-setting—ADHD entrepreneurs and individuals alike can finish the year stronger and start the next one fully prepared.

Ready to take control of your planning process and thrive in the upcoming year?
Visit GrowDisrupt.com for more strategies, insights, and resources designed to support ADHD entrepreneurs and professionals in unlocking their full potential.