How to pick a productivity tool that works with your brain and business
Table of Contents -
Neurodivergent entrepreneurs are always trying new tools to get organized. Mainly cos the previous tool didn’t work out and this new one will absolutely cure their disorganization.
The thing is, most folks aren’t thinking about how they work when they choose a tool. They pick the next tool based on what’s popular, what’s been referred to them, or what’s shiny in the moment.
They almost never stop to think about how they work, how their body works, and how that tool will support them.
I’m guilty of this too; especially in the beginning of my solopreneur journey, I was trying soooo many tools to figure out which ones would fit my business without thinking of how my neurodivergent brain and chronically ill body worked.
okay Sue-Jan, so how the heck did you do it, cos you’re so organized!
It’s simple, but maybe not easy if you’re used to ignoring your own needs and wants. Ask yourself these questions before you go off to purchase a new tool to help you.
“uhh Carolyn, who the heck is Sue-Jan?”
Oh hi Carolyn’s audience!
I’m Sue-Jan Noreiga, Notion Magician and Business Systems Strategist for entrepreneurs ready to accept their eccentricities, build systems that support their actual capacity, and tackle all the entrepreneur stuff they’ve had to figure out on their own.
how do I work right now?
Think about your current patterns when you work. Whether it’s your best work or your worst work doesn’t matter – just become aware of your patterns. We’re not gonna shame them either!
Are you doing things that you think you should be doing? Are there ways of working that you wanna try but have been told is the wrong way of working or doing that thing?
when do I feel most productive and efficient?
Think of your energy patterns during the day or week. Are you more productive in the morning, or at 2am? Do you opt out of work if it’s too hot, or if you’re sitting for a long time?
How does this tool support these changing patterns for you? Is it flexible enough to accommodate you?
what does being organized actually look and feel like for me?
It’s pretty common for folks to follow productivity guru standards of organized. But what makes you feel organized? What makes you feel like “hell yeah I have my shit together”?
It’s likely it’s not gonna look like what social media says it should look like. And that’s okay!
what do you actually need to feel organized?
So I’m big on following your wants for things, but with a productivity tool that’s gonna help you run your business? We’re gonna need to focus on your actual needs first. The logistics of you being organized if you will.
Once you settle on what your needs are, you can get into your wants! Those wants are important for actually sticking to your tool.
This tool should be supporting your actual needs for being organized, and not be productivity porn (which is probably what a lot of people think when they think of Notion LOL)
how do you feel about your current tool?
This is super important when I’m working with clients. How you feel about your current tool is gonna help you compare to the tool that you’re thinking of, and also tell you what’s already working with your current one!
If you already love what’s working with your current one, you can look at the new tool and make sure it has what you love about your current one.
Also, you might realize that your current tool isn’t so bad and it just needs some tweaking 😂
putting it into action
(cos this info ain’t worth shit if you don’t actually do something about it)
The thing is, you need to get really honest with yourself.
You’re not gonna consider the sanitized, Smooth SpongeBob version of how you think you should work. You gotta consider the messy reality of how you actually work right now.
And it’s a little tough to do that when you have a million and one things floating around in your head.
I've got a guided brain dump template that walks you through all of this (and a few more questions that'll help you get clear on what you actually need from a tool).
I made it to help you dump everything out of your head without worrying about making it pretty or productive-guru perfect.
Cos human brains are weird and funky and beautiful ✨
guided brain dump for getting started in Notion + other tools
This template features:
journal prompts asking you the questions you need to organize your thoughts
space to write your answers directly under each question
mini action plan so you know exactly what to do next (cos who wants to do a brain dump and just look at it like 👁️👄👁️)
I made this template for folks looking to get started in Notion (I’m a Notion Consultant after all 😉) but I’ve included Google Docs and PDF versions so that you have the flexibility in case Notion isn’t for you (yet).
your tools should support the way you actually work, especially as someone with unique bodymind rhythms
Your tools shouldn’t cause friction or feel restrictive to the way you work. It should feel flowy and satisfying, or even fun!
I went through sooooo many tools before I figured out this framework. And honestly I'm still tweaking my organization systems as my brain and body change.
Learning how to start with this framework instead of jumping into the next shiny tool was the difference between feeling chronically and hopelessly disorganized, and feeling like a boss babe in my business even when I need a nap at 1pm 😂
You know your patterns and needs better than any able-bodied broductivity guru ever will. Trust yourself to know what feels right, even if your version of organized looks nothing like what you see on productivity Instagram.
The right tool for your systems ecosystem is out there – it's just waiting for you to get curious about how you actually work instead of how you think you should work 🫶🏾
