If you’re neurodivergent and you’ve tried productivity systems that just don’t stick, this might be the breakdown you’ve been waiting for. This is the exact weekly planning system I use to run my tech company — and it’s designed specifically for brains that need structure, automation, and visual clarity to stay on track.
Why Most Productivity Systems Fail for Neurodivergent Brains
Most productivity frameworks assume you have:
- Consistent executive function
- Natural time awareness
- The ability to remember what you committed to last week
- Motivation that doesn’t fluctuate wildly
If your brain doesn’t work that way, you need a system that compensates for those gaps… not one that punishes you for them.
That’s what this system does. It automates memory, creates external accountability, and builds in regular reflection at intervals that match how ADHD and autistic brains actually process time.
What You’ll Need
- Obsidian (free note-taking app)
- Templater plugin (free community plugin)
- 15 minutes on Sunday to do your weekly review
Step 1: Install Templater
Templater is what makes this system automatic. It pulls in dates, populates templates, and eliminates the friction of setting up your reviews manually.
- Open Obsidian
- Go to Settings → Community Plugins
- Search for “Templater” and install it
- Enable the plugin
- Go to Templater settings and set a folder for your templates (I use a folder called “Templates”)
Step 2: Create Your Monthly Template
Your monthly template is your strategic layer. It holds your big-picture goals and themes for the month.
Create a new note in your Templates folder called “Monthly” and paste this:
# Review: <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM") %>
### Yearly OKRs
![[Yearly OKRs {{date:YYYY}}]]
## Last month
[[Monthly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM","P-1M") %>#Monthly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM","P-1M") %>]]
> [!question] Questions to ask
> Did you finish the initiatives? If so, how do you think you did? If not, what do you need to change to finish them this month?
---
### Reflections
> [!question] What did I accomplish this month?
>
> [!question] What challenged me this month?
>
> [!question] Self care this month included...
> [!question] Key lessons and takeaways
---
### Notables
#### Travel
#### People I spent time with
#### Books
#### Movies & TV
#### Music and Podcasts
#### Purchases & Products
#### Misc. Moments, Memories, etc.
## Next Month
### Monthly Goals & Habits
> [!abstract] Health & Wellness
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
> [!abstract] Career & Business
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
> [!abstract] Finance
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
> [!abstract] Personal
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
> [!abstract] Self Care
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
## <% tp.file.title %>
> [!question] Questions to ask
> What initiatives are you setting this month?
- [ ]
On the first day of each month, you’ll open this template and reflect on what actually happened — not what you wish had happened.
Step 3: Create Your Weekly Template
This is the core of the system. Your weekly template pulls from your monthly goals and forces you to decide what matters this week.
Create a new note called “Weekly” and use this structure:
# Review: <% tp.file.title %>
## End-of-week checklist
- [ ] Complete Weekly review
## Monthly initiatives
Keep these things in mind as you do this week's review:
[[Monthly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM") %>#Monthly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM") %>]]
## Review of Last week
![[Weekly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>-W<% tp.date.now("ww",-7), %>#<% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>-W<% tp.date.now("ww", -7), %> Goals]]
> [!QUESTION] Questions to ask
> Did I achieve my goals from last week? What adjustments are needed?
## <% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>-W<% tp.date.now("ww"), %> Goals
> [!question] Three goals
> What are my top three specific goals for this week? How do they align with my monthly initiatives and yearly OKRs?
- [ ]
- [ ]
- [ ]
---
## This week
### This Week's Focus
---
> [!question] Big Questions
> What major questions or challenges do I aim to address this week?
> [!abstract] Remember This Next Week
> How did I remember each of my selves this week?
---
### Reflecting on the Three Selves
#### Past Self
- What am I thankful for that I did last week?
#### Present Self
- How am I making today meaningful?
#### Future Self
- What am I doing today for a better tomorrow
---
### Stream of Consciousness
Every Sunday, you open a new weekly note using this template. You review what happened last week, surface what stalled, and decide on 3 priorities for the week ahead.
Step 4: Create Your Daily Template
Your daily template is your tactical layer. It’s where you track what actually happens each day.
Create “Daily Note Template”:
<% await tp.file.move("/reviews/daily/" + tp.file.title) %>
# <% tp.date.now("dddd, MMMM D, YYYY",0, tp.file.title) %>
< [[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", -1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>|Yesterday]]
## Daily Direction
This is what you're working towards!
![[Weekly Review <% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>-W<% tp.date.now("ww"), %>#<% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>-W<% tp.date.now("ww"), %> Goals]]
---
#### Today's Focus:
-
---
## Non-Zero Day Commitment
#### Today's Non-Zero Goal:
-
---
### Today's 3 priorities
1.
2.
3.
---
### To-Do List
- [ ]
---
### Brain Dump
---
### Delegation
- [ ]
---
### Personal Thoughts
## Funny Memories & Significant Events
### Amusing Moments & Lessons Learned
-
[[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", 1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>|Tomorrow]] >
At the end of each day, spend 2 minutes filling this out. It takes almost no time, but it creates the data you need for your weekly review.
Btw Non-Zero day commitment comes from this Reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/NonZeroDay/comments/1qbxvz/the_gospel_of_uryans01_helpful_advice_for_anyone/. It’s the best advice I have ever read and I always come back to it. I HAD to implement it in my daily and weekly reviews.
Step 5: Set Up Templater Hotkeys
Go to Templater settings and assign keyboard shortcuts to each template:
- Monthly Review: Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + M
- Weekly Review: Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + W
- Daily Note: Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + D
Now you can instantly create any review note without navigating through menus.
Step 6: Build the Review Habit
The system only works if you actually use it. Here’s how to make that happen:
Daily (2 minutes at end of day)
- Open your daily note
- List what got done
- Check if you moved your weekly priorities forward
- Note anything you’re carrying forward
Weekly (15 minutes every Sunday)
- Open your weekly template
- Review last week’s daily notes
- Identify what moved forward and what stalled
- Choose 3 priorities for the coming week
- Block time on your calendar for those priorities
Monthly (30 minutes on the first Sunday)
- Review all your weekly notes from the month
- Assess progress on monthly goals
- Identify patterns in what worked and what didn’t
- Set goals and focus areas for next month
Why This Works for Neurodivergent Brains
- It automates memory: You don’t have to remember what you committed to — the system surfaces it for you
- It matches how we process time: Daily, weekly, and monthly intervals align with ADHD time blindness patterns
- It builds momentum: Each review compounds into the next, creating continuity instead of constant restarts
- It removes decision fatigue: The template structure eliminates “where do I start?” paralysis
- It’s forgiving: If you miss a day or week, you just pick back up — no guilt spiral required
Common Questions
What if I miss a weekly review?
Do it whenever you remember. The system is designed to be resilient. Even doing it every other week is better than not having a system at all.
Do I have to fill out every section?
No. Some days you’ll write paragraphs. Some days you’ll write one bullet. Both are fine. The act of opening the note is what matters.
Can I customize the templates?
Absolutely. These are starting points. Add sections that work for your brain. Remove ones that don’t. The best system is the one you’ll actually use.
What if I don’t use Obsidian?
The principles work in any note-taking app, but Obsidian’s linking and plugin ecosystem make it particularly powerful for this kind of structured reflection.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a productivity hack. It’s infrastructure. It’s how you build an external operating system that compensates for executive dysfunction, time blindness, and working memory issues.
If you’re running a business, managing projects, or just trying to keep your life from falling apart — and your brain doesn’t naturally track time or remember commitments — this is how you build the infrastructure that makes consistency possible.
Start with the templates. Adjust them as you go. And give yourself permission to use a system that actually matches how your brain works.
