Working to a deadline: planning and organisation challenges

On Monday morning, a neurodivergent employee opened their to-do list and instantly felt overwhelmed. Everything feels equally urgent, and they are unsure where to begin.  

With Brain in Hand

They used the diary feature to plan the day in small, manageable chunks - setting clear time blocks for tasks like “Reply to emails” and “Work on report.” 

Reminders prompted them to start, take breaks, and review progress without rushing between tasks. 

When focus slipped, they turned to their “Getting started with tasks” solution pack, breaking big tasks into steps like: 

1. Open the file 
2. Write bullet points 
3. Edit later 
4. Send the draft 

On low-energy days, they used a pre-set strategy to prioritise: “What needs doing today, what can wait, and what can I ask for help with?” 

The result

This gave them a sense of control, helped them plan realistically, and improved consistency. Their manager noticed how much more confident and organised they’d become.