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August 12, 2024
• Updated

Five ways to use Tiimo for back to school success

Real ways to use Tiimo's visual planning features when traditional school organization feels impossible or overwhelming.

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Going back to school can feel like stepping into chaos, with new schedules and deadlines scattered everywhere, plus that familiar weight of trying to keep track of everything while your brain works differently than most planning systems expect.

If you're ADHD, Autistic, or navigating executive functioning differences, you've probably tried plenty of planners that promised to fix everything. Maybe they worked for a week before you abandoned them, or maybe they made you feel worse about yourself when you inevitably stopped using them.

Tiimo approaches planning differently. Instead of forcing you to adapt to rigid systems, it's built around how many neurodivergent brains actually process time and tasks.

5 ways to make school planning actually work

1. Seeing your whole week in one place

School schedules live everywhere: class times in one app, work shifts in another, assignment due dates scattered across different course platforms. Your brain has to constantly switch between different systems just to figure out what's happening when, which gets exhausting fast.

Tiimo pulls your calendars together into one visual timeline that actually makes sense. You can connect Google Calendar, Outlook, or your school's system with just a few taps, and suddenly you can see the whole picture instead of trying to mentally juggle all these fragments while hoping you're not forgetting something important.

This approach reduces the cognitive load of constantly switching between apps and trying to remember what you're forgetting, which is way more realistic than chasing perfect organization.

2. Break down overwhelming projects

That research paper due in three weeks feels massive and shapeless. The group presentation you haven't started yet looms over everything. Sometimes knowing you need to do something and actually knowing how to start are completely different problems.

Tiimo's Co-planner lets you dump everything that's swirling in your head, either by typing or talking it out. Then it helps break things down into actual steps with time estimates, so you get a starting point instead of staring at a blank page wondering where to even begin.

Instead of facing "write history essay" as one enormous task, you might see something manageable like: research three sources, create rough outline, write introduction, draft first body paragraph. These are concrete steps that feel possible rather than one massive, shapeless thing hanging over your head.

3. Capturing tasks without the mental juggling

Your brain probably holds onto a running list of things you need to do throughout the day. Remember to email the professor about that assignment extension, pick up that textbook from the library, start the reading for Thursday's discussion, check the syllabus update that got posted yesterday.

That mental list gets heavier as the day goes on, with things slipping through the cracks or suddenly feeling urgent when they didn't seem important before. It's like carrying an invisible backpack that keeps getting heavier.

Tiimo's to-do list gives you somewhere to actually put things down instead of carrying them around in your head. You can add stuff as it comes up, sort by what actually needs attention, and get gentle reminders about things that might be getting buried under everything else.

We’re redesigning planning for neurodivergent brains

Tiimo is built on lived experience and inclusive design, so you can plan, focus, and follow through in ways that actually work for you.

Apple logo
Get Tiimo on App Store
Google logo
Get Tiimo on Google Play

4. Use focus timers that work with your attention

Traditional time management advice assumes your focus works like a light switch, but that's not how many ADHD or Autistic brains work, and trying to force sustained concentration for hours often backfires completely.

Tiimo's visual focus timer shows time passing in a way that feels concrete instead of abstract, so you can actually see progress without feeling rushed or panicked. Set it for however long feels manageable right now, maybe 15 minutes, maybe 45, and include breaks that aren't optional afterthoughts but part of the actual plan.

You might try the Pomodoro method (25 minutes focused work, 5-minute break) or create your own rhythm based on what works for your brain. Whether you're reading dense textbooks, writing papers, or studying for exams, the timer helps you work with your natural attention patterns instead of fighting against them, and it syncs across your phone, laptop, or smartwatch so it stays with you wherever you go.

5. Plan rest like it actually matters

Rest isn't something you earn by being productive enough - your brain needs downtime to function, especially when you're managing the extra cognitive load of navigating systems that weren't designed for neurodivergent minds in the first place.

Tiimo treats rest as a real part of your schedule rather than something that happens if you have leftover energy. Build in decompression time after challenging classes, plan recovery periods around exams, or schedule movement, social time, or just lying on the floor staring at the ceiling if that's what helps you recharge.

The wellbeing tracker lets you check in with how you're actually feeling each day, which helps you notice patterns between your energy levels and what's happening in your schedule. Maybe you always feel drained after back-to-back classes, or you need extra recovery time during exam weeks; seeing these patterns makes it easier to plan accordingly.

When rest is visible in your planner, it becomes easier to protect that time instead of letting everything else expand to fill every available moment until you're completely drained.

Starting with what works for you

Download Tiimo and connect just one calendar to begin, since you can always add more later as you get comfortable with how it works. Add a couple of tasks that are already on your mind, try the visual timer for your next study session, and schedule one small thing that helps you recharge.

You don't need to set up the perfect system before you can start using it. Begin with what feels manageable and expand from there as you figure out what actually helps your specific brain and schedule.

School will always have unpredictable elements that you can't control, but having tools that work with your brain instead of against it can make the predictable parts feel way more manageable, and honestly, that's enough.

About the author

Clémence Rigal

Clémence leads growth at Tiimo, building inclusive, user-first strategies that help mission-driven tech scale with care.

Read bio
August 12, 2024
• Updated:

Five ways to use Tiimo for back to school success

Real ways to use Tiimo's visual planning features when traditional school organization feels impossible or overwhelming.

No items found.

Going back to school can feel like stepping into chaos, with new schedules and deadlines scattered everywhere, plus that familiar weight of trying to keep track of everything while your brain works differently than most planning systems expect.

If you're ADHD, Autistic, or navigating executive functioning differences, you've probably tried plenty of planners that promised to fix everything. Maybe they worked for a week before you abandoned them, or maybe they made you feel worse about yourself when you inevitably stopped using them.

Tiimo approaches planning differently. Instead of forcing you to adapt to rigid systems, it's built around how many neurodivergent brains actually process time and tasks.

5 ways to make school planning actually work

1. Seeing your whole week in one place

School schedules live everywhere: class times in one app, work shifts in another, assignment due dates scattered across different course platforms. Your brain has to constantly switch between different systems just to figure out what's happening when, which gets exhausting fast.

Tiimo pulls your calendars together into one visual timeline that actually makes sense. You can connect Google Calendar, Outlook, or your school's system with just a few taps, and suddenly you can see the whole picture instead of trying to mentally juggle all these fragments while hoping you're not forgetting something important.

This approach reduces the cognitive load of constantly switching between apps and trying to remember what you're forgetting, which is way more realistic than chasing perfect organization.

2. Break down overwhelming projects

That research paper due in three weeks feels massive and shapeless. The group presentation you haven't started yet looms over everything. Sometimes knowing you need to do something and actually knowing how to start are completely different problems.

Tiimo's Co-planner lets you dump everything that's swirling in your head, either by typing or talking it out. Then it helps break things down into actual steps with time estimates, so you get a starting point instead of staring at a blank page wondering where to even begin.

Instead of facing "write history essay" as one enormous task, you might see something manageable like: research three sources, create rough outline, write introduction, draft first body paragraph. These are concrete steps that feel possible rather than one massive, shapeless thing hanging over your head.

3. Capturing tasks without the mental juggling

Your brain probably holds onto a running list of things you need to do throughout the day. Remember to email the professor about that assignment extension, pick up that textbook from the library, start the reading for Thursday's discussion, check the syllabus update that got posted yesterday.

That mental list gets heavier as the day goes on, with things slipping through the cracks or suddenly feeling urgent when they didn't seem important before. It's like carrying an invisible backpack that keeps getting heavier.

Tiimo's to-do list gives you somewhere to actually put things down instead of carrying them around in your head. You can add stuff as it comes up, sort by what actually needs attention, and get gentle reminders about things that might be getting buried under everything else.

We’re redesigning planning for neurodivergent brains

Tiimo is built on lived experience and inclusive design, so you can plan, focus, and follow through in ways that actually work for you.

Apple logo
Get Tiimo on App Store
Google logo
Get Tiimo on Google Play

4. Use focus timers that work with your attention

Traditional time management advice assumes your focus works like a light switch, but that's not how many ADHD or Autistic brains work, and trying to force sustained concentration for hours often backfires completely.

Tiimo's visual focus timer shows time passing in a way that feels concrete instead of abstract, so you can actually see progress without feeling rushed or panicked. Set it for however long feels manageable right now, maybe 15 minutes, maybe 45, and include breaks that aren't optional afterthoughts but part of the actual plan.

You might try the Pomodoro method (25 minutes focused work, 5-minute break) or create your own rhythm based on what works for your brain. Whether you're reading dense textbooks, writing papers, or studying for exams, the timer helps you work with your natural attention patterns instead of fighting against them, and it syncs across your phone, laptop, or smartwatch so it stays with you wherever you go.

5. Plan rest like it actually matters

Rest isn't something you earn by being productive enough - your brain needs downtime to function, especially when you're managing the extra cognitive load of navigating systems that weren't designed for neurodivergent minds in the first place.

Tiimo treats rest as a real part of your schedule rather than something that happens if you have leftover energy. Build in decompression time after challenging classes, plan recovery periods around exams, or schedule movement, social time, or just lying on the floor staring at the ceiling if that's what helps you recharge.

The wellbeing tracker lets you check in with how you're actually feeling each day, which helps you notice patterns between your energy levels and what's happening in your schedule. Maybe you always feel drained after back-to-back classes, or you need extra recovery time during exam weeks; seeing these patterns makes it easier to plan accordingly.

When rest is visible in your planner, it becomes easier to protect that time instead of letting everything else expand to fill every available moment until you're completely drained.

Starting with what works for you

Download Tiimo and connect just one calendar to begin, since you can always add more later as you get comfortable with how it works. Add a couple of tasks that are already on your mind, try the visual timer for your next study session, and schedule one small thing that helps you recharge.

You don't need to set up the perfect system before you can start using it. Begin with what feels manageable and expand from there as you figure out what actually helps your specific brain and schedule.

School will always have unpredictable elements that you can't control, but having tools that work with your brain instead of against it can make the predictable parts feel way more manageable, and honestly, that's enough.

About the author

Clémence Rigal

Clémence leads growth at Tiimo, building inclusive, user-first strategies that help mission-driven tech scale with care.

More from the author
Five ways to use Tiimo for back to school success
August 12, 2024

Five ways to use Tiimo for back to school success

Real ways to use Tiimo's visual planning features when traditional school organization feels impossible or overwhelming.

Tiimo coach of the month icon

Georgina Shute

Gina is an ADHD coach and founder of KindTwo, helping overwhelmed leaders reclaim time and build neuroinclusive systems that actually work.

No items found.

Going back to school can feel like stepping into chaos, with new schedules and deadlines scattered everywhere, plus that familiar weight of trying to keep track of everything while your brain works differently than most planning systems expect.

If you're ADHD, Autistic, or navigating executive functioning differences, you've probably tried plenty of planners that promised to fix everything. Maybe they worked for a week before you abandoned them, or maybe they made you feel worse about yourself when you inevitably stopped using them.

Tiimo approaches planning differently. Instead of forcing you to adapt to rigid systems, it's built around how many neurodivergent brains actually process time and tasks.

5 ways to make school planning actually work

1. Seeing your whole week in one place

School schedules live everywhere: class times in one app, work shifts in another, assignment due dates scattered across different course platforms. Your brain has to constantly switch between different systems just to figure out what's happening when, which gets exhausting fast.

Tiimo pulls your calendars together into one visual timeline that actually makes sense. You can connect Google Calendar, Outlook, or your school's system with just a few taps, and suddenly you can see the whole picture instead of trying to mentally juggle all these fragments while hoping you're not forgetting something important.

This approach reduces the cognitive load of constantly switching between apps and trying to remember what you're forgetting, which is way more realistic than chasing perfect organization.

2. Break down overwhelming projects

That research paper due in three weeks feels massive and shapeless. The group presentation you haven't started yet looms over everything. Sometimes knowing you need to do something and actually knowing how to start are completely different problems.

Tiimo's Co-planner lets you dump everything that's swirling in your head, either by typing or talking it out. Then it helps break things down into actual steps with time estimates, so you get a starting point instead of staring at a blank page wondering where to even begin.

Instead of facing "write history essay" as one enormous task, you might see something manageable like: research three sources, create rough outline, write introduction, draft first body paragraph. These are concrete steps that feel possible rather than one massive, shapeless thing hanging over your head.

3. Capturing tasks without the mental juggling

Your brain probably holds onto a running list of things you need to do throughout the day. Remember to email the professor about that assignment extension, pick up that textbook from the library, start the reading for Thursday's discussion, check the syllabus update that got posted yesterday.

That mental list gets heavier as the day goes on, with things slipping through the cracks or suddenly feeling urgent when they didn't seem important before. It's like carrying an invisible backpack that keeps getting heavier.

Tiimo's to-do list gives you somewhere to actually put things down instead of carrying them around in your head. You can add stuff as it comes up, sort by what actually needs attention, and get gentle reminders about things that might be getting buried under everything else.

4. Use focus timers that work with your attention

Traditional time management advice assumes your focus works like a light switch, but that's not how many ADHD or Autistic brains work, and trying to force sustained concentration for hours often backfires completely.

Tiimo's visual focus timer shows time passing in a way that feels concrete instead of abstract, so you can actually see progress without feeling rushed or panicked. Set it for however long feels manageable right now, maybe 15 minutes, maybe 45, and include breaks that aren't optional afterthoughts but part of the actual plan.

You might try the Pomodoro method (25 minutes focused work, 5-minute break) or create your own rhythm based on what works for your brain. Whether you're reading dense textbooks, writing papers, or studying for exams, the timer helps you work with your natural attention patterns instead of fighting against them, and it syncs across your phone, laptop, or smartwatch so it stays with you wherever you go.

5. Plan rest like it actually matters

Rest isn't something you earn by being productive enough - your brain needs downtime to function, especially when you're managing the extra cognitive load of navigating systems that weren't designed for neurodivergent minds in the first place.

Tiimo treats rest as a real part of your schedule rather than something that happens if you have leftover energy. Build in decompression time after challenging classes, plan recovery periods around exams, or schedule movement, social time, or just lying on the floor staring at the ceiling if that's what helps you recharge.

The wellbeing tracker lets you check in with how you're actually feeling each day, which helps you notice patterns between your energy levels and what's happening in your schedule. Maybe you always feel drained after back-to-back classes, or you need extra recovery time during exam weeks; seeing these patterns makes it easier to plan accordingly.

When rest is visible in your planner, it becomes easier to protect that time instead of letting everything else expand to fill every available moment until you're completely drained.

Starting with what works for you

Download Tiimo and connect just one calendar to begin, since you can always add more later as you get comfortable with how it works. Add a couple of tasks that are already on your mind, try the visual timer for your next study session, and schedule one small thing that helps you recharge.

You don't need to set up the perfect system before you can start using it. Begin with what feels manageable and expand from there as you figure out what actually helps your specific brain and schedule.

School will always have unpredictable elements that you can't control, but having tools that work with your brain instead of against it can make the predictable parts feel way more manageable, and honestly, that's enough.

Illustration of two hands coming together to form a heart shape.

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