We caught up with the brilliant and insightful ANA ESTRADA a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

ANA, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

It was January 2020, 10 months into the pandemic, and I had just celebrated my thirtieth birthday, when someone brought up to my attention that I spaced out a lot when having a conversation. I immediately felt so defensive and was taken back by their comment. They asked me to repeat what had been shared, I couldn’t believe that I had zero idea. I was there, I was present, I thought I was hearing them, I was making eye contact with them and saying, “mhm”, to reinforce that I was listening. In all reality, I had spaced out a long while ago and was in my head, with my one thousand thoughts. I had already caught this trait of mine. I just always pretended. I must of pretended well, because I got away with it for thirty years.

I began to analyze my behaviors at work, in social settings, at home, what I was like as a child, teenager and adult. A lot of memories came up, and I concluded I needed to speak with a professional. I first discussed it with my primary care provider, who referred me to a specialist, and I was then assessed.

I went into the assessment and told the doctor, word by word, “I don’t think I have ADHD, but I want to be assessed, if I do, I am sure it is on the lower spectrum.”

To my very own surprise, when I finished, the specialist said, “Ana, there are two types of ADHD, and you have both of them, you are on the higher spectrum.” As you can imagine, my mouth dropped, and my next reaction was to burst into tears. All of a sudden, an influx of memories came to me and it all made sense now. After this appointment, I went home and reflected a lot on my childhood and teenage years. I wanted to so badly give little Ana a big hug.

Even though, I had just been diagnosed, I still wanted to get another opinion. I completed a second assessment, and had the same result. Two assessments was still not enough, I did a total of five assessments, with five different specialists. I was having a hard time processing the diagnosis, I was in denial and did not want to accept it. I continued to struggle and thought, “I have lived my life like this, I am now thirty, I will just continue as is.”

However, I was facing a lot of challenges at work. Particularly with meetings I had to partake in. Time after time, I was in meetings, and I constantly would use the “restroom” card to get out. Or the “I am so sorry, I am going to have to end this meeting early as I have an important deadline with another client.” I would use these excuses to leave the room because I had a hard time sitting still and listening, especially if the meeting was more than fifteen minutes long. I would sit, take my notebook out and literally write everything everyone was saying because it was the only way to keep my brain on track and stay focused. However, between you and I, on a few occasions I was writing without even knowing what I was writing. I would end the meeting, go back to my office, and if I needed to provide information on the meeting, I would re-read my notes.

I realized how much I was struggling and realized I needed to help myself. I did a lot of research and finally decided to make an appointment with a doctor who specialized in ADHD. They were able to re-asses me, and provide me with so much insight, learn about the diagnosis, embrace it, and design a plan that would help me with my day to day. Now, I think back and can’t even fathom how I was living my life. With the right help and support, I have managed to be able to live my life to my fullest potential.

Having a planner is essential to anyone who has ADHD. Writing out your day, and having a visual of what your day consists of will help you stay on top of your tasks for the day, keep you on time for your meetings, and will hold you accountable for what you potentially did not take care of that day as it will roll over to the next day. After buying so many different planners, one night as I was shopping for one, I realized that most planners did not have sections for me that were highly important. I suddenly thought, “Ana you should just design your own!”.

I began to bring this idea to life that night, I lined out what was important to me, drew out a basic concept and design. I realized how passionate I became about this planner. I worked on it night after night, and finally when I felt 100% satisfied I closed out the project. My task for the following day was to get it printed out and go buy a binder to assemble it. The following morning, I felt so proud of my planner, I began to wonder if other people with ADHD potentially felt the same way that I did about planners? Planners are vital, but most feel overwhelming. The thought of carrying a bulky book that had my life for the next six months gave me anxiety. I found myself carrying around my planner and in addition another notebook for notes and sometimes, doodling or drawing.

My planner is basic. Simplicity at it’s finest. For someone with ADHD, this is crucial. We want our life organized, we desire this more than anything, but if it becomes too complicated, then it is no longer desirable. I knew in my heart, that this planner would be helpful and useful to other adults who also have this diagnosis. Once I realized this, I started to look for publishers.

I aimed high because as Les Brown once said, “It is better to aim high and miss, than to aim low and hit.” I decided to publish it with Barnes and Noble which is my favorite book store. I submitted the copy to them with zero expectations. The following day, I heard back from them and got the approval. When I tell you that I could not believe what I was reading, I really couldn’t. I re-read the email a few times, I cried, and I thanked God. This time, this endeavor, felt so different, so right, I knew my passion had just met my purpose.

I feel an incredible amount of joy to know that I can potentially help others accomplish their day-to-day tasks and feel that sense of accomplishment as they finish their day. With the right support and guidance they will tackle it all. I hope my planner brings this to their life.

What sets this planner apart from most planners is that this is a daily planner for a month. You do not need to carry around 6 months of your life. This gives me anxiety just thinking about it. Most planners only offer a timeline for the day and very small sections to write random notes. Individuals with ADHD have a lot of thoughts, need a lot of room to write. My planner includes sections for priorities, goals, personal development, and then a whole page to write daily notes. Towards the end of the week, you will find more space to write notes or thoughts and even a coloring section. A great way for us individuals to stay focused in meetings is by either writing everything down, or coloring. Individuals with ADHD are also known to be compulsive buyers. At the beginning of the planner I created a budgeting sheet for the month to ensure individuals stay on top of their money to avoid financial stress later in the month. The planner is simple, light, it is a 7X10, and the neutral color makes it aesthetically pleasing. It includes ADHD tips provided by professionals and specialists and also motivational quotes as the week comes to an end.

With this planner individuals don’t need to worry about the following next month or months. They will be able to focus on this month, this week, this day! Let’s live in the present and worry only about planning the near future. Everyone deserves to feel accomplished at the end of the day, and I am confident that this planner will bring this to many individuals.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have a very vivid memory of being nine years old and my teacher showing her assistant my journal. I was so scared when I saw them in the corner with my journal, I thought I was in trouble. However, they pulled me aside to share how amazed they were at my journal entry from the previous day. It was a passage describing what reading did for and to me. They actually loved it so much and made sure that when I graduated elementary I read this passage at our graduation ceremony. My teacher looked at me and told me, “I hope I get to read one of your books before I leave this world”. This sentence has been a constant reminder of this passion I have to write and create.

My whole life, since I was able to write. I have loved writing letters, creating cards from scratch, poems, and now with technology create content on social media, whether it is personal or for business purposes. I knew that at some point in my life I would be creating something that would be published. I constantly started children’s books, but never finished them. I now understand why they were never finished. Having ADHD is sometimes really wanting to do something and not being able to accomplish it or finish it. Especially when there is no diagnosis, treatment in place, or guidance. Individuals with ADHD want things as simple as possible. If it is too complicated, you have already lost us.

While my ADHD planner is not a book that I have written, I know it is the beginning of many creations to come. The thought of this thrills me!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Writing is so powerful! For the writer, they get to share thoughts and their imagination. Create a piece of art that will make another human being feel so many diverse emotions, and escape their own world to enter an author’s or creators imagination. Writer’s and designers have the power to create an experience. In my case, I designed and created a planner with hopes of creating a more focused, accomplished individual. The idea of this planner helping others is so rewarding to me. The idea that this can help others be more organized, productive, and be able to accomplish their dreams and goals gives me the chills.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Initially I thought this would not be possible. I thought it was silly of me to submit my planner to Barnes and Noble with no actual degree in writing or designing. However, I was hopeful, perhaps 1% hopeful. That ended up being the most critical and meaningful 1% of my life thus far.

Imagine all that we are able to create if we believe more in ourselves, in our passions, dreams, goals, and ideas. If we just did not pay attention to the “what if’s”, “road blocks”, “declines”, or “detours”. Imagine if every time we thought of an idea, we aimed high and actually landed?

Moving forward I encourage everyone to focus on things actually happening exactly the way they want them to. Aim as high as possible. The only thing you will lose is your fear of being rejected. After that, you will gain a shit ton of confidence.

Thoughts and ideas don’t land on you by coincidence, ideas spark up because they are your calling and purpose, so go for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daily-planner-ana-lucia-estrada/1143316585
• Instagram: theinsurancegal
• Other: www.lezrjewelry.com www.beachfinancialgroup.com

Image Credits
Photographer: Maegan Alys Photography @maegan_alys_photography