4 Interesting Reasons People With ADHD Love Notebooks

Why Do People With ADHD Love Notebooks?

People with ADHD love notebooks for many reasons. Firstly, because notebooks are lovely things- they are colourful and tactile and pretty and, well, who doesn't love a pretty notebook?! Plus, people with ADHD like novelty. Mixing things up with new, colourful, pretty things is always a win, and a new notebook ticks all the boxes. 

But there's more to it than just style and novelty. People with ADHD love notebooks because they are a useful tool for organising the chaos, remembering those never-ending to-do lists and getting the thoughts out of the busy brain and onto paper. Notebooks can help people with ADHD feel just that little bit less chaotic, and that is so important when it comes to navigating a busy world that's set up for neurotypical people. 

It's pretty common knowledge that I was diagnosed with ADHD last year. And it's definitely not a secret that I LOVE a notebook. So, in a bid to make my life easier, I've been digging deeper into the subject of ADHD and the benefits of writing things down. 

I'm actually in the process of creating a 2027 diary for our new stationery range, and I'll be designing the inside pages as well as the cover, so I'm on a bit of a mission to discover the best possible notebook and diary tactics for people with ADHD. I want to make this diary the most ADHD-friendly diary possible.

Are Notebooks Good For People With ADHD?

Yes, notebooks can be good for people with ADHD. 

Actual research was undertaken on the topic of ADHD and notetaking, and it shows that generally, writing things down by hand is better for retention of knowledge. Well, mostly.

The TL;DR of the article is that every brain is different, and every ADHD brain is different, and for some with the more inattentive-type ADHD, writing things down by hand was actually less effective than typing. 

But generally speaking, notebooks can be an incredible tool for lots of people, including those with ADHD. 

Why are Notebooks Good for People With ADHD?

We're not just talking about the benefits of notebooks and writing things down by hand- we've covered that already. I'm talking specifically about the reasons why notebooks are good for people with ADHD. 

Notebooks Act as a Tangible 'Second Brain'

When you have ADHD, it's sort of like someone turned on every radio and TV in the house, and then started having a conversation next to you. Thoughts are LOUD. Like, all the time. I constantly have at least 5-6 different things going on in my head at once, and it can be completely overwhelming. I've recently become a huge fan of the 'Brain-Dump' technique, where you write down everything that's going on in your head, no worrying about spelling or grammar, just free-flowing writing. It can feel like a weight lifted to just take everything that's doing laps in your mind and put it on paper. 

For someone who has ADHD, a notebook can also become a seriously useful tool for organisation and memory. Speaking as someone who is more than dipping a toe in the rockpool of neurodivergence, we can get a bit forgetful and disorganised sometimes. The "Out of sight, out of mind" struggle is real, meaning that if I told you last week I'd lend you a book, but that book is on my shelf with all of my other books, I am 100% not going to remember to bring that book when I see you next week. Having a place to write important things down and check back on can sometimes be a huge help.  

Notebooks Are Tactile and Offer Sensory Stimulation

Neurodivergent folk can have this thing with sensory stimulation. Sometimes we LOVE sounds, textures, colours, feelings etc. Other times we are completely repulsed by certain sensory inputs (for me, that's brushing sounds, scraping sounds, and the feeling of blue tack or putty - grim.)

But when the sensory experience is a positive one, we are fully immersed and completely engaged. The right notebook and pen combination can be the most lovely of sensory situations- a fresh white page, a pen that writes easily and smoothly, the opening of the notebook, the sound of pages turning... actual heaven. This can help an ADHD brain to focus better and be less distracted by whatever else is going on in the room.    

Notebooks Can Provide a Distraction-Free Space

Unlike digital devices, a notebook has no ads, pop ups, or apps like social media to tempt us away from our work. I can certainly spend 15 minutes deciding on which font to use, what colour to make it and even how big I should make the line-spacing - Yes, I am the queen of digital distractions. 

Notebooks Can Be Varied and Exciting 

The colours, the binding, the designs, the paper... the possibilities are endless! Nothing hits quite like a new notebook, and shopping for stationery has always been one of my favourite things to do. 

ADHD brains need novelty and change to help keep them engaged. Of course, the problem with this is that sometimes the desire to shop for notebooks can be greater than the desire to use them, and that's when you can find yourself drowning under a collection of unused but very pretty notebooks. 

Research has also shown that the way we physically write in a notebook can offer enough variety to keep an ADHD brain interested. While it is possible to change a font on a digital device, doing so removes the writer from the task and offers a distraction. But writing with a pen and mixing up the pressure put through the pen or the size or style of your writing can offer enough variety to help keep you engaged and on-task.  

Final Thoughts

Notebooks can be a fantastic tool for ADHD brains - I know I couldn't function without mine. The key is to find a notebook that is a pleasure to use, make the experience positive and it's one step closer to becoming a habit. My current favourite notebook is this one, I love it because it has thick, high quality paper, a hardcover (which I love) and it's so pretty! 

If you're looking for ways to use a notebook, check out our beginners' guide to journaling here.