FIELD NOTES / ADHD AND IDEAS
ADHD note-taking: when a few words aren’t enough
Why MessyNote’s founder needed more than a quick jot, plus a practical way to keep the meaning behind an idea using writing, voice, or conversation.
You wrote the idea down. That should have been the useful part. But now the note says “film about mornings” and you cannot recover what felt interesting about it.
That gap between a saved sentence and the idea behind it is part of why Brandon built MessyNote. He has ADHD, and his experience was that a quick jot often left too much unsaid. Here is his description from the founder page:
The problem Brandon wanted somewhere to work through
I have ADHD. I would jot down an idea, come back to it, and find a sentence that never went anywhere. What worked for me was a conversation: a useful question, another thought, a chance to find what I actually meant. Then, at the end, a well-written note.
Read Brandon’s original founder note
His experience is a starting point, not a rule about everyone with ADHD. The NHS describes distraction, forgetfulness, and difficulty organizing time among possible adult ADHD symptoms. It also lists written instructions as a possible adjustment. Speaking is one option; it does not have to replace writing that already helps you.
Keep the part your shorthand assumes you will remember
This version preserves the attraction, some images, a boundary, and an open question. You can recognize the idea later even if the excitement of the original moment has passed. You can also decide it no longer interests you.
Choose the start that costs you the least effort today
- Type fragments if full sentences make you stop.
- Use a short recording if you can explain more easily than you can write.
- Sketch one scene and add a sentence about why it matters.
- Try a conversation if you want a question to react to before you decide what the note should say.
There is no requirement to use all four. If switching tools would mean losing the thought, use the one already in front of you. Formatting and filing can wait until you have something worth keeping.
Check whether the note still sounds like your idea
Read a generated or edited note for the distinction you cared about. In the film example, “Create a family documentary with interviews” sounds plausible but changes the idea. The ordinary details, small scope, and uncertainty about talking are the useful parts.
In MessyNote, explore by typing or eligible live voice, then choose “Make this a note.” You can edit the draft, keep it, and return to the original conversation. Live voice is in beta and depends on microphone permission, device support, and your plan.
Try it with one note that has gone vague
Pick one old shorthand note. Add what you still remember about why you saved it. If the meaning has gone, mark that rather than inventing a backstory. With the next idea, capture one extra detail and see whether it gives you a better way back.
These are note-making suggestions, not ADHD treatment or a test of whether you are trying hard enough. MessyNote is a tool for developing ideas; it has not been established as a treatment for ADHD.
Sources & further reading
- ADHD in adults — NHS
General information about adult ADHD and possible adjustments. It does not evaluate MessyNote or this note-making exercise.