If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list or struggled to plan your week without getting distracted or disheartened, the Alastair Method might just be your new favourite way to get organised.
Originally a bullet journaling technique, the Alastair Method is beautifully simple. It helps you clear your mind, prioritise your tasks, and structure your week with minimal effort (and no complicated systems). It’s especially great if you’re juggling lots of tasks, have a scattered brain, or just love a system that looks good and works well.
How It Works
Grab a sheet of paper or your favourite weekly planner (or download my Alastair method digital download here!). Split your page into 8 columns, one big column on the left, and 7 smaller columns for each day of the week (Monday to Sunday).
Here’s the step-by-step:
Step 1: Brain dump your tasks
In the big column (on the far left), jot down everything you want to get done this week. Big tasks, small errands, appointments, reminders; anything that’s floating around in your head. This is your main task list.
Step 2: Assign a day
Next, scan your task list and start assigning each task to a day.
You don’t have to overthink it, just tick the box under the day you think you’ll aim to get it done. You can assign tasks to more than one day if needed, or leave them open if you’re unsure. The idea is to gently map out when things might get done, without the pressure of strict scheduling.
Step 3: Move what doesn’t fit
If there’s something you realise you won’t get to this week, draw a little arrow through all seven day boxes. That tells your future self this task needs to be moved to next week (or beyond).
No guilt, no forgetting!
Step 4: Transfer to your weekly planner
Once you’ve ticked off the days for each task, you can transfer your list to your favourite weekly planner. Add your assigned tasks to the relevant days and you’re ready to roll.
Why It Works
One of the best things about the Alastair Method is how it brings everything into one place, giving you a clear view of your whole week and your full to-do list at a glance. It’s flexible and non-judgy, making it perfect for ADHD, neurodivergent, or just plain busy brains that need structure without the pressure. It’s low-effort, too so no need for colour coding or elaborate layouts, just a simple, effective way to organise your week. Plus, it builds in an easy review process so you can quickly see what got missed and move it forward without stress.
Ready to try it? You can use any notebook or download our Alastair Method printable to get started right away. (Or better yet – check out my digital download designed just for this.)
