If you’re a neurospicy business owner, keeping track of tasks, deadlines, and priorities can feel like herding cats while blindfolded. Your brain thrives on stimulation and clarity, so why not lean into that by making your workflow as visual and vibrant as possible?

Colour coding and visual aids aren’t just tools for schoolkids; they’re lifesavers for anyone juggling a million things at once. Let’s dive into how you can use visuals to supercharge your workflow and make it easier to focus.

Why Visuals and Colours Work for Neurodivergent Minds

Our brains process visual information much faster than written text. Adding a splash of colour or a strong visual cue can help you:

• Instantly identify priorities.
• Reduce decision fatigue.
• Stay engaged and motivated.

💡 Example: A calendar filled with blocks of bright colours is much more inviting than a sea of dull grey.

Step 1: Assign Colours to Categories

The first step is to decide what each colour represents. Keep it simple and intuitive—you don’t want to overcomplicate things.

Ideas for Categories:

• Client work: Green (growth, money).
• Admin tasks: Blue (calm, routine).
• Creative projects: Yellow (joy, creativity).
• Urgent deadlines: Red (stop, focus now!).

💡 My Tip: Stick to colours that evoke the right emotions or associations for you.

Step 2: Create a Colour-Coded Calendar

Using a digital or physical calendar, assign colours to each type of task. This makes it easy to see at a glance how your week is shaping up.

How to Do It:

• Use Google Calendar or similar apps to colour-code your events.
• For a physical planner, grab some highlighters or coloured pens.

💡 Example: If you’ve got too much red (urgent) in one day, it’s a sign to rebalance your workload.

Step 3: Use Visual Checklists

Traditional to-do lists can get overwhelming, especially when they’re just lines of black text. Add a visual twist by using symbols, images, or stickers to make them more engaging.

Ideas to Try:

• Add emojis to your digital task lists. 🌟 for priorities, 🔥 for deadlines.
• Use stickers in a paper planner to mark completed tasks.
• Draw simple icons next to tasks to represent their nature (a phone for calls, a computer for online work).

💡 My Tip: Make it fun—if your to-do list feels like a game, you’re more likely to tackle it.

Step 4: Map Out Your Workflow Visually

Flowcharts, Kanban boards, and mind maps can help you see your processes laid out clearly.

Tools You Can Use:

• Trello or Asana: Great for digital Kanban boards.
• Sticky notes: A low-tech but effective way to visualise tasks.
• Whiteboards: Perfect for brainstorming and tracking progress.

💡 Example: Divide a whiteboard into three columns: To Do, In Progress, and Done. Move tasks as you complete them—it’s incredibly satisfying!

Step 5: Highlight Priorities

Visual aids like traffic light systems can help you prioritise. Label tasks as:

• Red: Must be done today.
• Yellow: Important but not urgent.
• Green: Low-priority or long-term.

Why This Works:

It’s an instant visual cue that reduces the mental load of deciding what to tackle first.

💡 My Tip: Combine this with your colour-coded calendar for maximum clarity.

Step 6: Add Colour to Your Workspace

Your environment plays a huge role in your productivity. Bring your colour-coding into your workspace with:

• Folders or binders in different colours for different projects.
• Coloured sticky tabs to organise notebooks or paperwork.
• A colour-coded filing system for quick reference.

💡 Example: Keep all your “client work” files in green folders, so you always know where to find them.

Step 7: Experiment with Visual Timers

Time perception can be tricky, but visual timers like the Time Timer or hourglasses can help. They show time counting down, making it easier to stay on track.

When to Use Them:

• During focus sessions like Pomodoro sprints.
• To keep meetings or calls within a set timeframe.

💡 My Tip: Choose timers with bold colours or lights for an extra sensory boost.

Overcoming Potential Pitfalls

What if I Overdo It?

Too much colour can become overwhelming. Stick to your main categories and avoid rainbow chaos.

What if It Doesn’t Click Right Away?

That’s okay! Trial and error are part of the process. Tweak your system until it feels natural.

Final Thoughts

Colour coding and visual aids are about creating clarity in the chaos. They make your workflow easier to follow, help you prioritise with confidence, and inject a bit of joy into your day.

So grab your highlighters, fire up your favourite app, or head to the stationery aisle—your neurospicy brain deserves a workflow that works for you.