How to Use If-Then Rules to Stay Calm and Organised

Welcome to a simple yet powerful strategy for making your daily life easier. If-then rules are visual reminders that turn your best intentions into automatic actions. By placing these short instructions exactly where you need them, you take the mental burden off your brain and put it onto paper, screens, or sticky notes. This approach is especially valuable for anyone with neurodivergent thinking patterns who finds it challenging to hold instructions in mind when it's time to act.

Why Visible Rules Work for Your Brain

For many neurodivergent individuals, the challenge isn't knowing what to do - it's remembering to do it at the exact moment it matters. Your brain can drop the instruction just when you need it most, leaving you frustrated and overwhelmed. This isn't a failure of willpower; it's how working memory functions under pressure.

When you write rules down and place them in your line of sight, you're creating external memory aids. Think of them as traffic signs for your day:

• They're clear and brief
• They're impossible to miss
• They guide you without requiring mental effort

Instead of relying on inner speech or trying harder to remember, you're simply making the instruction visible in the moment. It's like having a helpful friend whispering the next step exactly when you need it.

How to Create Your Own If-Then Rules

Start by identifying your three biggest 'hot spots' - the moments in your day when you typically forget, rush, or make mistakes. Common examples include email management, meeting transitions, or cooking tasks.

For each hot spot, write one simple if-then rule:

• 'If I open email, then I scan my calendar first'
• 'If a meeting ends, then I write the next step before I stand up'
• 'If I turn on a burner, then I start a timer'

The key is placement. Put each rule exactly where the action happens - on your computer monitor, in your notebook, or beside your stove. Test your rules for a week and adjust the wording until they feel effortless to follow. Consider adding a tiny reward after each successful follow-through to reinforce the habit.

The Long-Term Benefits of Posted Rules

Over time, these visual reminders reduce the number of decisions you need to make, cut down on mistakes, and lower your overall stress levels. You're not trying harder - you're making the path clearer.

The beauty of if-then rules is that they do the remembering for you, freeing up your mental energy for the actual doing. As one neurodivergent advocate puts it: 'A sticky note is basically working memory you can stick to a door.' That's the power of making your environment work with you, not against you.

Support Your Focus with Brainzyme

If-then rules work brilliantly alongside other focus strategies. At Brainzyme, we understand the challenges of maintaining attention and organisation throughout your day. That's why we've developed scientifically proven plant-powered focus supplements designed to support your natural cognitive abilities.

Discover how Brainzyme can complement your if-then rules and help you stay focused and productive. Visit www.brainzyme.com to learn more about our range of natural focus supplements and find the perfect formula for your needs.