“We've tried to create visual systems before, but we really struggled to pull systems together that we could see all the way through and stick with.” — Jessye

You could DIY this. (Though, given the amount of work I've put into this adult kit, I'd prefer you didn't copy all my ideas.)

When we try to DIY things, we often spend so much time trying to solve the problem that by the time our glorious velcro chart is actually done, we've lost the steam required to implement it.

You may have downloaded a visual schedule on Etsy or tried to DIY your own. Maybe you got one on Amazon, or you have a big command center that you struggle to keep up with.

Mighty + Bright's visual schedules are different (that's why we get feedback like Jessye's!). Every aspect of our well-thought-out visual system is thoughtfully designed to be easy-to-implement in 15 minutes, right out of the box.

I've done all the work for you — ten years of work, in fact — coming up with the perfect system for your family.

The result is a system that might look simple, but has every single thing accounted for — including a fall-back for routine items or activities that you forgot.

After all, the last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of time DIYing something, paying to have it laminated, and then discovering you forgot something.

Plus, you can feel good that you're supporting a single mom's hard work.

The truth is, some things are better when they're analog, and this is one of them.

Using devices keeps the invisible invisible - so unless we remember to check the list, we don't actually solve the whole "out of sight, out of mind" problem. It doesn't give us a sense of control over our lives — it gives us a sense of being dependent on a device so we don't completely lose our minds.

We should also consider the impact of using apps. Notifications are great for things we need to be reminded of, but it's not ideal for reminding us to do things we need to do on a daily basis to take care of ourselves. Again, we aren't actually creating the neural pathways we need to learn a habit, and notifications affect our stress response.

According to Dr Sanam Hafeez, a psychologist at Columbia University, “[Notifications] send our brain into overdrive, triggering anxiety and stress, and at the very least, hypervigilance, which is meant to protect us from predators, not the phone.”

For people who struggle to stay focused, this is even more important. Routines should be more about rhythm (the order in which we do things, or the fact that we get things done at all) rather than trying to do things at a set time. When a notification interrupts us at a specified time, we may not be ready to do the thing at that time, so we dismiss the notification — and it goes back to being invisible.

And, on a less serious note, it's nice to have something that you can use for years *without* a subscription.

It's really easy, but just in case, every calendar comes with our digital Power Up™ for Everyday Structure.

We’ve spent over a year distilling the most important research and thick parenting books into a totally approachable, not-boring Power Up™ PDF that you’ll actually read. Remember: you don’t need to be a superhero to be an incredible parent. You just need the right tools, and you need them to be easy to execute. We got you.Learn everything you need (and nothing you don’t) about how to teach the vital mental health skill of Building Connection. Each Power Up™ includes:

✔ A quick-start guide to using the physical tool and implementing it in your household,

✔ Easy-to-read, one-page or less "deep dives" on the topic so you really understand it,

✔ Research and resources to learn about why each skill is important and how you'll know that you've succeeded in teaching it,

✔ Printable Coloring Sheets + Activity pages for kids to do without your assistance, reinforcing what they've learned and providing a reminder of the benefits of using the skill,

✔ Optional video Q&As (they're also written out in the Power Up booklet) and audio content to listen to at your convenience (and only if you want to!),

✔ Answers to frequently asked questions about each skill (and the ability to submit your own, to be answered by our experts),

✔ Recommended additional resources if you want to take a deeper dive on the topic