Create With Carla

Tag: Digital Products

  • How to Use the ADHD I’m Stuck Planner on Low-Energy Days

    Some days, you have the energy to make a plan, run the errands, and finally deal with that mysterious pile on the counter.

    Other days, opening the planner feels like an accomplishment all by itself.

    That is where the ADHD I’m Stuck Planner gives you a simple starting point. You do not have to fill in every section. You can choose the page that fits what you need today and leave the rest for another time.

    Want a look inside? This PDF planner includes Start Here, Today, Reset, and Money pages, among other sections. Below, I’ll show you how you might use a few of them on a day when your energy is limited.

    See The ADHD Planner Here

    Start Here: Choose What You Need Right Now

    The Start Here page says, “Choose one doorway. You do not need to use the whole planner.”

    It offers four starting points:

    • I need to get moving: Go to Today and pick one tiny task.
    • My brain is too loud: Go to Calm and unload it.
    • I forgot everything: Go to Reset for a quick life check.
    • I need encouragement: Go to Affirmations.

    Instead of deciding how to organize your entire week, you can begin by asking which description fits right now.

    Perhaps you need to check an appointment. Perhaps you just need somewhere to put the thoughts competing for your attention. Choose that starting point. The other pages can wait their turn.

    Today: One Must-Do, With Room for More

    The Today page separates “My ONE must-do” from “If I have more energy…”

    That second box is optional. It is not a sneaky assignment wearing a friendly hat.

    For example, your one must-do might be checking when the electric bill is due. If you have more energy afterward, you could gather the rest of the week’s bills. You do not have to turn one quick check into an afternoon of paperwork.

    There are also tiny-task checkboxes for a five-minute task, a quick message or call, and one thing to put away.

    You might choose one of those as your starting point. Sending the message you have been putting off is a specific action. “Get my whole life together” is rather a lot to ask of a Tuesday.

    Give Extra Thoughts Somewhere to Land

    At the bottom of the Today page is a Notes / brain dump section.

    You can use that space for the things that pop into your head while you are trying to do something else: buy batteries, return a call, find the permission slip, figure out why there are three opened jars of mustard.

    Writing something here does not have to mean doing it today. It gives you a place to record it and come back to it.

    Your brain dump does not need neat handwriting, matching colors, or a committee meeting. A few words can be enough to remind you what you meant.

    Reset: Pick Just One Check

    The Reset page begins with permission to pick just one item if that is all you have energy for.

    Its prompts include checking your calendar, reviewing bills and due dates, checking upcoming appointments, or clearing one small surface. There is also space to answer, “What would make this week easier?”

    On a low-energy day, you could choose to check tomorrow’s appointment time and stop there. You have used the page without completing every checkbox.

    And if you choose to clear a small surface, one corner of the counter counts. The planner did not secretly say “renovate the kitchen.”

    A Simple Example to Try

    Here is one way to use the planner without making a big project of it:

    1. Open Start Here and choose “I need to get moving.”
    2. On Today, write one specific action in My ONE must-do.
    3. Record any unrelated reminders in Notes / brain dump.
    4. Leave If I have more energy blank unless you want to add something.

    That is a complete way to begin. You can explore the other sections when they are useful to you.

    💡 Tech Tip: Download the PDF before filling it in. Open it in a PDF reader that supports fillable forms, and save your changes. Close and reopen your saved copy to check that your entries are still there.

    Take a Look Before You Decide

    If you would like to see more, take a look at the ADHD I’m Stuck Planner and decide whether its layout fits the way you prefer to plan. It is an organizational tool with space for one priority, extra thoughts, and everyday checks.

    Explore the ADHD I’m Stuck Planner.

    For more simple planning ideas, read ADHD Planning: When Your Brain Has 27 Tabs Open.

    You do not have to fill every box. Start with the part that is useful today.

  • ADHD Planning: When Your Brain Has 27 Tabs Open

    ADHD Planning: When Your Brain Has 27 Tabs Open

    ADHD planning can feel like trying to organize your day while your brain opens 27 extra tabs. You sit down to make a plan, remember the laundry, go looking for a pen, notice a plant needs water, and somehow end up sorting a kitchen drawer.

    The plan? Still waiting patiently.

    If that sounds familiar, welcome. Let’s make room for a little humor—and a way to start that doesn’t require organizing your entire life before lunch.

    ADHD Planning Starts With One Thing—Yes, Just One

    A long to-do list can turn into a staring contest. You look at it. It looks at you. Nobody folds the towels.

    For a gentler approach to ADHD planning, choose one thing you want to begin.

    It might be paying a bill, answering an email, or making an appointment. Write it where you can see it and give yourself a clear starting point.

    That’s actually why I created my ADHD I’m Stuck Planner. I wanted something simple that would help me focus on one step at a time instead of staring at a mile-long to-do list.

    It’s an interactive digital planner with clickable calendars and fillable pages, designed to make planning feel a little less overwhelming.

    Take a peek at my ADHD I’m Stuck Planner on Etsy — $14.99.

    You can choose the next task later. It does not need to stand behind you tapping its foot.

    Make the First Step Small Enough to Try

    “Clean the kitchen” sounds like a whole afternoon.

    “Put five dishes in the dishwasher” gives you somewhere to start.

    Try turning a broad task into one specific action:

    • Instead of “organize paperwork,” gather the papers into one pile.
    • Instead of “work on my business,” open the draft you want to finish.
    • Instead of “sort out appointments,” find the phone number for one office.

    If you keep putting off a task, ask yourself: “What is the first action I could take?”

    Make that your plan for now.

    Give Wandering Thoughts a Parking Place

    Sometimes you remember something unrelated right in the middle of a task.

    You are answering an email when your brain announces, “We need batteries!”

    Useful information. Interesting timing.

    Keep a piece of paper or a notes app nearby. Jot down the thought so you can return to it later, then come back to what you were doing.

    Your reminder has a parking space. It does not need to drive the whole day.

    Plan Around the Day You Actually Have

    A calendar can look wonderfully spacious until you add meals, errands, caregiving, appointments, and the time it takes to find your shoes.

    Before adding tasks, write down the commitments already on your calendar. Then choose what reasonably fits around them.

    Leave a little breathing room. Some tasks take longer than expected, and interruptions do not usually make reservations.

    On a busy day, one useful task may be enough. Your plan can reflect your life as it is today.

    Keep Your ADHD Planning Routine Simple

    You do not have to build an elaborate system to begin.

    Try keeping appointments and plans in one main place. Choose a regular moment to look at them—perhaps after breakfast or before you settle down for the evening.

    Ask yourself:

    • Is there an appointment or deadline I need to remember?
    • What matters most today?
    • What is one small step I can take next?

    Use colors or reminders if you enjoy them. If decorating your planner becomes its own three-hour project, you are allowed to put down the stickers and write the appointment.

    The planner can wear its fancy outfit another day.

    Missed a Day? Come Back Today

    An unused planner page is not a report card.

    You do not have to fill in every missed day before using your planner again. Open it to where you are now and write down what you need next.

    Plans change. Routines get interrupted. You can adjust without declaring the entire system a disaster.

    A helpful question is: “What would make today a little easier?”

    Start there.

    The ADHD I’m Stuck Planner shown on a phone, laptop, and tablet, with monthly calendar and daily notebook pages.

    A Simple Place to Begin

    If you would like a place to keep your plans together, take a look at my ADHD One-Step Planner. Its interactive monthly calendar gives you a place to record appointments and plans, then return to them as your month unfolds.

    You can also find my ADHD I’m Stuck Planner in my Etsy shop.

    It is an organizational tool, and you can decide whether its layout suits the way you like to plan.

    Whether you use a planner, a notebook, or a piece of paper, try beginning with one clear step.

    Your brain may still have 27 tabs open. For now, you only need to choose the one you want to work on.

  • Pinterest Isn’t Social Media—It’s a Search Engine That Can Drive Free Website Traffic

    Pinterest Isn’t Social Media—It’s a Search Engine That Can Drive Free Website Traffic

    Pinterest is already bringing visitors to my website.
    In the last 30 days, my Pins received 2,540 impressions and 49 outbound clicks—all organically. In this article, I’ll show you the simple changes that helped me start getting results.

    Want something of your own to promote on Pinterest?
    Get my free Beginner’s Guide to Creating Digital Products.

    Click here 👉to Get the Free Guide.

    When most people think of Pinterest, they picture recipes, DIY projects, and decorating ideas. While those are popular on Pinterest, there’s something many people don’t realize:

    Pinterest is actually a search engine. And that’s exactly why I started paying more attention to it. Instead of creating a post that disappears from a social media feed in a few hours, I can create a pin that leads people directly to one of my blog posts — and that pin has the potential to keep bringing visitors long after I publish it.

    That means when someone searches for a topic like “how to make money online,” “digital products,” or “journal ideas,” your content can appear in their search results—even months or years after you publish it.

    Unlike many social media platforms where posts disappear within hours, Pinterest gives your content a much longer life.

    Why Pinterest Is So Powerful

    Every pin you create is an opportunity to bring people to your:

    • Website
    • Blog
    • Digital products
    • Online store
    • Free resources
    • Email list

    Instead of hoping people happen to see your content in their feed, Pinterest helps connect your content with people who are already searching for it.

    How to Use Pinterest Like a Search Engine

    The biggest change for me was realizing that I shouldn’t think about a Pinterest Pin the same way I think about a Facebook or Instagram post.

    On social media, we often create something for the people who already follow us and hope they see it in their feed.

    Pinterest works differently. People actually go there looking for ideas, answers and solutions.

    Think about what you might type into the Pinterest search bar:

    “digital product ideas for beginners”
    “how to make money online from home”
    “printable planner ideas”
    “side hustles for beginners”
    “how to get traffic to my blog”

    Those searches tell us something important: instead of simply asking, “What should I post today?” we can ask, “What is my ideal reader searching for?”

    That’s where Pinterest keywords come in.

    If I’m creating a Pin about digital products, for example, I want the words on my Pin, the Pin title and the description to clearly tell Pinterest what my content is about.

    I don’t need to stuff the same keyword everywhere or make the description sound unnatural. I just want Pinterest—and the person searching—to immediately understand what they’ll find when they click.

    Then I send that person somewhere useful: a helpful blog post, a free guide, a product or another resource that answers the question that brought them there in the first place.

    My Pinterest Journey

    As I continue building my online business, I’m learning how Pinterest can become one of the best free traffic sources available.

    I’m creating helpful pins that lead people to my blog, where I can share tips, resources, and the products I’m creating along the way.

    For each blog post I create, I can make several different pins with different images and headlines. Each pin can lead back to that same blog post, giving me more than one opportunity to reach someone searching for that topic.

    I’m excited to see where this journey leads, and I’ll continue sharing what I learn.

    SEE THE PRODUCTS I’VE CREATED

    Want help getting your first pins made? I created a Pinterest Starter Package for small business owners and creators who have something to share but need help turning it into pins. Take a look at what’s included and see if it fits what you need.

    One Blog Post Can Give You Several Pins

    This was another Pinterest lesson that made things much easier for me.

    I don’t have to write a brand-new blog post every time I want to create a new Pin.

    One helpful article can give me several different Pins because people may search for the same information in different ways.

    For example, a blog post about beginner digital products could become Pins such as:

    10 Digital Products You Can Create This Weekend

    What Digital Product Should I Sell?

    Digital Product Ideas for Beginners

    Easy Printables You Can Create and Sell

    They can all lead to the same useful article while approaching the subject from different angles.

    That means the work I’ve already done on my blog can continue giving me new opportunities to be discovered.

    Getting Started

    If you’re new to Pinterest, here are three simple tips:

    1. Create helpful, eye-catching Pins.
    Your Pin needs to give someone a reason to stop scrolling. Use a clear headline that tells them exactly what they’ll get when they click. Instead of something vague like “My Latest Blog Post,” try something specific like “10 Digital Products You Can Create This Weekend.”

    2. Link every Pin to valuable content.
    Don’t send everyone to your homepage. If your Pin promises digital product ideas, send them directly to the article about digital product ideas. The closer the Pin matches the page they land on, the better the experience for the person who clicked.

    3. Keep creating fresh Pins.
    You don’t need a brand-new blog post every day. Create different Pin designs and headlines for the useful content you already have. One article can continue giving you new opportunities to reach people over time.

    Small, consistent steps can add up to significant traffic over time.

    Keep Learning

    Interested in creating something of your own to promote on Pinterest? Check out my post, “10 Digital Products You Can Create This Weekend Even If You’re a Beginner.”

    Want to Learn More?

    If you’re interested in building an online business, creating digital products, and learning how to generate traffic, I’d love to have you follow along.

    You can also watch this free 8-minute video Boss Suite Sneak Peek to see one of the systems I’m using as I build my business.

    Get Your FREE Boss Suite Sneak Peek

  • 10 Digital Products You Can Create This Weekend Even If You’re a Beginner

    10 Digital Products You Can Create This Weekend Even If You’re a Beginner

    Have you ever wondered if it’s really possible to earn money online with digital products for beginners—something you can create once and sell over and over again?

    A few months ago, I wondered the same thing.

    I wasn’t a graphic designer, a tech expert, or a marketing professional. I simply wanted to find a way to earn extra income from home while learning new skills at my own pace.

    That’s when I discovered digital products. Since then, I’ve created digital guides, journals, and other products of my own. I’m still learning as I go, but one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to know everything before you start.

    The best part? You don’t need a warehouse full of inventory, expensive equipment, or years of experience to get started. With today’s tools, anyone can create valuable digital products that help other people solve problems.

    If you’re looking for inspiration, here are 10 beginner-friendly digital products you can create this weekend.

    1. Printable Planners

    Daily, weekly, and monthly planners are always in demand. People love organizing their schedules, goals, and routines with printable pages they can use again and again. Want to see an example? Take a look at my My Crazy Life Planner—a 17-page printable planner I created for keeping up with real-life chaos. 😂

    2. Checklists

    Simple checklists save people time. Think moving checklists, vacation packing lists, cleaning schedules, meal prep lists, or business startup checklists. Want to see an example? Take a look at my FREE Kids’ Responsibility Checklist Pack, with room-cleaning, a 10-minute room rescue, a school-morning checklist, and a reward chart.

    3. Journals

    Guided journals are one of my favorite digital products because they help people reflect, grow, and stay motivated. Gratitude journals, wellness journals, travel journals, and goal journals are all popular choices. Want to see an example? Take a look at my Journal for Veterans, created for reflection, memories, and life after service.

    4. Budget Trackers

    Budget trackers are a great digital product because almost everyone wants an easier way to manage their money. You can create trackers for monthly expenses, bills, savings, debt, groceries, or even a specific audience. For example, I created Making It Work: Budget Planner for Single Moms to help busy moms plan their paychecks, keep up with bills, manage everyday expenses, and work toward their financial goals one step at a time. ❤️

    5. Meal Planners

    Meal planners are a practical digital product that busy families can use every single week. They can include weekly meal planning, grocery lists, quick dinner ideas, pantry tracking, budget-friendly meals, and even fun ways to get the kids involved. Want to see an example? Take a look at my Easy Fun Meals: A Simple Meal Planner for Busy Families — a 13-page printable designed to take some of the stress out of figuring out what’s for dinner. 🍽️❤️

    6. Coloring Pages

    Coloring pages aren’t just for kids anymore. Adults enjoy relaxing designs, inspirational quotes, nature scenes, seasonal themes, and mindfulness coloring books. Want to see an example? Take a look at my Hippie Life Coloring Book.

    7. Social Media Templates

    Creating content for social media can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re staring at a blank screen wondering what to post. Social media products can include post ideas, prompts, captions, engagement posts, promotional content, and more. Want to see an example? Take a look at my Social Made Simple: 15 Ready-to-Use Post Ideas — a printable guide designed to help creators and small business owners spend less time wondering what to post and more time actually posting. 📱❤️

    8. Recipe eBooks

    If you love cooking, you can create recipe collections featuring family favorites, healthy meals, desserts, holiday recipes, or budget-friendly dinners.

    9. Educational Guides

    Have a hobby or skill you’ve learned? Turn your knowledge into a simple step-by-step guide that helps beginners get started with confidence. Want to see an example? Take a look at my Beginner’s Guide to Creating Digital Products.

    10. Digital Workbooks

    Digital workbooks are a great way to guide someone through a process step by step while giving them space to actually put what they’re learning into action. They can include prompts, worksheets, checklists, planning pages, exercises, and action steps. Want to see an example? Take a look at my From Idea to Income: Digital Product Creation Workbook — a 22-page printable workbook that walks beginners from choosing an idea all the way through creating, pricing, listing, and launching their first digital product. 💡❤️

    You Don’t Have to Be an Expert

    One of the biggest myths about digital products is that you need to know everything before you begin.

    The truth is, you only need to know enough to help someone take their first step.

    I started exactly where many beginners are today—learning as I went, creating one product at a time, and improving with every project. Every digital product teaches you something new, and each one builds your confidence.

    Ready to Create Your First Digital Product?

    If you’re ready to stop wondering where to start, I’ve created a FREE Beginner’s Guide to Creating Digital Products that walks you through the basics step by step.

    Inside, you’ll learn how to choose an idea, create your first product, and take the first steps toward building an online income.

    Download your free guide today and start creating something that could continue working for you long after you’ve finished making it.

    Your future starts with one simple idea—and this weekend could be the perfect time to begin.

    Get Your Free Beginner’s Guide

    Want to Learn More Ways to Make Money Online?

    Digital products are only one way to make money online. When I first started, I had no idea how many different ways there were to build an income online. Once I began learning about the different options, things finally started making a lot more sense.

    SEE MORE WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

    Looking for More Inspiration?

    Read my story, “I Never Thought I’d Create a Journal at 64—Here’s What Happened,” This is where I share how creating digital products gave me the confidence to try something completely new.

    Read my story

    Here’s an Opportunity for You

    If creating digital products has you wondering what else is possible online, I want to share something that opened my eyes to just how many different income opportunities are out there.

    Boss Suite brings different online income strategies and training together in one place. You can watch the free Sneak Peek first, see what it’s about, and decide for yourself whether it feels like the right next step for you.

    Watch The FREE Boss Suite Sneak Peek

  • I Never Thought I’d Create a Journal at 64—Here’s What Happened

    If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be creating digital journals and learning online business, I probably would have laughed.

    I’m 64 years old, a grandmother, and like many people, I reached a point in life where I needed to find a way to earn income from home. I wasn’t looking to become a tech expert. I was simply looking for hope and a way to build something for my future.

    That’s when I discovered digital products.

    At first, I had no idea where to begin. The words “Canva,” “KDP,” and “affiliate marketing” sounded overwhelming. I wondered if I was too old to learn something completely new.

    But I decided to try anyway.

    One of the first projects I learned to create was a journal. It might sound simple, but finishing that first journal changed something inside me. For the first time in a long while, I realized I could still learn new skills and create something that could help other people.

    Since then, I’ve created journals, guides, blogs, and other digital products. Every project has taught me something new—not just about technology, but about believing in myself again.

    Why Journals Are a Great First Digital Product

    Journals are a wonderful place to start because they don’t require expensive equipment or years of experience.

    They allow you to:

    • Share your creativity.
    • Help people stay organized or inspired.
    • Learn valuable design skills.
    • Create products that can be sold online.

    More importantly, each journal teaches you skills you can use to create many other digital products.

    What I Learned

    Looking back, I wish I had known these three things from the beginning:

    1. Your first product doesn’t have to be perfect.
    2. You don’t need to know everything before you start.
    3. The biggest obstacle is usually fear—not technology.

    Every product I create gets a little better than the last one. That’s how growth happens.

    Why I’m Sharing My Journey

    I’m not writing this because I’ve become an overnight success.

    I’m writing because I know there are people who feel exactly like I did—wondering if it’s too late to start something new.

    If that’s you, I want you to know this:

    It’s never too late to learn a new skill.

    It’s never too late to create something you’re proud of.

    And it’s never too late to take one small step toward building a different future.

    What’s Next?

    On Create With Carla, I’ll continue sharing what I’m learning about creating digital products, using Canva, publishing journals, affiliate marketing, and building an online business one step at a time.

    If my journey can save you time, encourage you, or inspire you to start your own, then every lesson I’ve learned will have been worth sharing.Thanks for being here. I’m excited to see where this journey leads us

    Download My FREE Beginner’s Guide

    If you’re just getting started, download my FREE Beginner’s Guide to Creating Digital Products. It’s full of beginner-friendly tips that I wish I’d had when I started.

    Download Your FREE Beginner’s Guide Here

    Ready to Learn What Helped Me Get Started?

    Creating my first journal gave me the confidence to keep learning. If you’re curious about the training that introduced me to digital products, affiliate marketing, journals, Canva, and 17 other ways to build an online business from home, you can take a free look at this short 15-minute video

    Click Here for the FREE Boss Suite Sneak Peek