Peb Talks was not created for others to see
It wasn't a business idea. It was a survival kit.
It was a private system I built for myself because I was tired of drowning in a schedule that looked perfect on paper but felt like a burnout in reality. I didn't want to do less, I wanted to do everything, and I wanted to do it exceptionally well.
This journal gave me the time for that. It made me in control of my life like I never had been before.
The 40-Hour Trap
My journey began at the University of Amsterdam, but it wasn't the "typical student" experience. I was clocking over 40 hours a week of intense study, plus board committees and a social life. I was doing everything "right", reading every page of literature, attending every lecture, while dealing with anxiety.
How Peb Talks was created: From burnout to balance
After accounting for study, work, and commitments, I had only 8 hours per day left for everything else. That meant sleeping, eating, showering, and just being human had to fit into a tiny window of 8 hours. Even with professional planning, it was mathematically impossible. I wasn't just busy, I was on the edge of a total burnout.
I realised I couldn't plan my way out of a broken system. I had to change the way I looked at time itself.
The Planner That Changed Everything
I decided to stop following traditional agendas that didn't work for me. Starting with just a notebook, I designed a custom system based on mindfulness and "selective focus." I created a flexible space that distinguished between obligations (what you must do) and intentions (what you want to do).
An Unexpected Diagnosis
While I was perfecting this system, my psychologist pointed out something I never expected: "It sounds like you have AD(H)D." Initially, I didn't believe it. I thought ADHD was just being "hyper." But after a diagnosis and a deep dive into the ADHD world, everything clicked. The daily obstacles I faced weren't character flaws, they were just how my brain was wired. My designed planner had been working because it was built for a brain that needs structure without the cage.
But there was a problem: my grades didn't reflect my effort. I was working four times harder than everyone else just to keep my head above water.
The result? I started doing less, but my grades went up. By prioritising what actually mattered and letting go of the rest. I finally found clarity, even better I was in control of my life like I had never been before.
The "Math of Exhaustion"
I sought help everywhere: workshops, productivity books, trainings and finally, a student psychologist. We sat down to map out my life, and the reality hit like a freight train.
"I realised I couldn't plan my way out of a broken system. I had to change the way I looked at time itself"
Why Peb Talks is for every Brain
I shared my system with family and friends. The years I used it, I felt in control; the years I didn't, I felt the burnout creeping back.
I realized that while this system was born from an ADHD struggle, the modern world is making everyone feel "ADHD-ish." Everyone is overwhelmed. Everyone is tired of "hustle culture." Everyone needs a way to find their voice in the noise.
Pebtalks was created to give that control back to you. We don’t just help you plan your day, we help you protect your peace.
