Pro Tips

10 Best ADHD Productivity Apps

Sep 18, 2024

Staying on top of your responsibilities can be challenging, mainly when your brain works differently than others. Tasks can feel overwhelming, and losing time or forgetting what you’re doing is not unusual. Fortunately, there are ADHD productivity tools that can help you tackle these obstacles. In this guide, you’ll discover ten ADHD productivity apps to help you stay organized, focused, and productive.

One such ADHD productivity tool is Forget’s solution. This app helps users manage and remember everyday tasks and responsibilities to improve organization and reduce stress.

What is ADHD and How Does it Affect Productivity?

Lady Using Phone - ADHD Productivity Apps

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, time blindness, and difficulty focusing. These symptoms can vary in intensity and manifest differently in different individuals, but they often affect a person's ability to organize tasks, manage time, and prioritize activities.

ADHD can make it challenging to manage multiple tasks, maintain a consistent focus, and follow through on projects. Time blindness, a common symptom, causes difficulties in perceiving how much time has passed or how much is needed to complete a task, leading to procrastination or last-minute rushing. These productivity struggles can result in missed deadlines, incomplete projects, and high stress.

Understanding these challenges helps you select the right app. For example, someone who struggles with time blindness might benefit from apps with visual timers and time-blocking features. In contrast, someone who experiences hyperfocus may need apps that provide regular reminders to take breaks.

Key Features to Look for in ADHD Productivity Apps

Task Timers and Time Management Tools

Features like Pomodoro timers, visual countdowns, or customizable time blocks help manage time perception and reduce time blindness by breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Distraction Blockers and Focus Modes

These tools help minimize distractions from other apps, websites, or notifications, creating a focused environment that can significantly enhance productivity for easily distracted users.

Reminders and Notifications

Frequent reminders and notifications keep ADHD users on track, providing necessary nudges to refocus or switch tasks when needed. Customization options are vital to avoid overwhelming the user with alerts.

Simple and Intuitive Interfaces

More complex tools can lead to satisfaction and disuse. Productivity apps for ADHD should have a clean, straightforward design that allows users to easily navigate and manage their tasks without feeling overwhelmed.

Visual Task Management Tools

Kanban boards, color-coded lists, and visual calendars can help users organize tasks visually, making it easier to see what needs to be done and prioritize accordingly.

Integration with Other Tools

Productivity apps that integrate seamlessly with calendars, emails, and other task managers help create a cohesive productivity ecosystem, reducing the need to juggle multiple tools.

Gamification and Reward Systems

Incorporating gamified elements like points, badges, or rewards for completing tasks can help motivate users with ADHD by providing immediate positive reinforcement.

Practical Tip

Matching Features to Individual Needs

What to Do

Readers should evaluate their specific productivity challenges (e.g., time blindness, task switching, hyperfocus) and prioritize features in an app that address these issues.

Why This Matters

Not all productivity apps will work for everyone, as ADHD symptoms vary widely. Selecting an app that aligns closely with the user's struggles will result in better adoption and sustained use.

Example

A professional struggling with staying on task due to distractions may prioritize apps with robust focus modes and distraction blockers. In contrast, students with difficulty organizing tasks might benefit more from visual task management features.

Top 10 ADHD Productivity Apps

1. Forget: The Ultimate ADHD Productivity Tool

Forget is a productivity tool designed specifically for people with ADHD. Our app fights time blindness by keeping you focused on one task at a time to help you get things done. No more juggling a million things and getting nowhere. Forget has already helped over 10,000 professionals boost their productivity, and we'd love for you to join them. Get started with our ADHD productivity tool for free today to reach peak productivity daily!

2. Due: Simple and Effective Timers

Due is a straightforward timer app that helps you manage your time and stay on track. With customizable countdown timers, notifications, and reminders, Due makes setting time goals for specific tasks accessible. You can even create multiple timers for different tasks to help you stay organized and focused.

3. Brain Focus: Pomodoro Technique App

Brain Focus is a Pomodoro timer app that helps you break your work into manageable intervals. With Brain Focus, you can customize your Pomodoro sessions and short and long break times to fit your needs. The app even tracks your progress over time, so you can see how much you are improving your focus.

4. Google Calendar: Essential for Scheduling

Google Calendar is a powerful scheduling tool that can help you stay organized. With Google Calendar, you can create events for appointments, deadlines, and tasks and set reminders to alert you before they occur. Visualizing your schedule in a calendar format can help you see what you have coming up and alleviate the anxiety that can come with ADHD.

5. Todoist: Task Management Made Easy

Todoist is an intuitive tool that helps you create and manage task lists. With Todoist, you can make simple lists or get more advanced by creating projects, breaking tasks into sub-tasks, assigning due dates, and setting reminders. This makes it easy to stay organized and on top of your to-dos.

6. Evernote: Note-Taking and Organization

Evernote is a powerful note-taking app that can help you stay organized. You can capture ideas, organize information, and even create task lists within the app to help you manage your work. With Evernote, you won’t have to worry about losing important information or getting too disorganized to function.

7. SimpleMind Pro: Visualize Your Thoughts

SimpleMind Pro is a mind-mapping app that allows you to visualize your thoughts and organize information. For those with ADHD, this can be an invaluable tool for tackling complex projects or getting started on daunting tasks. Breaking your work into a visual format can help alleviate anxiety and improve focus.

8. Grain: Transcribe and Clip Meetings

Grain is a unique tool that helps you manage information from meetings and calls. With Grain, you can record meetings, transcribe the audio, and create clips of important information. This can help reduce the need for detailed notes to stay focused during meaningful discussions.

9. Trello: Kanban-Style Project Management

Trello is a visual project management tool that uses a Kanban-style layout to help you organize tasks. With Trello, you create boards to represent different projects and can make cards to represent tasks within each board. This lets you visualize your work and track progress to help you stay organized and focused.

10. Bear: Minimalist Note-Taking

Bear is a simple note-taking app that helps you capture your thoughts without distraction. Its clean, minimal interface lets you focus on writing and organizing your notes rather than getting sidetracked with too many features.

How to Choose the Right ADHD Productivity App for You

Assess Your Specific ADHD Challenges

ADHD affects every person differently. Before evaluating productivity apps, assess how ADHD affects your ability to get organized and complete tasks. Then, look for apps that target your specific challenges. For example, if you struggle with procrastination, look for an app to help you break tasks into smaller pieces and manage the transitions between them. On the other hand, if you have trouble focusing, look for an app that can help you block distractions or gamify productivity to make it more engaging.

Consider Integration and Compatibility

Many people with ADHD benefit from several apps as part of their productivity system. However, switching back and forth between tools can be distracting and lead to productivity loss. To minimize disruptions, choose an app that integrates well with other tools you already use. For example, you can look for apps that sync with Google Calendar or Outlook to help you stay organized across platforms. Also, consider whether the app offers mobile and desktop versions, cloud syncing, and cross-platform compatibility.

Test for User-Friendliness and Ease of Use

An app that is difficult to navigate or has a cluttered interface can be counterproductive for ADHD users. Before committing to a productivity app, look for one that offers intuitive design, straightforward navigation, and clear instructions. For instance, what does the setup process look like? How simple is creating tasks, adjusting reminders, and managing projects? You want to find a productivity app with a clean user interface that isn’t overloaded with unnecessary features that might be distracting.

Check the Flexibility and Customization Options

ADHD symptoms and productivity styles can vary significantly from person to person. The best productivity app for ADHD should offer flexible settings that allow users to customize reminders, notification sounds, color themes, and task prioritization methods to suit their preferences.

You can customize the interface, notifications, and task lists and even integrate with wearable devices for reminders and alerts. Some users prefer visual alerts, while others benefit more from audio cues. Choose an app that allows for both high-level customization and simple adjustments on the fly. This will help you adapt the tool as your productivity needs change.

Read Reviews and Seek Recommendations from Other ADHD Users

Reading user reviews, particularly from other individuals with ADHD, can provide insights into how well an app works for specific challenges. Look for feedback on ease of use, the features' effectiveness for ADHD, and any drawbacks or limitations.

Check app stores, ADHD support groups, online communities like Reddit, or productivity forums for honest reviews and experiences. Don’t just look at the ratings; read detailed reviews that discuss the app’s specific pros and cons for ADHD productivity.

Cost vs. Value Analysis

Many ADHD productivity apps offer both free and paid versions. Assessing whether the paid features provide significant value for your specific needs is essential. Some apps have a one-time purchase option, while others require a subscription. Compare the app's cost with its features and determine if it’s worth the investment. Sometimes, a more expensive app may offer a broader range of ADHD-friendly features that could be more beneficial in the long run. Start with a free trial or a basic version to test the core features. If it significantly improves your productivity, consider upgrading to a paid version for additional functionality.

Get Started With Our ADHD Productivity Tool

We created Forget to help people like us with ADHD get things done. Our tool fights time blindness by keeping you focused on one task at a time. No more juggling a million things and getting nowhere. We've already helped over 10,000 professionals boost their productivity, and we'd love for you to join them. Get started with our ADHD productivity tool for free today to reach peak productivity daily!

Best Practices for Using ADHD Productivity Apps

Set Clear and Realistic Goals

Individuals with ADHD often struggle with setting priorities and managing large projects, which can lead to overwhelm and procrastination. Clear and realistic goals help break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Use the app to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.

For instance, instead of setting a goal to "write a report," break it down into "research key points," "create an outline," and "write the introduction." With an app like Forget, users can set up daily or weekly goals with time blocks dedicated to each step. The app’s focus mode can help ensure attention remains on one step at a time, avoiding the overwhelming task of tackling it all at once.

Use Notifications and Reminders Effectively

Notifications and reminders can help ADHD users stay on track, but they can also become overwhelming if not managed properly. Effective use of reminders can create a balanced structure without leading to alert fatigue. Set up reminders for the most critical tasks or transitions between tasks, but avoid excessive notifications that could cause distraction or anxiety.

To reduce the frequency of notifications, use features that allow batching or grouping. For apps like Todoist or Trello, configure reminders only for priority tasks and set them to appear when you are most productive. Use gentle notification sounds or visual cues rather than loud alerts to reduce stress.

Incorporate Regular Breaks to Avoid Burnout

ADHD users can experience hyperfocus, becoming deeply absorbed in a task and losing track of time. While hyperfocus can be productive, it can also lead to burnout if breaks aren’t incorporated. Use apps that follow the Pomodoro Technique (e.g., Focus Booster) to work in intervals, such as 25 minutes of focused work and a 5-minute break.

This method helps maintain high productivity while preventing mental fatigue. Set longer breaks after several intervals (e.g., after four Pomodoros) to recharge fully. Combine these breaks with relaxation techniques like deep breathing or short walks to refresh your mind.

Leverage Task Prioritization Features

Deciding which tasks to tackle first can be a significant challenge for those with ADHD. Proper task prioritization ensures that the most important tasks get done without feeling overwhelmed by a lengthy to-do list.

Use the app’s task prioritization features to categorize tasks by urgency and importance (e.g., “must-do,” “should-do,” and “nice-to-do”). This can help in creating a focused and achievable daily plan. Use color-coded tags or labels within apps like Trello or Microsoft To-Do to visually distinguish between different priority levels. This visual differentiation can help ADHD users quickly identify where to start.

Regularly Review and Reflect on Your Progress

Regular reviews help users assess what’s working and what’s not, allowing them to adjust their strategies and continue improving their productivity. Set a weekly or monthly review session to evaluate your progress, identify bottlenecks, and plan adjustments.

Use the app’s built-in analytics or progress-tracking features to see how well you stick to your goals and routines. Apps like RescueTime can provide detailed reports on how time is being spent. Use these insights to adjust time blocks or focus periods within apps like Forget, ensuring a better balance of work and rest.

Experiment and Adapt to Find What Works Best

No single method or app will work perfectly for everyone, especially given the variability in ADHD symptoms. Flexibility and willingness to try different approaches to find the most effective strategy is essential. Experiment with other apps and their features to see what combinations work best.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match tools based on specific needs (e.g., using Forget for Focus and Trello for visual task management). Track the effectiveness of each approach for a few weeks. Make notes on what improves productivity and what doesn’t, and refine your toolset and methods accordingly.

Common Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them

Don't Get Lost in the Details: Simplifying Task Lists to Boost Productivity

ADHD users can sometimes create overly detailed task lists that become overwhelming and lead to analysis paralysis. A long list of tasks with clear prioritization can avoid stress and reduce productivity.

Instead of getting lost in the details, simplify task lists by breaking them into smaller, manageable chunks. Use apps like Forget, designed to encourage focus on one task at a time and help users avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many options.

The Perils of Time Blindness and How to Combat It

Time blindness is a common issue for those with ADHD. It involves difficulty perceiving how much time has passed or how much is needed to complete a task, leading to procrastination or last-minute rushes.

To combat time blindness, use apps with time-tracking and visual time-blocking features, such as Forget or Clockify. These apps can provide real-time visibility into how much time is spent on each task and help users better manage their schedules.

Breaks Matter: Why ADHD Users Need to Take a Step Back

ADHD users, especially those who experience hyperfocus, may work for extended periods without breaks, leading to mental fatigue and burnout. Conversely, they may avoid breaks altogether, thinking it will reduce productivity.

Recognizing the importance of structured breaks can help you avoid this pitfall. Use apps that incorporate reminders for breaks, like Forest or Focus@Will, to encourage users to step away and recharge.

Customize Your Productivity App Settings for Optimal Use

Many users need to take full advantage of the customization options available in productivity apps. Default settings may not be optimal for every ADHD user, leading to ineffective reminders or overwhelming notifications.

Adjust the settings to suit your needs better to get the most out of your chosen productivity app. Customize notification sounds, reminder frequencies, task layouts, and more to create a user-friendly environment.

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket: Have Backup Apps Ready

Relying on a single app for all productivity needs can be limiting. If that app fails or does not cover all aspects of ADHD management, users can lose valuable time and momentum.
To avoid losing productivity, use a backup strategy and a combination of apps to cover different productivity aspects. For instance, Forget can focus on tasks, and Clockify can track time. This way, if one app fails or becomes less effective, the productivity flow isn’t entirely disrupted.

Regularly Review Productivity Strategies to Ensure Optimal Performance

Sticking rigidly to a single productivity method or app setup can lead to stagnation or decreased effectiveness over time. ADHD users need flexibility in their productivity strategies.

To avoid this problem, regularly review and adjust your productivity strategies. Use app features like productivity analytics or weekly reviews to assess what’s working and what needs to be changed.

How Forget Can Help You Stay Productive

Forget is an ADHD productivity app designed to address common issues with focus, organization, and time management that the ADHD brain faces. Forget’s unique features make it a potent tool to help users overcome distractions and chaotic thought patterns to get more done with less stress.

Unique Features of Forget for ADHD Productivity

Single-Task Focus System

Forget is built around minimizing cognitive overload. It allows users to focus on one task at a time, helping reduce distractions and prevent users from feeling overwhelmed by a long list of tasks.

Customizable Time Blocks

Users can create time blocks to dedicate focused work sessions to specific tasks. These blocks are highly customizable, allowing users to set them as long or short as needed. This is especially beneficial for ADHD users who struggle with time blindness.

Intuitive Design with Minimal Distraction

The app's clean and simple interface is designed to reduce distractions. Forget to avoid unnecessary features that could clutter the workspace and instead focus on providing a streamlined user experience.

Visual and Auditory Cues

Forget includes visual and auditory reminders to help users stay on track. These cues can be customized to suit personal preferences, ensuring they are effective without being overwhelming.

Task Batching and Prioritization

The app allows users to batch and prioritize similar tasks, making managing tasks requiring similar focus or energy easier. This reduces the cognitive load associated with constantly switching contexts.

How Forget Helps ADHD Users Overcome Common Productivity Challenges

Managing Time Blindness

Forget’s time-blocking feature helps users break their day into manageable segments, visually representing how time is spent. This combats time blindness by offering a clear sense of time progression and task duration.

Maintaining Focus and Reducing Distractions

The single-task focus mode is designed to help users avoid multitasking, a common issue for those with ADHD. By locking in on one task, Forget allows users to achieve deep work and reduces the likelihood of distraction.

Encouraging Breaks and Preventing Burnout

The app can be set to remind users to take regular breaks, which helps prevent burnout and ensures sustainable productivity. For users prone to hyperfocus, these reminders are crucial in maintaining a balanced work routine.

Simplifying Task Management

Forget’s task batching feature allows users to group similar tasks, reducing the cognitive load and making it easier to focus on one task at a time. This helps users avoid the overwhelming feeling of constantly shifting gears between different activities.

Case Study: How Forget Transformed Productivity for a Professional User

Background

John, a marketing professional with ADHD, struggled with managing multiple client projects and often felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks. Despite using several productivity apps, he found focusing hard and usually missed deadlines.

Solution

John started using Forget and immediately set up single-task focus sessions for each client project. He customized time blocks and added visual cues for transitions between tasks.

Results

Within a month, John reported a 40% increase in task completion rates and fewer instances of feeling overwhelmed. He hit all his deadlines by focusing on one project at a time, significantly reducing his stress levels.

Feedback

John particularly appreciated Forget's intuitive design, which minimized distractions and allowed him to tailor his productivity approach without a steep learning curve.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Forget’s Source Finder and Citation Features

1. Set Up Your Profile and Preferences

What to Do: Create an account on Forget and customize your profile settings. Set up your preferred notification style, work intervals, and break durations.
Why This Matters: Customizing the app to suit your unique needs ensures a smoother, more effective productivity experience right from the start.

2. Organize Tasks Using Task Batching

What to Do: Group similar tasks into batches (e.g., emails, brainstorming, meetings) and create time blocks for each batch. This reduces the cognitive load associated with frequent task-switching.
Why This Matters: Task batching helps users maintain focus and energy levels by minimizing the need to shift between different types of tasks.

3. Activate Focus Mode for Single-Task Sessions

What to Do: Use Forget’s focus mode to work on one task without distractions. Set a timer for the task and use visual or auditory cues to maintain attention.
Why This Matters: Focus mode helps prevent multitasking and supports deep work, allowing users to complete tasks more efficiently.

4: Use Visual and Auditory Reminders to Manage Time Blindness

What to Do: Set visual and auditory reminders to mark the beginning and end of each time block. Customize these reminders to be gentle but noticeable.
Why This Matters: Properly timed cues help combat time blindness by providing a sense of time progression and alerting users when it's time to transition tasks.

5: Review Productivity Insights Weekly

What to Do: At the end of each week, review Forget's productivity insights. Assess which strategies worked well and where adjustments might be needed.
Why This Matters: Regular reviews help users fine-tune their productivity approach, ensuring they remain effective and fully utilize the app’s features.

Tips for Building a Sustainable Productivity Routine with ADHD Apps

Create a Consistent Daily Routine

ADHD users benefit from structure and consistency, which reduce the mental load of making decisions throughout the day. A consistent routine helps minimize anxiety, reduce decision fatigue, and provide a predictable framework that can lead to improved productivity. Use an app like Forget to set up recurring daily routines. Start with a morning planning session where you prioritize tasks for the day and end with an evening review to assess what was accomplished.

Consistency in using these routines builds habits that help manage ADHD symptoms more effectively. Start small by establishing just one or two essential routines, such as a 10-minute planning session in the morning and a 5-minute reflection in the evening. Gradually add more routines as these initial ones become habits.

Regularly Review and Adjust Your Productivity Strategy

ADHD users must often adapt their strategies to keep things fresh and engaging. What works well at one time may become less effective later, so regular reviews are essential to staying on track. Set aside time each week to review your productivity routines and assess which strategies are working and which aren’t.

Use the app’s built-in analytics (if available) to gain insights into where time is being spent and how productive you were during different periods. Use a Sunday evening review session to reflect on the past week. Make small, incremental changes rather than drastic adjustments to avoid disrupting your routine.

Balance Focus and Breaks

Maintaining a balance between focused work and regular breaks is critical for ADHD users who may either experience hyperfocus or struggle with sustaining attention. Breaks help reset the brain and prevent burnout, while focused work sessions ensure productivity. Use apps like Forget to schedule work sessions followed by short breaks.

For instance, set up a 25-minute focused work session followed by a 5-minute break (following the Pomodoro Technique). Repeat this cycle a few times before taking a longer break. Experiment with different work-to-break ratios to find what works best. Some users may find a 50/10 ratio (50 minutes of work followed by a 10-minute break) more suitable than the standard Pomodoro intervals.

Leverage Visual and Audio Cues for Better Focus

ADHD users often benefit from sensory cues that help them stay on track or transition between tasks. Visual and auditory reminders provide gentle nudges that help manage time and sharpen focus. Set up visual or audio reminders within the app to signal the start and end of a task or time block.

Use different sounds or colors to indicate the nature of the reminder, such as soft, calming tones for breaks and more alerting ones for task transitions. Customize cues to align with personal preferences. For example, use a gentle chime to signal the end of a work session and a more upbeat tone to mark the beginning of a break.

Encourage Positive Reinforcement

ADHD users often respond well to positive reinforcement, which can help build and maintain productive habits. Gamification or reward systems provide instant gratification and encourage continued use of productivity apps. Choose apps that incorporate gamified elements or create your reward system.

For example, use Habitica to turn task completion into a game or set up a reward for completing a set number of focused work sessions in Forget. Combine positive reinforcement with accountability. Share your productivity goals and rewards with a friend or ADHD support group to build a supportive network that encourages consistency.

Avoid Over-Optimization and Keep it Simple.

It's easy to get caught up in perfecting your productivity system, but over-optimization can lead to stress and burnout. Keeping things simple and manageable is more sustainable in the long term. Start with a basic productivity routine using one or two apps and gradually build complexity as you become more comfortable.

Focus on small wins rather than trying to overhaul your entire productivity system at once. Use the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle), and focus on the 20% of tasks or strategies that provide 80% of the results. This reduces overwhelm and allows you to concentrate on what’s truly effective.

Reach Peak Productivity Every Day with Our ADHD Productivity Tool — Get Started for Free Today

Time blindness makes it hard for people with ADHD to keep track of time and meet deadlines. Forget helps combat this by breaking your tasks into smaller chunks so you can focus on what’s important right now. You can even set your timer to create a sense of urgency, helping you get more done faster.

Get started with our ADHD productivity tool for free today to reach peak productivity daily!