6 Online ADHD Management Tools for Adults

The culprit isn’t a lack of willpower. 

When attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes it difficult to manage time, overcome procrastination, and finish daily tasks, your first instinct might be to blame yourself.

Don’t do it! These challenges do not happen because you’re lazy or unwilling. We know because we’ve been there too.

The truth is adult ADHD affects how your brain works.^[1] So, willpower alone won’t rewire it. But there are ways to get around this. One effective method is by using ADHD management tools.

While they don’t cure ADHD, these tools can help tip the scale in your favor. They’re carefully designed to help adult ADHDers remember tasks, increase focus, and help set and achieve their goals.

With the tools and apps listed, you’ll have an easier time getting and staying on track!

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What to Look for in an ADHD Organization & Productivity Tool

There are plenty of ADHD management tools available for adults. Examples include productivity apps, fidget toys, clocks and timers, ADHD planners, and a bulletin board or whiteboard.

To narrow down your options, here are some features to consider when choosing a suitable tool:

• Tailored to your challenges: Certain tools boost productivity, while others help you track your to-do list and remember important dates and details.
• Intuitive and easy to use: Certain tools can be challenging to pick up and use. For instance, a popular productivity app like Notion might require some prior learning and a lot of set-up time to be effective.
• Accessible: A good tool should be easy for you to access. Some apps may only be available on specific platforms, like iOS or Mac devices, while others won’t work on a desktop.
• Affordable: Certain digital ADHD tools run on a subscription basis, and others you can access through a one-time payment. Other apps might be completely free. It’s important to choose one that fits into your budget.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some people work better with apps that send reminders, while others may prefer a productivity tool that turns tasks into mini-games with rewards.

You can experiment to find what works best for you.

Focusmate Body Doubling: A Game-Changer for Adult ADHDers

Focusmate is an ADHD focus tool based on body doubling. This ADHD-friendly concept involves working with another person present, either physically or virtually.

Through Focusmate, you pair up with a community member who also needs to get things done – you’ll be acting as body doubles for each other. You’ll then both work on your own tasks while keeping your cameras on so you can see what the other person is doing.

Another person’s presence can help keep you focused, motivated, and accountable.

Here are some of the features of Focusmate:

• Get free sessions: As a member, you’ll get three free sessions monthly.
• Use on any task: Whether working on a school assignment, replying to emails, or paying bills, you can set personal goals and have someone else hold you accountable.
• Quick setup: All you have to do to get the ball rolling is book an appointment, sync it with your calendar, and join the video call from your browser.

If you wish to upgrade your plan, you can get unlimited sessions for as low as $6.99 per month.

Beyond Focusmate: 5 Other Productivity Tools for Adults With ADHD

While body doubling is a great technique, it isn’t the only strategy to boost your focus, management, and organization.

Here are other online tools and resources that adult ADHDers can benefit from.

Focus Keeper – Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro Timer is a technique that involves alternating sessions of focused work and short breaks. After four sets, you’ll typically take a longer break to recharge.

The Focus Keeper is a Pomodoro Timer that can help you concentrate on your task, maintain motivation, and prevent mental fatigue or distraction.

Since ADHD is often linked to time blindness, this platform can ensure you don’t get lost in a task.

Here are some highlight features of Focus Keeper:

• Customize to your needs: You can adjust the duration of your working sessions, short breaks, and long breaks. You can also swap out the timer’s background noise with different options, such as ticking or rain sounds.
• Use for free: This Pomodoro Timer is 100% free to use.
• Access on different devices: The Focus Keeper is available on mobile or desktop.

You can use other similar alternatives, such as Focus To-Do and Focus Booster.

Forest App – Focus and Productivity

If you often use your phone to procrastinate or as a distraction, the Forest app might be what you need.

Forest helps you stay focused on what you’re doing by letting you plant a virtual tree.

You’ll pick how long you’d like to stay focused, and the app will start a timer. This virtual tree will grow as you put your phone aside with the app open and start working on your task.

If you exit the app, the tree immediately dies. This incentivizes you to focus on your task and prevents you from getting distracted by your phone.

Here are some benefits of this app:

• Help the environment: After completing your session, you’ll gain coins. You can spend these coins in the app store to buy cosmetics or sponsor real-life tree-planting efforts.
• Join friends: You can pick the “Plant Together” function, allowing you to link your sessions to those of your friends. If one person leaves the app, everyone’s trees will die. This ups the stakes, motivating you to stay focused.

You can purchase the Forest app with a one-time payment of $2 to $4.

Remember the Milk – Task Management

Remember the Milk is a to-do app that allows you to record and track all your tasks in a single location.

You can create multiple lists to organize your tasks and break bigger tasks into smaller subtasks in the app.

The following are some highlights of this ADHD organizational tool:

• Sync on all devices: This app works on different devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, desktops, and laptops. You can sync your lists on all of them.
• Receive reminders through multiple platforms: The app can send reminders through various platforms, including email, text, and Twitter.
• Share lists: You can share lists with friends, family, or co-workers, as well as assign tasks to other people.

You can create an account for free or upgrade to a Pro account for a yearly fee of around $50.

Due – Task Reminder App

Due is another task tracker app. This app lets you instantly set a due date for your task with just a tap instead of having to scroll through a dropdown list.

These are some of its top features:

• Receive persistent reminders: The app will send multiple reminders until you mark the task as complete or postpone it.
• Quickly reschedule tasks: You can reschedule a deadline through the notification bar or home page without opening the app.

You can get Due for around $10 a month. Unfortunately, it’s currently only available on Mac and iOS devices.

Brili – Routine App

Through the Brili app, you can drag and drop upcoming tasks into your schedule or calendar. You can also set a start time and duration for each routine task to combat procrastination and time blindness.

Here are some unique features of the app:

• Create your own routine or use a template: Through the app, you can set and track all your scheduled tasks and routines for the day. If you don’t want to create your own, you can choose from a collection of template routines created by ADHD experts.
• Gain points and rewards: Set your own rewards in the app and gain stars as you complete tasks. You can then use the stars collected to redeem the rewards you’ve set.
• Track your progress: The app allows you to visualize your success by tracking the number of routines you’ve completed. You’ll also be given achievements based on what you’ve accomplished.

You can upgrade your account for an annual subscription fee of around $50.

Bonus: Fidgeting Tools for Productivity

Do you often tap your foot or shift in your seat whenever you have to sit still and focus on something uninteresting?

When working on something boring, the brain needs a boost of stimulation to keep itself focused. And this is where fidgeting comes into play.

Because fidgeting can help to raise your focus and productivity, you don’t need to hide it. ADHD masking can be draining when done for long periods of time.

Instead, you can look for practical tools and gadgets that help you fidget in a non-distracting and constructive way.

Examples of fidgeting toys and tools include the following:

• Jewelry: Certain types of necklaces and rings are specially designed to be discreet and quiet fidgeting tools. They typically have small moving parts, such as gears or beads, that can be twisted, spun, or clicked.
• Toys: There are different types of fidget toys for adults. Examples include stress balls, fidget spinners, cubes, and dice, easily found through online shopping sites.
• Household items: Balancing on an exercise ball or playing with stretchy bands are some low-cost ways to increase stimulation. You can also chew gum.

The most important thing is finding ways of fidgeting that don’t distract your focus from your task. For instance, some fidget puzzles and games require paying attention to them. This makes it difficult to concentrate on what you should be doing.

Don’t Rely on Willpower Alone to Get the Ball Rolling

ADHD isn’t a willpower issue or a character flaw.

The ADHD brain is wired uniquely – so focus and memory may be a challenge. But this also unlocks unique traits, like greater creativity, resilience, and flexibility in thinking.

With the right ADHD tools, you can better overcome these challenges and use your strengths to achieve the goals you care about.

Currently, there are a range of tools with different functions to pick from. Some motivate you to focus with rewards and incentives, while others send reminders so you remember important tasks and dates.

Apart from using these apps and platforms, getting treated for ADHD can also be a huge help in getting back on track.

If you want access to more tools and resources designed for adult ADHDers, check out ADDA+. This premier resource hub and community offers expert-driven tips, resources, and courses to help you live your best life.

References

[1] Rubia K. (2018). Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Its Clinical Translation. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 12, 100. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00100