Apps We’re Loving for ADHD Awareness Month

By Dr. Caitlin Stamatis

ADHD Management

eight persons looking at their mobile phones

Unlock Your ADHD Superpowers: 6 Must-Have Mobile Apps for ADHD Management and Treatment

Living with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents both challenges and superpowers. Evidence suggests that the most effective strategies for managing ADHD involve a multimodal approach, which refers to the combination of multiple evidence-based approaches for managing symptoms. In today’s digital age, we are fortunate to have a plethora of tools at our fingertips, and mobile apps have emerged as valuable allies in the quest to navigate ADHD.

There’s an exciting array of mobile apps on the market today that we believe not only aid in managing the daily hurdles of ADHD but also contribute to treatment efforts. We think these apps could have the ability to help individuals with ADHD navigate their lives more effectively, from time management and mood tracking to task prioritization and even addressing underlying cognitive impairments and ADHD-related symptoms. We think these ADHD techniques and tools can literally be life-changing!

In honor of ADHD awareness month, we’re sharing six mobile apps that have powerful features for managing different aspects of life with ADHD. These apps each bring unique strengths for ADHD self-management, from support for executive functioning to help tracking mood and energy. And what better way to celebrate ADHD Awareness Month than by trying out some new apps to help manage your symptoms and build on strengths?

  1. Daily Planning App: Tiimo

    It is often a struggle to stay organized and on top of daily tasks if you are neurodivergent; that’s where a good daily planning mobile app comes into play. Having a daily planning app in your life can improve ADHD management by providing structure, reminders, and organization at your fingertips. Tiimo is one such daily planning app for people with ADHD that we are currently loving. It features a variety of tools to help you stay organized and on track, such as visual time blocking, task management, and habit tracking. The app also offers home-screen and locked-screen widgets to help make tasks visible and easier to remember. Visual cues can help your brain more easily recognize patterns and Tiimo leverages this strength. The app helps you “see” time with a color-coded timeline and icons so your activities and tasks are more instantly recognizable.

    For the rest of ADHD awareness month*, if you subscribe to EndeavorOTC we’ll send you a code for 3 additional months of Tiimo free with your purchase of an annual Tiimo plan. We think the two tools together could be a powerful ADHD management combination.

    Tiimo iOS App Store

    Tiimo Google Play Store

    *Promotion ends October 31, 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern

  2. Focus App: Forest

    Forest is a tool designed to assist individuals in managing their focus and time effectively. By gamifying the process of staying on tasks, the app uses a unique approach to enhance concentration and reduce distractions. When you start a focus session, you plant a tree. If you leave the app early, your tree dies. This visual representation can be a great motivator to stay focused, especially if you’re a competitive person. You will see your virtual forest grow with the completion of successful focus sessions. For individuals with ADHD, maintaining concentration can be particularly challenging. We think the Forest app can help aid you in overcoming the challenges related to attention and time management.

    Forest iOS App Store

    Forest Google Play Store

  3. Task Management App: Habitica

    Habitica is a gamified task management app that turns your to-do list into a quest. You can create a variety of tasks, from daily chores to long-term goals, and earn experience points and virtual rewards upon completion. Maintaining routines and building habits can be tough for those with ADHD, however we think Habitica may help to address this by turning everyday activities into quests, which helps to reinforce positive behaviors. The app also incorporates social accountability by allowing users to join parties and guilds, where they work together to achieve common goals. We believe this community aspect may also be beneficial for individuals with ADHD as it provides a supportive environment and a sense of shared accomplishment. Habitica’s combination of gamification, task management, and community engagement could make it an enjoyable tool for individuals with ADHD, helping them turn tasks and goals into an exciting journey of personal growth and productivity.

    Habitica iOS App Store

    Habitica Google Play Store

  4. Mood Tracking App: Bearable

    Bearable takes a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being. We believe this holistic perspective is significant for individuals managing ADHD, as it allows you to identify patterns and potential triggers for distraction or difficulty focusing. It is designed to track mood, sleep, energy levels, and other customizable factors, and provides you with a clear and insightful overview of your mental and physical states. The app’s mood tracking feature helps you recognize how your emotions may impact your daily functioning. We believe that self-awareness may be key for individuals with ADHD, enabling you to make informed decisions about your activities and habits. Additionally, Bearable also encourages journaling, which provides safe space for you to reflect and better understand the context of your productivity challenges. Bearable can be a personalized and insightful tool and may help you manage your ADHD and find the motivation you need to make positive changes in your daily life.

    Bearable iOS App Store

    Bearable Google Play Store

  5. Decision Making App: Tiny Decisions

    Tiny Decisions is a user-friendly decision-making app that may be helpful for those with ADHD by helping you make small decisions more quickly and easily by simplifying the process of making choices and reducing decision fatigue. You can input a list of options, and the app randomly selects one. This streamlines the process and eliminates the need to overthink every choice, fostering a quicker and more decisive approach. Tiny Decisions can be customers with various themes, colors, and styles, which turns decision-making into a personalized and less stressful activity. We think the app’s simplicity and ease of use could make it a practical solution for those with ADHD who may find it challenging to navigate complex decision-making processes.

    Tiny Decisions iOS App Store

    Tiny Decisions Google Play Store

  6. Medication Management App: Medisafe

    Medisafe is a medication management app that is designed to help you stay on track with your medication schedule. For individuals with ADHD, maintaining a consistent medication routine can be crucial for managing symptoms and improving daily functioning. Medisafe allows you to input your medications, set personalized reminders, and track adherence overtime. This app also provides features such as pill tracking, refill reminders, and a journal feature that allows you to log symptoms and mood. We think the level of organization that this app can provide to someone with ADHD, may help to reduce the stress and cognitive load associated with managing medications. We think the Medisafe app may be able to help you take control of your medication routing and focus on other aspects of your daily life and overall well-being.

    Medisafe iOS App Store

    Medisafe Google Play Store

With the right apps and effort, you can use technology to your advantage when it comes to living well with ADHD.


About the Author

  • Dr. Caitlin Stamatis, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on novel uses of technology for mental healthcare. Her 40+ scientific publications have been featured in leading journals such as Nature Partner Journal: Mental Health Research, Depression & Anxiety, and Emotion. Dr. Stamatis has spent her career leading clinical research and product development to build and evaluate new digital mental health treatments, at both big companies like Google and more rapidly growing, specialized digital therapeutics companies like Akili.