Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can make it difficult to focus on a task, stay organized, remember important information, and manage other aspects of your life. Many people have found it helpful to use apps to help them with their memory and productivity. Here’s a roundup of the best organizational apps for people with ADHD.
1. SimpleMind
One of the problems that people with ADHD suffer from is remembering and managing their ideas and thoughts. What if there was an app that allowed you to create a map of your mind?
SimpleMind is an amazing app that helps you remember the when, where, why, and how by creating professional mind maps. The app is easy enough to use: all you have to do is begin with a single thought and build outward from that idea.
By adding additional branches that include important information, those who have ADHD can use this great app to review thoughts and plans related to personal goals, work, travel, and more.
Download: SimpleMind for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Evernote
You can save just about anything with the Evernote website and mobile app, from emails, reminders, and pictures to completely arbitrary thoughts. Everything you save in this app is incredibly easy to find with the search function.
A person with ADHD may struggle to organize both physical and digital items. However, Evernote allows you to capture and organize practically anything and carry it with you on your smartphone. If you want to get the most out of the Evernote app, it may be helpful to spend some time watching a tutorial on YouTube.
Download: Evernote for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
3. Remember The Milk
At times, the easiest, most straightforward plans and tasks take the most time and energy to get done. If you suffer from ADHD, Remember the Milk is an app that can help you to get those seemingly daunting tasks done.
Remember the Milk allows you to create lists of tasks and subtasks. The best part is that you can add different details to each task, like due dates, levels of importance, locations, messages, and even addresses.
You can also set up helpful notifications via email or text message. Sometimes even the small task of buying a carton of milk can be easy to forget. Remember the Milk makes these tasks simple and easy to remember.
Download: Remember the Milk for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
4. Trello
If you’d like to get more done during the day, Trello makes it easy to plan, organize, and manage almost anything. This app started as a tool for managers and software developers, but it has expanded to support an enormous range of use cases. Because it’s been around for so long, you can have peace of mind knowing it’s a dependable app with a devoted team behind it.
Whether you need to organize your grocery lists, work projects, future plans, to-do lists, or random thoughts, Trello is a great tool to use. Trello can help you overcome the challenges of ADHD by letting you easily track your thoughts and stay organized.
Download: Trello for iOS | Android (Free)
5. Todoist
For those who struggle with remembering their important tasks and plans, Todoist is an amazing app to try. Get all those thoughts out of your head and onto a reliable list that will sync up with your calendar and keep you notified across your devices.
Todoist is one of the simplest and most effective apps you can use to improve your productivity. All you have to do is type in a task, add the date and time, and set the category. You can also add hashtags to your tasks and Todoist will organize them for you.
Todoist makes it easy to see what tasks you’ve completed and which still need to be done. You can follow your progress on the app and use that as motivation to boost your productivity. Todoist is particularly great for people with ADHD because it gives you that feeling of accomplishment after you check off a task.
Download: Todoist for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
6. Brain Focus
When you need to concentrate and stay focused, your smartphone can be a huge distraction. But if you’re looking for a way to make it work for you and help you stay on track, Brain Focus is perfect.
Brain Focus is an app that manages your time and prevents your phone from unnecessarily distracting you. Using the pomodoro technique—in which you break work into short intervals—the app allows you to set a countdown timer that locks you out of distracting apps until your next break.
On the Brain Focus app, you have the option to select and block the apps that make you lose your concentration. Additionally, you can track how long you’ve worked on certain things, like work projects, household chores, reading, etc.
Download: Brain Focus for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
7. Productive – Habit Tracker
People who have ADHD often find it difficult to get into the habit of getting things done. Downloading a habit-tracking app like Productive lets you create a variety of different habits you want to focus on.
The app also allows you to create a routine that’s personalized to what you want to do, such as waking up early, drinking water, exercising, or reading. Once you’ve accomplished each task for the day, check it off. In no time, you'll be on your way toward meeting your goals. The Productive app is especially useful for those who are looking for an app that can track both important tasks and more minor ones.
Download: Productive – Habit Tracker for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
Use Apps to Stay on Track
ADHD apps can assist in structuring thoughts, prioritizing tasks, setting reminders, tracking progress, and reminding you of what you need to do next. There's an endless list of apps that are available to help those who have ADHD. Choosing the correct one for you will depend on your specific needs.
These apps are perfect tools for making your everyday routine more organized, structured, and focused. Whether you download all of them or just one, incorporating an ADHD app into your life is a great first step to helping yourself.