5 ADHD Productivity Apps as Recommended By ADHD Coach

Summary

In this video, Ariana Bradford from ADHD Done Right discusses her top ADHD productivity apps, which help manage daily tasks for those with ADHD. She highlights five favorites: Tusk for gamified rewards, the Centered app for a body double experience, Artful Agenda for journal and planner integration, Time Finder for visualizing daily time allocation, and Paste for energy-aware planning. Ariana emphasizes the importance of not expecting 100% productivity every day and suggests starting with free trials to find the right app mix that works best for individual needs without overwhelming oneself.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video features Ariana Bradford, an ADHD coach and someone with ADHD herself, discussing productivity applications for ADHD management.
• 🌐 Ariana runs a YouTube channel called 'ADHD done and top' where she covers ADHD topics in more detail.
• 📱 She recommends five standout apps for ADHD productivity, emphasizing they are her personal favorites and unranked.
• 🏆 'Tusk' is highlighted for its ease of use and gamified rewards, even for incomplete tasks.
• 🧘 'Centered' or 'Centered App' is praised for being ADHD and introvert friendly with a focus on body doubling in a gamified way.
• 📅 'Artful Agenda' is mentioned as a solution for the disconnect between planners and calendars, offering two-way sync with Google Calendar and customization options.
• ⏳ 'Time Finder', despite being in its early stages, is commended for helping visualize daily time availability to prevent overcommitment.
• 📋 'Paste' is appreciated for being free (at the time of the video) and for helping plan around energy levels with reminders for different types of tasks.
• 📝 Ariana notes the value of traditional writing for some ADHD individuals, especially for information retention, but also points out the limitations in dynamic scheduling.
• 🤝 She emphasizes the importance of apps that integrate and connect with each other to streamline productivity methods.
• 💡 Apps help Ariana think more intentionally about scheduling, considering both time and energy, and prevent overestimating daily productivity.
• 🚫 A cautionary note is given against impulsive spending on apps, recommending the use of free trials to test their effectiveness.
• 🔍 Ariana advises knowing one's personal needs and choosing apps that align with those, rather than forcing a mismatched app to work.
• 🔄 She also suggests not exceeding three apps at a time to avoid overwhelming the ADHD brain and losing track of important information.

Q & A

Who is Ariana Bradford and what is her expertise?

Ariana Bradford is a coach for ADHD and also has ADHD herself. She runs a YouTube channel called 'ADHD done and top' where she covers topics related to ADHD in more detail.

What is the purpose of Ariana's discussion in the video?

Ariana's purpose is to explore and recommend productivity applications that are helpful for individuals with ADHD, based on her personal experience and professional expertise.

What are the five apps that Ariana mentions as her personal favorites for ADHD productivity?

The five apps Ariana mentions are Tusk, Centered (also known as the Centered app), Introvert (which is gamified), Artful Agenda, and Time Finder. Additionally, she mentions Paste, which is currently free and available for Apple products.

What unique feature does Tusk offer for productivity?

Tusk offers ease of use and gamified rewards, including achievements for tasks completed and even for tasks not completed, which can be motivating for individuals with ADHD.

How does the Centered app cater to the needs of ADHD individuals?

The Centered app is designed to be ADHD friendly, introvert friendly, and gamified, making it easier for individuals with ADHD to manage their productivity.

What does Artful Agenda do to help with journaling and planning for people with ADHD?

Artful Agenda addresses the difficulty ADHD individuals have with journaling and planning by providing a two-way sync to Google Calendar and allowing customization with stickers, fonts, and colors.

Why is Time Finder considered beneficial for individuals with ADHD?

Time Finder, despite being in its early stages, is beneficial because it helps users visualize their available time, reducing the likelihood of overcommitting and over-scheduling.

What is special about Paste for those with ADHD?

Paste is appreciated for its ability to help users consider their energy levels when planning their day, providing gentle reminders about the best times for creative, physical tasks, or rest.

Why does Ariana recommend using apps instead of traditional writing for ADHD individuals?

Ariana suggests apps because they help manage the day more effectively with an ADHD brain, allowing for better scheduling in terms of time and energy, and integrating with other productivity tools.

What advice does Ariana give for selecting the right ADHD productivity app?

Ariana advises not to pay for anything until you're sure it will work for you, to use free trials, know yourself and your needs, and not to go overboard with too many apps to avoid overwhelm.

What is the recommended maximum number of apps to use at one time for ADHD individuals according to Ariana?

Ariana recommends using no more than three apps at a time to avoid overwhelming the ADHD brain and to ensure effective productivity.

Outlines

00:00

📚 ADHD Productivity Apps with Ariana Bradford

The video script introduces Ariana Bradford, an ADHD coach and content creator, who is set to explore various productivity applications beneficial for individuals with ADHD. Ariana, who operates a YouTube channel called 'ADHD done and top,' will share her top app recommendations that she uses and endorses for managing ADHD effectively. The host encourages viewers to check out Ariana's in-depth content on her YouTube channel and provides a link in the description for further resources.

05:02

🛠 Navigating ADHD with Productivity Apps

Ariana begins her discussion by expressing her enthusiasm for numerous apps and her personal experience with testing them. She highlights five apps that have stood out to her, emphasizing their unique features and benefits for ADHD management. These apps include Tusk for its gamified rewards, the Centered app for a body double experience, Introvert-friendly and gamified planning, Artful Agenda for syncing with Google Calendar, and Time Finder for visualizing daily time allocation. Ariana also mentions Paste, which is currently free and exclusive to Apple users, for its ability to consider energy levels in planning. She advises viewers to try free trials before committing to any app and to select apps that align with their personal needs and abilities. Ariana stresses the importance of not expecting a single app to solve all productivity issues and suggests using a combination of apps integrated around a central point like Google Calendar. She concludes with a caution against overwhelming oneself with too many apps and recommends limiting the ecosystem to no more than three apps at a time to avoid information overload.

Keywords

💡ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In the context of the video, ADHD is the central theme, as the discussion revolves around productivity tools and applications that are beneficial for individuals with ADHD. The script mentions that the speaker herself has ADHD and provides recommendations based on her personal experience.

💡Productivity Apps

Productivity apps are software applications designed to help users manage their tasks, schedules, and overall workflow more efficiently. The video focuses on exploring such apps that are particularly useful for individuals with ADHD, as they can assist in organizing thoughts, setting reminders, and enhancing focus.

💡Tusk

Tusk is an app mentioned in the script as one of the speaker's personal favorites for its ease of use and gamified rewards system. It is highlighted for providing achievements and rewards, even for tasks not completed, which can be motivational for users with ADHD who might struggle with task completion.

💡Centered App

The Centered App, also known as 'centered' in the script, is an application that is described as being body double in a way that is ADHD friendly and introvert friendly. It is noted for its gamification and the ability to make scheduling and task management more engaging for users with ADHD.

💡Introvert Friendly

The term 'introvert friendly' refers to features or environments that cater to the preferences and needs of introverts, who may prefer more solitary or less stimulating activities. In the script, the Centered App is described as introvert friendly, suggesting that it provides a comfortable and suitable space for introverts to manage their tasks and productivity.

💡Artful Agenda

Artful Agenda is a productivity tool that the speaker recommends in the video, particularly for those who enjoy using journals and planners but find it challenging to maintain a connection between their planning tools and digital calendars. It is praised for its two-way sync with Google Calendar and customization options.

💡Two-Way Sync

Two-way sync refers to the synchronization of data between two systems in both directions, ensuring that changes made in one system are reflected in the other. In the context of the video, Artful Agenda's two-way sync with Google Calendar is highlighted as a feature that helps bridge the gap between traditional planning and digital scheduling.

💡Time Finder

Time Finder is an app described as being in its infancy but already showing great potential. It allows users to visualize their available time and helps prevent overcommitment and over-scheduling. The script emphasizes its usefulness in managing time effectively, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with ADHD who may struggle with time management.

💡Paste

Paste is an app that is currently free and available for Apple product users, as mentioned in the script. It is appreciated for its ability to help users consider their energy levels when planning their day, providing gentle reminders about the best times for different types of tasks. This app is particularly useful for ADHD individuals who may not naturally factor in their energy levels when scheduling.

💡Overwhelm

Overwhelm refers to a state of being overwhelmed, often by an excessive amount of information, tasks, or stimuli. In the video, the speaker cautions against adding too many apps to one's productivity ecosystem, as this could lead to overwhelm, especially for individuals with ADHD who are prone to feeling overwhelmed by too much information or too many tasks.

💡Ecosystem

In the context of the video, an 'ecosystem' refers to a collection of interconnected apps and tools that work together to support productivity. The speaker advises building a productivity ecosystem that is tailored to one's ADHD needs, but also warns against including too many elements to avoid overwhelm.

Highlights

Ariana Bradford, an ADHD coach and individual with ADHD, discusses her recommended productivity applications for ADHD.

She operates a YouTube channel named 'ADHD done and top' where she covers ADHD productivity topics in detail.

Ariana is passionate about exploring and testing various apps, but five stand out as her personal favorites.

Tusk is favored for its ease of use and gamified rewards, even for incomplete tasks.

Centered app is highlighted for its ADHD-friendly and gamified approach to time management.

Artful agenda is praised for syncing with Google Calendar and offering customization features.

Time finder, despite being in its early stages, helps visualize daily time availability to prevent overcommitment.

Paste is recommended for its free availability and features that prompt consideration of energy levels in daily planning.

The importance of writing with pencils and pens is acknowledged, especially for studying and information retention.

Apps are valued for helping manage the day for those with ADHD by promoting intentional scheduling.

Apps help integrate and connect productivity methods, providing necessary information for planning.

ADHD individuals may have unrealistic expectations of productivity, and apps can provide a more rational perspective.

When choosing ADHD apps, it's advised not to pay until you're sure the app will work for you to avoid impulsive spending.

Personalization is key when selecting apps; choose ones that align with your needs and work with your brain's tendencies.

There is no one-size-fits-all ADHD productivity app; it may be beneficial to mix and match apps.

When building a productivity ecosystem, it's recommended to limit the number of apps to avoid overwhelm.

Ariana offers help to those looking for the right ADHD apps and encourages finding what works best for the individual.

Transcripts

today I am passing over to Ariana Bradford  who's going to be diving into ADHD productivity  

applications exploring some that she recommends  as a coach of ADHD and somebody that has hhd her  

self I'm really excited because she runs a YouTube  channel called ADHD done and top covers the topic  

in much higher level of detail over there do  make sure to check out all her stuff Linked In  

description below but a big thank you to Ariana  and I hope you enjoyed today's video folks as she  

talks all about the world of ADHD and productivity  software so over to you Ariana and thanks for  

coming on keep productive what's up suckers this  is Ariana from EDH Dunn and I'm honored to be here  

with keep productive to help you figure out what  ADHD apps would be best to keep you productive so  

for me personally I am a huge fan of many many  apps I kind of have a little bit of a problem  

and love to test them out but there are five that  definitely stand out for me of all time these are  

unranked by the way my personal favorites would  be Tusk for its ease of use and the fact that it  

gives you great achievements and little gamified  rewards even for not being able to do what you  

wanted to do that day centered or otherwise known  as the centered app for making it possible for us  

to body double in a way that is ADHD friendly  introvert friendly and also gamified which is  

amazing Artful agenda because Lord knows we EDH  dears love to be able to work out of journals  

and planners but we tend to really struggle with  that because there is no connection between our  

planners and our calendars Artful agenda fixes  that by having a two-way sync to our Google  

Calendar and it gives us the fun of being able  to customize add stickers and control our fonts  

and colors time finder though still in its infancy  time finder is incredible it gives us the ability  

to actually see how much time we have in a day  and make it so that we are a little less likely  

to over commit and over schedule and finally paste  paste is free for all I know I don't know how long  

it's going to be like that but for right now it  is free it is only available for those who use  

Apple products but I love paste so much because  a lot of us with ADHD do not tend to think about  

our energy when we plan paste kind of forces you  to think about those things when you are planning  

out your day just by giving you Gentle reminders  about when it is best to do creative tasks versus  

physical tasks versus resting up Eden I know that  a lot of us out there really tend to swear by the  

idea of writing with pencils and pens and using  paper and there is science to that there is an  

explanation to that ADHD brains do love that  and it does have its place especially when  

we're studying or doing things where we really  need to be able to retain a lot of information  

but in a lot of situations especially when we're  scheduling writing just doesn't help us it's not  

something that's actually going to help us out in  the long run mainly because simply writing things  

down doesn't translate very well to when we're on  the go when we're working or when we are deep in  

a state of let's face it hyper Focus so that is  why I swear by using apps to help manage my day  

with an ADHD brain and I do that because amongst  of all the wonderful things that they do already  

for me personally they tend to help me think more  intentionally about how I schedule my days and  

not just in terms of time but also in terms of  energy sometimes we start out the day thinking  

that because we feel a certain way or because we  know we want to get these things done that we're  

going to be able to get 9 000 things done a day  right well these apps stop that from happening  

they helped to stop that from happening they also  generally connect and integrate to one another to  

make sure that all of my productivity methods  are feeding into one another in some way and  

giving each other the information that I may need  that way if I am in Google Calendar but I entered  

something into Tusk I'm still going to be able to  see what it is that I'm doing or that I should be  

doing or what I should be planning around it's  very important apps also tend to help me think  

more rationally about what I should actually be  expecting of myself and we don't tend to do that  

very much adhders generally tend to feel like if  we are not productive 100 of the day then we are  

not doing enough when the fact is nobody gets a  hundred percent done every day and these kinds of  

things generally tend to help ADHD brain see but  there's only so many hours in the day and so it's  

not fair to expect that all of those hours are  filled with just making things or doing things  

or getting things done so if you are looking  for the perfect ADHD apps for you and none of  

the ones that I've mentioned have scratched that  itch here's what I suggest you look into to decide  

what works best for you firstly if you can I have  to make sure that I mention this guys don't pay  

for anything until you're sure it's gonna work  for you sometimes we get super excited about new  

routines and we just decide that we're going  to jump in feet first we have a problem with  

impulsive spending try to keep that at a minimum  by using the free trial that most of them offer  

to at least see how it works piggybacking off of  that how it works with your personal abilities is  

going to be very important know yourself and use  that to your advantage don't work against your  

brain work with it so if you know that you're  the kind of person who needs color coding and  

the app that you're looking at does not offer  color coding don't download the app because you  

think it should work find something that will and  finally when you're looking for your perfect ADHD  

productivity app please keep in mind it does not  exist okay there is nothing that is going to take  

care of literally everything for you at once so  if you feel that you have to mix and match that's  

cool go ahead and get a couple to work together  integrate them with one central point I tend to  

suggest Google Calendar and go ahead and use it  that way now one thing that I want to caution you  

on don't go overboard because then you're going  to overwhelm yourself when you are making your  

own productivity ecosystem productivity ring  whatever you want to call it to work with your  

ADHD please try to keep in mind that we are very  very prone to overwhelm and that there's a high  

chance that if you add way too much you're going  to wind up losing track of important information  

so when you are building that ecosystem that  productivity ring and you want it to work best  

with your brain no more than three apps at a time  guys okay and there you have it I really hope it  

helps out I hope that you're able to find what  works for you and if you need any help I'm here

thank you

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