The Best Apps for ADHD Management

I’m all about holistic ways to manage ADHD. I’ve had ADHD my whole life but wasn’t officially diagnosed until my third year of college. I tried ADHD medication and it didn’t work for me, so I explored holistic techniques to help me function well throughout the day. Today’s holistic tip is about the apps I use to help my ADHD. There are a lot of apps for ADHD out there, so I’m going to make your life simple by sharing the two that work the best for me. Let’s dive in.

2 Apps for ADHD

The two best apps for ADHD that I use most often are a reminder app and a countdown app. They keep my digital notes and files organized and help me stay accountable with my to-do list.

Reminder App

I’m an Apple user, so I use the Reminders app on my phone. It’s the best! It’s a simple to-do list that sends me notifications throughout the day about things I need to get done. It helps me stay on track with my tasks, and it’s so satisfying to check something off the list!

You can break your tasks down into categories. As I look at my phone, I have a brain dump list full of things I’ve thought of throughout the day so I don’t forget. I also have grocery lists, Christmas gift ideas, and things to do when the boys are in school.

I like that tasks disappear from the main screen after I check them off, but I can always go back and see what’s been done. I also like that I can set specific times to be reminded so I’m not getting notified of tasks all at once.

Any type of to-do list app will work as long as you are notified and can set deadlines.

Countdown App

I use a countdown app to help me avoid procrastination. People with ADHD tend to procrastinate or get behind. We think we have all this time to get something done, but all of a sudden, it’s due the next day. A countdown helps me stay accountable and effectively plan for upcoming events, like birthday parties, holidays, or vacations.

How to Organize Your Apps for ADHD

How you present and display your apps impacts your ADHD. If everything is cluttered and you have pages and pages of apps, you’ll get distracted before you find what you need. I used to have eight screens of apps, and now I only have one. I really cut down on the number of apps I have on my phone (part of my digital decluttering process!). I also utilize folders for apps in the same categories. 

People with ADHD struggle with decision fatigue. We get overwhelmed when there are too many choices. Make it easy on yourself by having only the necessary apps and deleting anything extra. Then, organize apps into folders so you can easily find what you need when you need it.

Social media is a big distraction. I won’t tell you to delete it (unless you want to!), but at least turn off notifications so you aren’t pulled into the app every time someone likes one of your photos. It also helps me have specific days every week where I’m unplugged from social media and my phone. I normally take the weekend off and fully unplug to reset and refresh for the week.

I hope this episode motivates you to organize your phone to reduce distractions and endless scrolling. I recommend two apps for ADHD: a reminder or to-do list app and a countdown app. They’ve made big differences in my productivity and helped me stay accountable for what I need to do. 

Don’t forget to download my free Digital Minimalism guide to help you get started. 

Related Episodes:

Episode 34: 5 Tips to Organize Digital Files

Episode 37: Planning a Family Calendar: Fun Activities for ADHD Students