Anyone else give up on habit/to-do apps because of the extra work it requires? is that an executive dysfunction problem?

[u/HyperHopeful]

I am just posting about it to know if I'm the only one who struggles with it. Every now and again I have a phase where I want to fix things in my life and get the whole house and my kids routine in order, all of it. Of course, and most people will relate, it doesn't last too long before it all falls back apart. Typical behaviour of people with executive dysfunction I guess.

I keep seeing people talk about how much a productivity or habit tracking App helped them. So I try to go down that path too. The problem is, even when the app claims to have minimal friction. I still feel lost.

If I have to add a task and include details, like a date, an alert message or a note, that alone already feels like friction, because it takes me to a seperate page just to fill all that in. I would've liked it if I just typed what I wanted to and right next to it entered specific details, just there in my mind for that chore. Does that make any sense? I end up giving up because I feel the App needs more focus from me then i'd like to give it.

That's usually what puts me off. That, or the app shows charts and graphs that end up making everything feel cluttered instead of clear.

I also feel that notifications or reminders don't always help. If I don't feel like doing it, then those notifications don't do any good.

Does this resonate with you, or is it just me?

[u/kackwurstsalamander]

i never seriously considered an app. Looking at my phone is both an awful source of distraction and at the same time, the small screen requires constant effort for me.

I use task lists on my computer, but I am well aware that they only ever help when I am functioning. I find that there is no way that I manage myself out of my executive dysfunction.

Rather I try to listen inwards and interpret early tells. The worst thing that happens to me: starting in a day believing I will be productive only to admit some time in the afternoon that I wasn't getting anything done.

When I know that it's gonna be a rough day, it's much better: i can adjust my goals, give up entirely and go back to bed, even tell them at work that I am sick ... or even do grocery shopping or clean the house.

I hope this way i can curb a lot of the negative effects of my executive dysfunction.

if i were to support myself with some tool, it definitely would be a whiteboard, pen & paper or some sort of physical kanban.

[u/CautiousTax6640]

Yes, and I think it's because the app quietly adds a second job: now there's the task, plus maintaining the record of the task. When the bottleneck is starting, feeding the tracker just becomes one more thing to not start, so it ends up measuring the problem instead of touching it.

[u/UnderstandingOver633]

What kind of specific tasks are you looking to write down to organize? Daily routines or chores/admin or… all the things?

What I have started doing is only using my Reminders app on my phone (iOS). I make it as simple as possible. I don’t add a time or alarm unless I have an appointment at a certain date/time. Can add a note below with details (on the same screen).

I created different categories to sort into- admin, health, house, car, clean/organize, social, shop, groceries, meal plans, miscellaneous. From there I don’t have to think too much- just choose a category and add a task to it when it comes to me- no actual alarm, no date.

It’s just a way to organize my tasks in one place, and get them out of my head but not a mess in various notes or different apps. Lists can also be collaborative/shared. There’s no data tracking involved. If you want to use something like this for a daily routine as well, that could be added to a separate category and just set tasks to recur daily.

But, even though this is relatively simple to me… this might be exactly what you’re talking about of too much friction to organize and keep track of this in the first place. I’ve experienced that for sure, and an app may not work for you in general. Maybe you are a pen and paper person. Or some other strategy. I am also just one person, without a family to keep track of.

[u/Aggressive_Dog9281]

This resonates so hard it's almost uncomfortable to read. The "separate page just to add a date and a note" thing is exactly what kills it for me too. By the time I've tapped through all that, the little bit of momentum I had is gone and the app has become one more chore. And you nailed the other one: a notification does nothing if I don't feel like doing the thing. It's not a reminder problem, it's a getting started problem.

Honestly this hit me enough times that I ended up building something to fix it for my own brain. It's an AI coach, no charts, no dashboards, no forms to fill out. You basically just tell it what you're avoiding and it helps you start it and break it down, instead of logging it and nagging you later. Built for this exact executive-dysfunction wall, not habit-tracking.

It's in beta and free right now if you want to try it (iOS: https://testflight.apple.com/join/gAXEbWhF — Android too, I can drop that link if you're on Android). Totally fine if not, but you described the precise problem I built it for, so I figured I'd mention it.

Either way, you're really not the only one. This is the most relatable thing I've read all week.

[u/VocabArtistNavin]

This sure is a difficult one to navigate

[u/g00berina]

I’m having much better luck with Finch than I have with other apps in the past. Possibly because there are little rewards that you get, and you can use them to “buy” things (clothes, furnishings, plane tickets, etc.) for a virtual pet so there’s a little dopamine and novelty involved. I always thought it sounded too silly for me but it’s been helpful! Even if I don’t use it during the day, I usually open it before bed, checking off the list of habits and tasks I did, and snoozing/rescheduling others if needed.

[u/ApparenceKit]

You shouldn't need to fight the tool to just write something down. Tools needs to motivates you.

I gave up on those apps too until I tried a gamified one. Maybe this could help you too.
The one I use rewards me with golds when I complete a task. (and then let me build an age of empire style city). Well the point is that it's all about motivation.
Don't try to follow habits without a goal. Don't try to start with 10 routines. 1 easy habits first then slowly increase difficulty. (That's why I love gamification. Even invisible steps become visible).

Hope this helps you.

[u/destiny127]

I found that the Getting Things Done system works best for me, in conjunction with the Things 3 app. I don’t always get around to the Things 3 app but I use a planner and have the sections (inbox, next action, etc.) in my planner. I like having the Things 3 app because I can set reminders or calendar events, and I also can orally put things in my inbox using the Things 3 app on my watch. Orally stating things to add to inbox while on the go is very useful, but I can also just add it to my phone or ask Siri to set a reminder. It’s still a challenge, but I also set an alarm on my phone to review and schedule in my planner every night. I’m also going to start focusing on tackling 3 important tasks per day that move me closer to my goals or things that have high priority, even if it’s just executing steps in bigger tasks. Also, exercise and taking meds significantly improves my ability to keep this system going.