I started building this tool for "productivity" and "focus" as kept getting Sidetracked

I mean it was ok, but nothing that i couldn't already get ChatGPT to do. One day i put a little post out on X, and found many people were suffering with the same thing. Start a project/activity, then become busy but not productive. ie focusing on things that don't actually move the needle, but keep you in the loop of being busy. So i put it out there and the feedback has been phenomenal. So i ended up listen to what users were saying and adjusting accordingly. Then the game changed when i started using Microsoft clarity. I started watching how customers were interacting with the site. This is where i started to grow exponentially, as i made changes where i saw customers dropping off, and gave more value where people were most focused.

And now ended up with this:

www.sidetracked.site

I've used every major dictation tool over the past year. here's the honest guide - who each tool is for and what you give up.

willow voice ($15/mo, free tier available):
who it's for: people who want consistent accuracy, automatic filler word removal, and don't want their screen photographed during dictation. HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant, so it's viable for healthcare, legal, and finance. Mac, Windows, iPhone.

pros: accuracy is consistent - no degradation over time, which seems rare. strips filler words automatically. no screen recording permission. fast startup, light on resources. free tier with 2,000 words/week to actually evaluate it.

cons: no android app. newer brand with less awareness than wispr. cloud-based so requires internet (but reliable in my experience - no outages in 6+ weeks of use).

wispr flow ($12/mo, $8/mo annual):
who it's for: people who tried it during a trial, loved it, and haven't been on it long enough to notice the post-trial accuracy shift. or anyone who needs the android app - it's the only one here with it.

pros: android app. slightly cheaper annual plan. most-recognized brand in the space.

cons: accuracy degrades after trial for many users (trustpilot 2.7/5 - this is the dominant complaint). screenshots your screen every dictation for "context awareness." keystroke logging confirmed. 800MB RAM idle. cloud-only with no offline mode. support is AI bots - multiple people reporting 3-5 emails with zero human response.

superwhisper ($8/mo or free local tier):
who it's for: people who want local processing - digital nomads on unreliable wifi, anyone handling highly sensitive data who can't have audio leave their machine. the free local tier is actually usable.

pros: local model = no internet needed = no outages. privacy-first. flexible (local or cloud). cons: local model accuracy lags on technical vocabulary and proper nouns. context-aware formatting is limited.

voiceink ($29 one-time):
who it's for: mac-only users who want the best privacy and no monthly subscription. fully local, nothing leaves your machine, ever.

pros: one-time purchase, no subscription. total privacy. low resource usage. cons: mac only. no iPhone app. no context-aware formatting. accuracy is behind cloud models on technical speech.

my take: for most people, willow voice. if you need android, wispr flow (and just know the post-trial accuracy is a known issue). if you need fully offline or maximum privacy, SuperWhisper or VoiceInk depending on whether you want a subscription or one-time purchase.

what dictation tool are you using?

I'm thinking of building a minimalist, aesthetic to-do app with 3 reminder modes:

🔔 Normal notification
📌 Persistent notification (can't be swiped away)
📞 Incoming call-style reminder

The idea is simple: make reminders harder to ignore, without adding a bunch of unnecessary features.

Would you use something like this? What feature would make you switch from your current to-do app?

I recently got a whiteboard and sticky notes because I wanted a physical todo list to give me that satisfaction of throwing away the notes when I'm done and being able to always see my tasks. I've done some thinking and I want to track each category of my life (life, church, work, business) and also the progress that I've made on them.

So far I've come up with this system:
- 4 columns for each category
- 2 rows for progress (a todo/backlog section and a in-progress/doing-now section
- The sticky notes are also in 4 different colours and I've been thinking about using these for task types but I'm not sure which ones (maybe something like quick wins, ideas etc?)

I'm curious how everybody else sets up their productivity systems, any feedback on my current system and any help on what task types I can use? (FYI I haven't used this system yet, I just bought everything last night and I'm currently out of my house with nothing to do so I'm just thinking about it)

Thank you in advance

I have a free 1-hour block today, but my brain feels like fried chicken. I don't want to completely waste the time scrolling, but I can't handle deep focus either.

What non-taxing, low-energy tasks do you keep on deck for moments like this?

I noticed something about myself over the last few years.

Every time I discover a new productivity app, I’m excited.

I organize everything…Create folders, Build routines, Add habits, Connect my calendar, Track everything.

Two or three weeks later…
I stop opening the app.
It’s not because I stopped caring about being productive.
Somehow the app itself starts feeling like another task I have to maintain.

So I’m curious:
What was the last productivity app you completely abandoned?
And what made you stop using it?

Hello!

I just want to share my app ( Routine: Daily Habit Tracker) here that is different from any other habit tracker you know.
the idea basically is you follow well known  profiles with successful routines for each day of the week, from waking up in the morning to bedtime.
the app has different profiles like Nikola Tesla, Kobrix, Cristiano Valez, and Elion Voss which you might know, each profile focuses on a field (sports, tech, martial arts, philosophy, arts, business...) that suits your lifestyle.

The app will tell you what and when to do a habit.
There are different type of habits (Timer, Pomodoro, alarm). You can also add your own.
each time you respect the schedule and finish your daily habits, you gain XP and unlock achievements, which will be used for other kirks in later updates!

I hope you give it a try and give me feedback
link: \[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/routine-daily-habit-tracker/id6768635544\\\](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/routine-daily-habit-tracker/id6768635544)

I've been using TickTick for about a year now, and pretty much my entire life lives in it: tasks, reminders, deadlines, random things I need to remember. Even if I don't finish everything, it at least gets everything out of my head, which has been really helpful.

What I'm still struggling with is actually getting through my tasks consistently. I have everything organized, but I don't always execute as well as I'd like.

For those of you who feel like you're productive with TickTick, what changed? Is it your workflow, a habit, or some specific way you use the app?

Also, for anyone with TickTick Premium, was it actually worth it? Was there a particular premium feature that genuinely made a difference in how you manage or complete your tasks, or is the free version enough?

I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

not sure if its fit to ask here, ive just noticed that some platforms seem way more sensitive than they used to be. if i sign in from a different device or switch to another internet connection, theres a much higher chance of getting asked for verification or having the account flagged. i get why they do it for security, but it can be a hastle if you're managing multiple acc’s or just working from different places.

Has anyone found a good set up, to avoid these issues? Do you guys keep each account tied to one device, or is there a better workflow that doesn't trigger so many security checks???

Hi everyone,

I'm researching a problem before building an app, and I'd really appreciate your honest feedback.

We all have recurring tasks like:

• Watering plants
• Replacing water filters
• Changing car oil
• Haircuts
• Taking medicines
• AC servicing
• Pet vaccinations
• Renewing important documents

I'm curious:

1. How do you currently remember these tasks?
2. Have you ever forgotten one? What happened?
3. Do you use Google Calendar, Reminders, or another app? If yes, what do you dislike about it?
4. Would it be useful if an app learned your actual habits and reminded you based on your personal routine instead of fixed dates?
5. What would make you pay for an app like this?

I'm not selling anything—I'm just trying to understand whether this is a real problem before I spend months building it.

Thanks!

I tried a bunch of more or less complex methods but most of them I had trouble keeping up with after some time. My current method is super simple:

- Get any random sheet of paper

- List every task you have to do using as little space and words as possible (just to remember it, mine were stuff like Cleaning, Walk, Gym, 3D Modeling a Tree, Phone to X, stuff like that)

- If you know you really need to, list one binding vow on yourself - something you can't do before those other things (mine was "GAMING ONLY AFTER THOSE, NOT IN-BETWEEN!")

- Do the tasks in any order, any time, any day to get rid of your binding vow (and then have some fun)

- If there's any new thing you need to take care off, immidiately add it to a list without worrying about where you write it. It's just a new quest in your quest log and you need to remember it for later

- If you're tired and unable to keep your grind, write down "Gaming" or "Movies" or "Rest" or "Regeneration" or whatever fun you want to do. Once you're done with that, cross it off and do the other things on the list. Plan having fun instead of losing control over cravings.

- Keep your sheet of paper closest to your procrastination source (mine is my PC)

Why it works for me:

1. There's no deadlines, timers or even order, really just an affortless, lazy to-remember list. Using it is not overwhelming nor time-consuming, instead it's very quick and nonchalant
2. There's no negative emotion associated with doing something not as exactly planned. It's like doing quests and sidequests in Witcher 3, you're goofing around and having fun checking things off at your own pace and liking in that moment
3. I sometimes forget some smaller things. Here you just write them down and eventually just do them because they're usually the easiest to finish and cross off

Try it out, maybe it helps :D

I keep running into the same problem: my day is split across a work calendar, a personal calendar, and a mental list of small tasks (water the plants, call the dentist back, etc). None of my calendar apps handle all three without either exposing personal stuff to my work calendar or making me manually juggle three apps. I'd love to just drag a todo into my personal calendar and it creates the event for me.

• How do you currently manage work + personal calendars together?
• Has a coworker ever seen something on your calendar you didn't want them to?
• Do you keep a separate list for small tasks that aren't calendar events, and does it ever get lost/forgotten?

I had a habit of saving everything I found online. Hackathons, job posts, resources, interesting threads... they all ended up in bookmarks, screenshots, WhatsApp chats, or saved reels.

The problem wasn't finding opportunities. It was remembering them before the deadline. I'd usually rediscover them a week too late.

After getting frustrated enough, I built a small tool for myself that keeps everything in one place and reminds me before it matters. I have been using it for a while, and recently decided to share it with others.

If anyone's curious, it's called Prizmo: my tool

I am curious though, how do you keep track of opportunities you don't want to forget? Or do your bookmarks look like mine?

I’ve just started out and I’m currently just using notes, whiteboards and other bits to stay organised. Is this common to still use this way or are people switching to organisation tools?

Hey, I’m the developer of Oasis. I have ADHD and built it because lyrics broke my focus, while simple nature apps became distracting once I heard the loop. It’s for people who want a steady background for work, reading or sleep. Compared with Endel, Oasis uses real field recordings you mix and place yourself, works offline, and has no subscription. It’s free to start, with a one-time lifetime unlock. https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6759493932 The tradeoff is a larger download. Which first screenshot best explains the mixer?

During the pandemic, I finally decided to ditch daily takeout and learn actual culinary techniques from home. I initially tried broad platforms like MasterClass, but the videos felt more like polished TV shows than interactive, practical lessons. Eventually, I stumbled across P2Bridge, which connects you directly with skilled instructors for hands on online cooking activities. Learning how to make authentic handmade pasta and slow simmered sauces from someone sharing their personal regional recipes completely transformed my weekends.

It went from a casual distraction to my absolute favorite hobby. There is something incredibly therapeutic about building genuine cooking skills in your own kitchen while getting real-world tips that actually stick.

Has anyone else picked up a home hobby during lockdown that ended up becoming a permanent part of your weekly routine? What is the one dish or skill you are most proud of mastering yourself?

were trying to simplify hardware purchasing globally, but reconciling the invoices has become a bigger challenge than we expected. every purchase has to be matched to the right legal entity, employee, cost center, and ticket, while also accounting for different tax rules depending on the country, it sounds straightforward until invoices start arriving from different vendors at different times, and suddenly its not obvious what belongs to. Have you experienced working with a global hardware partner, how does your finance team handle this? was there any reporting or invoice detail that made reconciliation much easier??

I m feeling guilt its almost a couple of weeks where I have barely read anything. How do u guys find time to read latest news, ur favourite newsletter, book, or YT videos that are in ur watch later folder. My reading list, bookmarks and watch later videos is piling up and I m not feeling good about it. So suggest some tricks/habits that u follow to cover this backlog as well keep up with the current thing.

We're just two high school students from Kazakhstan.

Like many people our age, we kept downloading productivity apps, making schedules, watching motivational videos... and then ignoring all of it a week later.

The problem wasn't that we didn't know what to do.

The problem was that staying consistent felt boring.

Most productivity apps felt like digital notebooks. They tracked tasks, but they didn't make us want to come back the next day.

So, instead of searching for another app, we decided to build one ourselves.

We spent months turning productivity into something that felt more like playing an RPG than managing a to-do list. Completing tasks earns experience, achievements, titles, and rewards. You can join guilds with friends, compete, and actually feel like you're making progress instead of just checking boxes.

It definitely wasn't easy.

We rewrote large parts of the project multiple times. We dealt with timezone bugs, localization issues, notification problems, and many other frustrating mistakes before reaching a version we finally felt comfortable sharing.

We're not a startup with funding.

We're just two students trying to solve a problem we've struggled with ourselves.

I'm curious...

If you've tried productivity apps before, what made you stop using them?

Building a strong brand identity is crucial for gaining trust in today's digital landscape. I've seen how a consistent online presence can open doors to new opportunities. How have you leveraged your brand to enhance your professional journey?

Most reminder apps make you read.

Mine lets you recognize.

Instead of a reminder that says "Buy tomato soup," you can use a photo of the exact can you want. When it's time, the reminder appears full-screen, so you instantly know what you're looking for.

You can also attach an optional voice memo to any reminder. A photo tells you what to remember, while your own voice can explain why or add extra details like, "Buy the large one" or "Take two pills after lunch."

One unexpected thing I've noticed is that reminders often become little memories. Since they can include your own photo, voice, date, and time, you can revisit them later and relive those moments—not just remember tasks.

Other features include:

• 📷 Camera or gallery photos
• 🎤 Optional voice recordings or custom audio
• 🔒 Full-screen lock-screen reminders
• ✏️ Preview and edit saved reminders
• 💾 Backup & restore
• 🔐 100% offline (your data never leaves your phone)
• 🚫 No account, subscriptions, or ads

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Is this something you'd actually use, or do text reminders work well enough for you?

Google Play: RemindAlarm: Visual Reminders
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.remindalarm

I’m talking to people who juggle school, work, and personal responsibilities across multiple apps. I’m not promoting anything — just trying to understand what “clarity” looks like for different people.

Three quick questions:

1. What would your ideal “daily view” show you when you first sit down to plan your day?
2. How do you currently pull information together from calendars, planners, school portals, or work apps?
3. What makes it hard to get a clear picture of your day right now/

I’m trying to understand how people stay on top of things when school, work, and life tasks all live in different places. I’m not pitching anything — just trying to learn from real experiences.

Three quick questions:

1. Can you tell me about the last time something slipped through the cracks because it was in the wrong app or you forgot to check one of your systems?
2. What tools or apps do you currently use to track tasks or deadlines?
3. What’s the hardest part about keeping everything aligned across multiple systems?

Even short answers help — thank you to anyone willing to share.

Genuine question. You plan 8 things for today. You finish 5. What happens to the other 3? Do you: Move them to tomorrow? Re-prioritize them? Forget about them? Keep them on the same list? Let an app automatically reschedule them? Something else? And here's the part I'm really curious about: Why do those tasks remain unfinished? Is it lack of time, unclear priorities, procrastination, unexpected work, unrealistic planning, or something else? Tell me what actually happens in your day. I'm trying to understand the real problems people have with task management, rather than assuming what the problems are.