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In the Premium version, which I have used for a month, I have limited my time on certain websites based on my day’s goals. It allows you to rate each activity from “Very Distracting” to “Very Productive.” You set goals and track your progress. You might be surprised, as I was, to realize that you looked at cat videos for two hours. While it runs in the background, the Rescue Time app quietly tracks all of your activities. There is a difference in how long you think you spent doing something and how long you actually spent. We all need to improve our awareness of time. I have ADHD and I work with people with ADHD. If you’re looking for ways to save time, you have to know how you’re spending it. I use the free version, which allows me to see how I spend my time on my computer. ( PC, Mac, Android, Linux free to $9 per month, depending on the version)
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I have organized the list to address areas that challenge adults with ADHD the most: managing distractions managing information managing time enhancing creativity getting more sleep and being more productive. Still, the apps and resources listed here have helped me a lot. Writing down “do taxes” will not get your taxes done. Setting a reminder to “reply to boss’s e-mail” is not the same as responding with a well-crafted message to explain why the $250 you spent on Super Sticky Post-it notes was a good investment. But with all the gadgets, gizmos, alarms, bells, and whistles that technology provides, understanding its limitations will help you maximize what you get from it. Technology is a great equalizer that can level the playing field for those of us with ADHD.
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When you go through life being clueless about managing any of the details of life, and then you crack the code, it’s hard not to geek out. But using a range of apps has allowed me to evolve from tech geek to productivity geek. Tapping into apps didn’t cure my ADHD, just like taking that salmon-colored pill didn’t make my symptoms disappear. However, the best things for my ADHD treatment plan have been the smartphone and the apps that run on it - apps for ADHD. Being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) in college, and being prescribed Adderall, was a game changer for me. I have also always been forgetful, disorganized, and time-blind.
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