Introduction

For individuals with ADHD, staying focused and productive can be daunting. Distractions and disorganization can easily derail any project. But fret not, as many productivity tools and calendar apps are available to help those with ADHD stay organized, motivated, and on track. In this article, we’ll explore 5 of the best tools and apps that can potentially help individuals with ADHD improve their focus, manage their tasks, and achieve their goals. From note-taking apps to time-blocking platforms, we’ll explore various options to suit different preferences and needs. So whether you’re a founder, a freelancer, a student, or just looking to improve your productivity in your personal life, these tools can take your productivity to the next level.

What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to focus, stay organized, and control impulses. ADHD can impact individuals of all ages, but it is commonly diagnosed in children and adolescents. Symptoms of ADHD can include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and restlessness. As per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the cause(s) for ADHD are unknown, but present research shows that genetics plays an important role. Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD.

List of 5 ADHD Productivity Tools & Calendar Apps for 2023

People with ADHD may benefit from using productivity tools and calendar apps to help them stay organized and focused on their goals. It is worthwhile to note that while ADHD tools and apps can help you accomplish daily tasks, they cannot serve as a substitute for seeking professional assistance from a mental health expert or taking prescribed medication.

Now, let’s dive into the list of 5 productivity tools and calendar apps that can transform how you work and help you achieve your goals in 2023.

1. Best for calendar and to-do lists: Akiflow

Akiflow is a YC-backed time-blocking platform where everything can be viewed and managed in a single place without the hassle of switching between tabs and windows. Akiflow’s universal inbox lets you easily import all your tasks from your preferred tools into a single inbox. It is easy to create much more effective and realistic daily schedules by placing the inbox and calendar views side by side. You can effortlessly drag and drop your tasks into the calendar. You can lock time slots for your tasks and use Focus Mode to avoid multitasking and distractions. You can also monitor your daily performance with the Daily Planning and Daily Shutdown rituals.

Price: 7-day free trial, after that, $14.99 monthly for a yearly subscription

Pros:

• Has critical ADHD productivity features like time-blocking, reminders, and notifications
• Available on multiple devices, e.g., laptops and desktops, smartphones, and tablets
• Integrates with a variety of other tools, e.g., Google Calendar, Notion, Asana, Todoist, Slack, Gmail, Trello, Clickup and Zapier
• Takes users from scattered to-do lists to beautifully organized schedules
• Easy to get started with
• Time tracking (Pomodoro timer) available

Cons:

• Free trial is limited to 7 days only

2. Best for note-taking: Mem

Mem is an AI-powered workspace that is tailored to your individual needs. It enables you to enhance your creativity, automate tedious tasks, and stay organized automatically. With Mem, you can effortlessly synchronize your email and calendar, save links and websites from any source, or take quick notes without worrying about the folder or app to store them in. Mem leverages the power of AI to connect and categorize your items based on events, topics, and people. It facilitates recall of related ideas from the past, enables you to write summaries and blog posts quickly, and do much more. 

Price: Free version and paid premium version

Pros:

• Available on multiple devices (except Android)
• Integrates with a variety of other tools, e.g., Readwise, Zapier
• Collaboration features allow you to share notes with anyone, even if they don’t have a Mem account

Cons: 

• Premium features come at a cost
• Lacks a built-in time tracking feature

3. Best for collaboration: Asana

Asana is a project management tool designed to help teams and individuals manage tasks and collaborate. Asana offers a variety of features to help users organize their work. With Asana, users can create tasks, assign them to team members, define deadlines, and monitor progress. Tasks can be further organized into projects, making it easy to keep track of all the tasks related to a particular project. Asana also has features that enable team collaboration, such as the ability to comment on tasks and share files. Asana’s customizable dashboards make it easy to see a project’s progress in one glance. Asana’s workflow builder is a visual tool to connect teams, organize work, and streamline projects in one single place.

Price: Free version and paid premium version

Pros:

• Available on multiple devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, and computers
• Integrates with a variety of other tools, e.g., Google Drive, Slack, Akiflow, and Microsoft Teams
• Collaboration features allow you to comment on tasks and share files

Cons: 

• Premium features come at a cost
• Lacks a built-in time tracking feature

4. Best for blocking distractions: Forest

Forest is a timer app that incorporates gamification to encourage users to stay focused. To begin the timer, you must plant a digital tree, which will grow as the timer runs. The app’s unique feature is that your phone is locked while the tree is growing, meaning that you must refrain from using your phone during this time. If you do use your phone, your tree will die. The app keeps track of the trees you grow, or fail to grow, and displays them in a digital forest. As you grow more trees, you earn coins that can be used to purchase different types of trees, including flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each tree grows according to the amount of time you focus, with longer focus periods resulting in bigger, more beautiful trees. You can also use the coins to plant real trees. 

Price: Free version for Android, paid version for iOS

Pros:

• Available on App store, Google Play and as chrome extension
• The app’s Plant Together feature syncs several Forest accounts simultaneously and is ideal for group activities
• Built-in time tracking feature 

Cons: 

• Only paid version for iOS

5. Best for project tracking: Trello

Trello is a widely-used project management tool with a visual interface to help individuals and teams organize and prioritize their work. Trello is based on the concept of “boards” which represent projects or categories of work, and “cards” which represent individual tasks or items within those projects. Users can create cards, move them between columns or lists, add labels and due dates, and collaborate with team members by adding comments, attachments, and checklists. Trello’s visual interface makes it easy to see the status of tasks at a glance, and its flexible structure allows users to adapt the tool to their specific workflows and processes. 

Price: Free version and paid premium version

Pros:

• Available on multiple devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, and computers
• Integrates with a variety of other tools, e.g., Google Drive, Akiflow, and Dropbox
• Collaboration features create a shared perspective on any project and allow you to see who’s working on what

Cons: 

• Premium features come at a cost
• Lacks a built-in time tracking feature

Conclusion

Many productivity tools and calendar apps can help individuals with ADHD improve their productivity and achieve their goals. Using tools and apps can be a useful way to get organized and put all your thoughts in a single place. But they’re not an alternative to seeing a mental health professional or taking the necessary medication.
The five tools and apps discussed in this article offer a variety of features and functionalities, from time blocking to project management. By incorporating these tools and apps, such as Akiflow, into their daily routines, individuals with ADHD can better manage their tasks, reduce distractions, and improve their overall focus and productivity in 2023 and beyond.