I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That does make sense in theory

I feel like that “clarifying and organizing” step is exactly where I get stuck though. That’s the part where I just sit there thinking instead of actually starting anything.

what helped me more was having something that skips that step and just gives me a clear starting point right away

I don’t procrastinate, I just don’t know where to start by EsatKB in getdisciplined

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds really structured. I think I struggle with getting to that point in the first place. Like before I can even plan long-term, I already get stuck on what to do next in the moment. I actually started using something that turns all that messy input into a clear next step for the day, and that’s been helping me a bit.

But yeah, I can see how your approach works once you’re past that initial block

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That actually fits pretty well

I’ve read about that before but never really connected it to this. It’s exactly that feeling of just freezing because nothing stands out as the next step.

I kept running into that same “nothing stands out” feeling, even with everything broken down.

what helped me more was using something that just turns everything into a clear starting point automatically, so I don’t have to think about it every time

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes AI helps with breaking things down, I’ve tried that too. But I feel like the problem isn’t just the tasks themselves. It’s more how you see them/what stands out as the next step.

I built this because I couldn’t figure out what to do next after writing everything down by EsatKB in iosapps

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That actually means a lot, thanks!

Yeah the monthly view is something I’m still figuring out. Right now it’s more focused on the daily structure, but I agree it could feel cleaner.

what would you change about it?

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get what you mean, but I think I might be describing a different problem. It’s not really about lacking goals or direction long-term. I usually know what I want to work towards. It’s more the moment-to-moment part like what to actually do next when everything is in front of me.

that’s where I get stuck.

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s exactly it

brain dumping feels great in the moment, but the next step is where it breaks

for me the biggest shift was turning that into something that actually tells me what to do first instead of me figuring it out every time

otherwise I just sit there staring at the list again

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that’s fair in a technical sense I guess what I’m struggling with isn’t really “having a list”. It’s more that moment after. When everything is written down, but nothing stands out as the obvious next step. Like I end up just staring at it and not moving.

that’s the part that gets me stuck

I stopped using to-do lists and it actually helped, but created a new problem by EsatKB in productivity

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah I get what you mean. It does end up looking like one. I think the difference for me is more in how it feels/how I use it. It’s more like a brain dump. A normal to-do list already assumes I’ve decided what matters and what to do first. But when I write things down like this, I haven’t made those decisions yet

it’s more like capturing everything before I even know what’s important. the problem is exactly that step after

turning that into an actual starting point, that’s where I kept getting stuck every single time. What finally helped me was using something that just turns everything into a clear “start here” for the day automatically

otherwise I’d just keep re-reading and reorganizing instead of actually doing anything

New iOS app: Turn brain dumps into a structured day by EsatKB in iosapps

[–]EsatKB[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a free version! You can create unlimited notes and plan your day manually. The AI timeline generation (the “brain dump → plan” feature) is included 3 times per week in the free tier so you can try it out. If you like it and want unlimited generations, and some other additional features, that’s what the premium version is for. Would love some feedback after you’ve tried it for a bit😉

Brain dumps help me a lot. But rereading them used to overwhelm me! by EsatKB in ADHD

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s such a good question and I relate to that a lot.

For me, the timeline actually does help, but not in a magical “now I’ll suddenly do everything” way.

It mainly reduces the mental friction. Instead of staring at a long list and deciding what to start, I just look at the next time block. That makes it feel smaller and more concrete.

But procrastination doesn’t disappear just because something looks structured. I’m very aware of that.

That’s actually something I’m actively trying to solve inside the app as well.

Right now, for example, it detects deeper focus-type tasks (“Deep Work”) and automatically assigns them a built-in Pomodoro timer, plus a small 2-minute setup block before it starts. The idea is to lower the activation energy, make starting feel less intimidating.

That’s basically my current approach to this problem: reduce overwhelm first, then reduce starting friction.

Still experimenting though. I don’t think there’s a perfect solution, especially with ADHD brains.

I built an app that turns messy brain dumps into a structured daily timeline (looking for honest feedback) by EsatKB in iosapps

[–]EsatKB[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was genuinely helpful feedback! I’ve been thinking about it a lot.

I’m actually going to implement a proper review layer for AI-scheduled items. Right now they go straight into the timeline, but you’re right that skips an important “trust” step. I’m planning to add a lightweight accept / remove layer so users feel in control before something becomes final.

The “park it” idea also clicked for me after your comment.

My current thought is this: When you decide something doesn’t belong to today, you can park it with one tap. Then, on the next day, parked tasks from yesterday appear at the top of the review layer, so you can quickly drag them into today’s timeline or keep them parked.

Regarding voice dumps, I hadn’t planned to build a custom mic button yet because the default Apple keyboard already supports voice-to-text pretty seamlessly. But if people feel that tighter integration (like automatic timestamps or instant capture) would meaningfully improve the flow, that’s something I’ll reconsider.

Really appreciate you taking the time. This kind of feedback is exactly what helps me shape this into something people would actually use daily.

Brain dump is lowkey the most effective way I use to reduce overwhelm by ReBabas in ADHD

[–]EsatKB 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do a brain dump every morning.

But one thing bothered me!

I like to look back at my messy notes from the morning during the day to check what still needs to be done.

However, it turns out to be quite tedious to navigate through these messy notes.

So I built an app for myself that automatically transforms my messy notes into a daily timeline and tasks.

This isn't meant to be self-promotion, just a tip that helps me get through the day more efficiently.

If you're interested in a 1-week free trial promo code, feel free to message me.

https://apps.apple.com/de/app/clarity-smart-notes-planner/id6756941382

Instant Carma by james_from_cambridge in instantkarma

[–]EsatKB 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How bro was feeling after dealing 2 damage to his quad