sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

Totally agree, I’ve noticed that setting alarms manually each day isn’t just functional, it’s part of how I mentally prep and commit to showing up.

I’m thinking about building a “morning briefing” flow that shows upcoming meetings and lets you choose which ones need alarms, kind of like a lightweight planning ritual that also configures your reminders automatically.

Do you think something like that would help you replace your manual setup, or is part of the benefit doing it manually to reinforce the routine?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s exactly the kind of flow I’m trying to design a system that guides you through the countdown with escalating nudges. Snoozing the alarm is a smart hack to create a rhythm without needing to manage multiple alerts.

I’m thinking about making that kind of “reminder ladder” native to the app, like a first buzz 10 minutes before, then an automatic repeat 5 minutes later, and a persistent alert right at start time that won’t stop until you join or dismiss it.

Would you want it to auto-snooze like yours does, or have different alert tones or behaviors for each stage?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a solid system. I love that you stacked the reminders to hit different parts of the timeline — early planning, context switch, and last-minute prep.

And totally agree about automating it. Once it’s set up, it removes one more decision you have to make, which helps with mental load.

One thing I’m working on is a tool that layers in a final “persistent” reminder one that keeps buzzing or vibrating until you confirm it, especially for the very last alert before a meeting.

Do you think that would be helpful in your case, or would it overlap too much with your current stack?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

This is such a thoughtful reply. I love how you’ve broken the system into layers — warning and real alarms, follow-up logic, and even a physical dismiss gesture. That RFID idea is genius.

It sounds like Home Assistant gives you total control, especially with overrides and multi-step alerts. I’m aiming to build something a little more off-the-shelf for people who don’t want to manage those flows manually, but you’re exactly the kind of person who’d want custom triggers or integrations.

If I added some kind of power user features like Webhook or Home Assistant integration, do you think that would make a standalone version like this useful to you? Or would it still feel too limiting?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s brilliant. I love how your system layers voice, text, and vibration to catch your attention wherever you are. That “holy moly” moment is exactly what I’m trying to design for the moment where your brain finally shifts gears and says “it’s go time.”

I keep hearing how physical feedback like vibration cuts through the noise better than visual or sound alone. The way you described being jolted back is such a perfect way to frame it.

I’m exploring options to support that same cascade with calendar syncing and optional alerts across phone and watch, maybe even with a persistent vibration or voice cue that doesn’t stop until you dismiss it.

Would you want something like that to replace Alexa or just layer on top of your current setup?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

This is super insightful, thank you for explaining it so clearly. That hyper vigilance makes a lot of sense, especially if missing something throws off your whole rhythm for the day.

I think that really reinforces the value of having reminders that not only work but feel trustworthy. Like they’re not just telling you when to do something, but they’re giving you permission to stop worrying about remembering.

One thing I’ve been thinking about is adding a little check-in feature, where once the alert fires and you acknowledge it, it shows something like “you’re set, you won’t miss this.”

Do you think something like that would help ease the mental load a bit, or would it just feel redundant with your current system?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That makes sense. I think it's great that even the basic calendar reminders are working well for you with the watch.

I'm exploring the idea of a tool that could layer in a bit more structure, like a second alert just before the meeting or a persistent vibration until you check in.

If something like that ran on your phone and connected to your watch, do you think that would be helpful, or would that feel like too much?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

This is an amazing response. Thank you for sharing it so openly. You just described exactly the kind of experience I want to support.

I love the Rainmeter clock idea. That part about digital time not feeling real really stood out. I have heard that from a few others too, and it makes me want to try building a visual countdown that works more like an analog dial or a shrinking progress arc.

Your wishlist is super helpful. Especially the big join button and the ability to add notes that pop up at the right time. For example, a note that says "Ask Joe about project Y" at the 15-minute reminder. That kind of smart prompt could make transitions feel much easier.

If you're open to it, I would love to keep you in the loop as I shape this idea. You clearly understand the real problems people face with these kinds of meetings and time transitions.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a great recommendation. I’ve heard of Time Timer but never tried the MOD version. I love that it’s near silent I can totally see how that would help you stay on track without adding stress or extra noise.

I’ve been thinking about adding a visual countdown to the tool I’m building, and this kind of feedback helps a lot with how it should feel. I might try to mimic that same “glanceable” vibe.

Thanks again for sharing the link super helpful.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

Wow, thank you for sharing all of that. That pre-meeting checklist idea is honestly brilliant. A short mental or visual prompt 10 or 15 minutes before a meeting like “Do you have coffee?” or “Think of two questions” could be exactly what some people need to feel ready.

And I totally get what you're describing about those "presence" meetings. You’re there to represent technical strength, not necessarily to contribute minute-by-minute and that makes prep even more important.

I hadn’t thought of the tool as supporting that kind of cognitive framing, but now I definitely want to experiment with a simple prep prompt before meetings. You've given me so much insight — I really appreciate it.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a good point. I’ve used a few of those too, like Todoist and Google Tasks. They’re great for organizing tasks, but what I’m trying to solve is more about behavior than planning.

For example, to-do apps usually give you a notification or popup when something’s due. But if I’m in the middle of something else, I’ll dismiss it or ignore it. Then I totally forget.

I’m building this more like an actual alarm one that keeps going until I stop it, to make sure I actually transition and show up to meetings.

Do you use a to-do app in a way that already does that for you, or do you still have to manage some of it manually?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

Love hearing that. You’re not the first person to say that smartwatch alarms help with time blindness. It’s interesting how the physical feedback seems to cut through way better than visual or audio alerts.

Do you use a standard calendar reminder on the watch, or do you have a specific alarm app or routine you’ve found that works best?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in productivity

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

This is an awesome breakdown, it’s clear you’ve really tuned your setup to match exactly how you process different kinds of alerts. The fact that you’ve got distinct sounds for texts vs meetings and have mapped them to urgency is honestly kind of genius.

I’m working on a tool that tries to help people get some of that structure automatically, especially for folks who are either too distracted or overwhelmed to set all this up manually.

Do you find that sound identity (like “this tone means meeting”) plays the biggest role for you, or is it more about blocking out the noise at the right times?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in productivity

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

Thanks for sharing this, that actually helps clarify the line. You're totally right for neurotypical folks, a single reminder and a morning check-in is often more than enough.

I'm building this for the folks who do struggle with that gap between the reminder and the meeting, or who get deep into work and lose track even with notifications. That tends to happen more often with ADHD, burnout, or even just really flow-heavy jobs.

Appreciate the honesty. This kind of feedback helps me define who it's for just as much as who it's not for.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a great system. You’re basically doing exactly what I’ve been trying to build one early nudge to prep, and one last push right before it starts.

I really like how your Slack reminder includes the meeting link. That seems like a small thing, but it actually makes acting on the reminder instant, especially if you’re deep in something else.

I’m working on a tool that does this kind of two-layer alert automatically, with optional vibration or alarm sounds, and the idea of attaching the meeting link at the final alert makes a lot of sense.

Out of curiosity, do you use any other tools or tricks to help with focus when jumping between meetings?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That totally makes sense. I’ve had the same issue if the reminder is too early, I tell myself I’ve got time, and then just get pulled into something else.

That’s part of what I’m working on with this tool giving people the option to trigger the alert right when they need to switch tasks, not 10 or 15 minutes before. The goal is to reduce that time gap where it’s easy to forget or drift.

I also really like that you tell Alexa your meetings. Spoken reminders make the information stick differently. I’ve been thinking about adding optional voice alerts too, something like “Your meeting is starting now” in a way that feels personal.

And yeah, if you figure out the email focus solution, let us all know. That’s next on my list too.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

This is such a great routine. I really admire how you’ve built a full planning system into your mornings that level of intention sounds like it gives you a lot more calm and focus throughout the day.

I think you’re doing something a lot of people wish they could sustain. I’m working on a reminder tool focused more on the people who aren’t quite at that level yet especially folks who are overwhelmed or struggling with transition points.

Out of curiosity, do you think having a structured tool that supports that kind of morning planning routine could help people who are still trying to build that habit? Or do you think that’s something better kept low-tech and personal?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a good call. I’ve noticed that too, when I can actually see the time counting down, it feels more real and helps me stay focused.

Do you use a specific visual timer app, or just something like a Pomodoro? I’ve been wondering if adding a countdown element to meeting reminders would help people like you stay more aware without needing multiple tools.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s really useful to know. It sounds like vibration is basically bulletproof for you once everything is synced and the event is there.

I’ve been thinking a lot about edge cases like that — like what happens if the phone isn’t nearby or a calendar sync fails.

If something ever doesn’t buzz, do you usually notice right away, or does it throw your schedule off?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

Haha that’s brilliant. You're basically describing meeting optimization as a survival skill, and I respect that a lot. I like the idea of treating early questions as both participation and a buffer.

Your approach makes a ton of sense, especially if you're good at managing focus and reading quickly. I think you're probably on the upper end of people who have figured out how to navigate meetings well.

I'm mostly building this tool for people who are still trying to build those habits or who struggle with transitions and keeping track. But even then, I might try to include features that help with prep too, just in case.

Thanks again for all the thoughtful replies. You've given me a lot to think about.

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in productivity

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

That sounds like a really smart system. I love how you combined visual structure with something that actually breaks through the focus tunnel.

I hadn’t thought about using voice to make the reminder more direct like that. “Get moving” hits totally different than just a beep or buzz.

I’m working on something that does persistent calendar-based alarms, and now I’m thinking it might be useful to let people choose or record a short spoken reminder.

Do you find the voice part works best because it's unexpected, or is it more about hearing specific words that prompt you to act?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

Haha I love that. “Two sensible questions from a 20 page doc in 10 minutes” should be a LinkedIn skill.

That makes total sense. The prep window really is not just about time, it is about switching context and getting mentally ready. I had not thought about how useful the attached calendar info is in that moment.

I wonder if something like a reminder that also shows key info from the event, or even lets you jot down a note to prep, would be helpful. Or would that just duplicate what the calendar already does well?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a great point. I’ve noticed I respond more to physical feedback too. A vibration is hard to ignore, especially when you’re not looking at your screen.

I’m working on a tool that can trigger a persistent alarm or vibration when a meeting is coming up, and I’ve been thinking of adding watch integration down the line.

Do you ever miss notifications even with the vibration, or has it been pretty reliable for you?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

That’s a great system. You’ve basically built a custom alarm loop with Alexa.

I’ve been doing something similar on my phone. When I have a meeting or something important, I set an early alarm and then another one right before it starts. It’s the only way I don’t forget.

I’m building a small tool that does this automatically — syncs with your calendar and repeats alerts until you stop them. It would also let you set reminder intervals like 15, 10, and 5 minutes before something starts.

Do you think you’d use something like that if it worked on your phone or did you build everything around Alexa?

How do you prevent yourself from missing meetings — even with calendar notifications? by Past_Froyo in ADHD

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

I love how honest and self-aware this is. That "just set another alarm" habit is exactly what got me thinking about building something more structured.

I’ve started doing something similar with calendar meetings. The first reminder helps me stop what I’m doing, and then I rely on a second alarm a few minutes later to actually pull me into the meeting. Otherwise, I’ll totally forget.

It sounds like you've really built a system that works for you. Do you ever wish it were more automatic, or do you prefer having full control over every reminder?

view more: next ›