ADHD Systems Hub
Tactical systems and tools for ADHD brains — rated by difficulty (how much effort to adopt) and impact (how much it helps). Evidence ratings are hand-authored per system and shown as a secondary signal.
Looking for clinical info on ADHD?
See the Condition page for diagnosis criteria, medication options, comorbidities, and professional treatment pathways.
How we rate these systems
Evidence ratings on this hub are hand-authored per system. 'B' where the tactic maps to well-studied research (body doubling, implementation intentions, externalising working memory, time-boxing). 'C' where evidence is practitioner consensus without direct RCT support. The primary metrics on this hub are difficulty (ease of adoption) and impact (reported life effect) — evidence ratings are a secondary signal. See individual system tooltips for per-system rating context.
Medication Station
BVisual adherence
Keeping medication visible and near water, tied to an existing daily habit (toothbrushing, coffee) via habit stacking.
Automation Zero
CEliminate the option to forget
Setting every single recurring bill to autopay so basic survival stops depending on executive function.
Body Doubling
BWorking alongside someone else
Performing a task in the presence of another person. The other person doesn't need to help — they just need to be there, working on their own thing.
Point of Performance Storage
CStore it where you use it
Keeping items exactly where they will be used, even if it means buying duplicates. Scissors in every room that needs scissors.
Shared Calendar
CRelationship saver
A joint digital calendar shared with a partner, family member, or housemate — the external brain that both parties can see.
The Launch Pad
CNever lose your keys again
A dedicated station right by the door for everything needed to leave the house — keys, wallet, bag, charger, headphones.
Reverse Alarm
BGo-to-bed alarm
An alarm that tells you when to START getting ready for bed, not just when to wake up.
Separate Accounts
CBills vs spending
Two chequing accounts: one for bills (untouchable, autopay-only) and one for day-to-day spending.
Universal Capture
BStop trusting your brain
A single, reliable place to write things down the instant they occur to you — tasks, ideas, random thoughts.
Modified Pomodoro
BTime-boxed working sprints
Working for short bursts with guaranteed breaks — 15 or 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off.
The 5-Minute Rule
CTrick yourself into starting
Commit to doing a task for only 5 minutes. Give yourself genuine permission to stop after.
Visual Timers
CSee time passing
Using analog clocks or Time Timers that show time as a shrinking coloured disk instead of abstract digital numbers.
Doom Boxes (Managed)
CDidn't Organise, Only Moved
Using baskets to sweep-clear visible clutter in a hurry, paired with a scheduled processing block so the boxes do not become permanent graveyards.
Gamification
CPoints for tasks
Turning chores and routines into an RPG with XP, levels, and rewards.
Protein Breakfast
CFuel for dopamine
Eating 30g of protein within an hour of waking — before or alongside coffee.
Task Batching
CGrouping similar tasks
Doing all similar tasks (emails, phone calls, errands) in one dedicated block instead of scattering them across the day.
Text Batching
CGuilt-free replying
Replying to all personal messages in one specific window each day instead of context-switching every time a notification arrives.
Impulse Waitlist
CCooling-off period
A mandatory 24- or 48-hour wait for any non-essential purchase. The dopamine from the "hunt" fades and reveals whether you actually want the item.
Recommended Tools
Apps and products that pair well with the systems above. These are opinionated recommendations, not sponsored listings.
Todoist
FreemiumNatural-language task manager with a strong capture inbox — good fit for universal capture workflows.
Visit siteGoogle Calendar
FreeThe external brain for time blindness. Free, shared between partners, syncs everywhere.
Visit siteYNAB (You Need A Budget)
PaidZero-based budgeting app that forces money to be assigned a job. Works well with the Separate Accounts system.
Visit siteGoblin Tools
FreeAI task breaker-downer. Paste a vague task, get a concrete step list — removes the "where do I start" paralysis.
Visit siteTile / AirTag
PaidBluetooth trackers for keys, wallet, bag. Pairs with the Launch Pad system as a fallback when the pad fails.
Visit siteOne Sec
FreemiumAdds friction before opening distracting apps — a breathing screen interrupts impulsive scrolling loops.
Visit siteFind an ADHD-informed therapist
Tactical systems help with day-to-day function, but they are not a substitute for professional support — especially if ADHD is untreated or comorbid with anxiety or depression.