23 ms·

Show HN: ADHD-friendly Pomodoro web app

329 points by grzracz 4y ago

tailspin2019 4y ago
Simple and easy to use. Nice execution! I also appreciate the dark mode.
dotBen 4y ago
What makes this ADHD friendly? Also, as you prob know, there are multiple free/FOSS native taskbar based pomodoro apps that really get out the way, what is the advantage of using a browser based on?
- grzracz 4y ago
  It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. People with ADHD (myself included) struggle with time blindness and just starting tasks in general, so this helps with that (I hope) by: a) making the start of your tasks just a simple press of a button b) keeping your progress of time and your deadline right in front of you. It's just another one of pomodoro apps that I made specifically for myself and wanted to share in case someone wants to use it as well :)
  - Ragii 4y ago
    Maybe you can try turning it into a progressive web app so it can be installed and receive notifications
  - vineyardmike 4y ago
    A suggestion I have (as a time-blind ADHD person): try to hijack the browsers’ Picture in Picture mode, or display a timer icon in the window bar or tab favicon. Unless you keep your browser tab open, you can’t see it. A “gauge” icon in the browser bar would be enough to actually be in view without being distracting. Repackaging as a plug-in would give you a tab-free icon.
    - IndigoIncognito 4y ago
      Maybe a "livestream-esq" video would work
    - rpastuszak 4y ago
      Screen-level overlays work nicely if you can take the native route (or use sth like Tauri). I have a goat showing up on the screen at random intervals and telling the to slow the fuck down when I speak: https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 For time management I'm using Be Focused (always visible + sound cues)
    - myhf 4y ago
      Yes, time display in the window title can be nice. I made a simple web app for a similar purpose, that demonstrates the technique: http://pclock.github.io/ http://pclock.github.io/ based on an old flash app: https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrastinators/ https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrasti...
    - peebeebee 4y ago
      Indeed. Here is a very lightweight demo I did with this: https://pipodoro.vercel.app https://pipodoro.vercel.app Code can be found on https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro
  - lelanthran 4y ago
    > It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. Then it really shouldn't be a browser app, it needs to be a local app that runs in the taskbar. I've made two of these in the past: V1, browser based: the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. V2, Bash+zenity script to run locally, pops up a uncloseable, uncoverable and omnipresent (across all workspaces) window, with a progress bar showing the time as it elapses[1], and properly sends desktop notifications. A much more functional experience than V1 which was invisible while I was working, stuck on a single workspace (I have nine in a 3x3 grid) and frequently didn't send notifications. V3, Next iteration, local application without a window but with taskbar integration for timer display. Might just decide to hack zenity to provide a 'taskbar' widget. [1] If you're interested my V2 app (run locally), see https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a22b4f61 https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a...
    - cj 4y ago
      > the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. E.g. I've built a chrome extension that shows an "On" badge when it's activated in the current tab. Via the same mechanism you could display the number of minutes remaining. Edit: Random article showing this in action: https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-badge-644 https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-ba... -- also, no idea if it's supported in v3
      - lelanthran 4y ago
        > Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. Then it's not a browser app anymore, it's a chrome app. Maybe not even that, it's a chrome app that needs a specific extension as well? I'm using Firefox. Having to install Chome+extensions just for a pomodoro app is extremely unappealing to me.
        refulgentis 4y ago
        Nah, you’re reaching too far to neg your interlocutor, been available for mobile for years and even Safari finally shipped it
  - rmdes 4y ago
    I would package this as a local nativefier app and have it running as a dedicated app/window for it to make sense for me.. This as a browser tab would just get lost. Is there source code for this?
    - grzracz 4y ago
      Yep! https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork Enjoy :)
  - smcleod 4y ago
    For me it would make more sense as a (native) desktop app, personally I like the idea of attention / flow timers but not if they're another browser tab (or electron app.
  - halfcat 4y ago
    One idea to explore, is using analog-looking timers instead of the digital-looking ones. I’ve heard this recommended by a number of “time blind” folks.
- kawfey 4y ago
  My company's IT bans installing anything outside of their software application management/installation application. All software goes through a laborious approval process. Webapps like this are very useful to me.
  - sshine 4y ago
    My employer’s IT policy is to require asking for permission to access a laptop’s administrator account, and have the sysadmin audit the log. Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework.
    - lhoff 4y ago
      > Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework. Sadly the answer my employer has in that case: buy a VMWare Workstation License in the store and use you special snowflake OS in there. Still better than nothing but also a bit annoying.
      - rileymat2 4y ago
        Is this a problem? I am sure it is not a common workflow, but I have done most of my work inside VMS pretty much exclusively for years. It makes it so easy to freeze the state of a project, do backups, quick snapshots. Archive finished projects. Removes any fear of upgrading. Keeps work clean, I need to know project dependencies when starting a new one on a fresh VM. It keeps my base system very barebones with respect to software installed. I can also get up and running with a new host machine upgrade by simply copying the vms to the new host.
        z3t4 4y ago
        What do you use for virtualization? And what do you use for graphics? (example Libvirt/VNC)
  - ParetoOptimal 4y ago
- diimdeep 4y ago
  It allows to set 0 minutes work, and just doing breaks all day.
  - tester457 4y ago
    That's a feature not a bug. Let me enjoy my day of only breaks.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
tra3 4y ago
Nicely done. Does anyone else get anxiety from watching the timer get close to 0 and not being nearly done with you've set out to do in the pomo?
- varispeed 4y ago
  Same, I can't use pomodoro technique because it creates anxiety without actually helping in anything. What I learned to do is just work when I feel like it and so take the break - trust my instinct.
- jabroni_salad 4y ago
  This is one of the reasons I'm using skedpal. I just make the task longer and it reshuffles all my other tasks to make room. Not just good for adhd, I also have trouble with my boss being way too chatty and blowing up my time boxing. Also since my tasks are on the calendar the 'what am I going to do next' decision paralysis is taken care of, and since they all occupy some amount of linear time they are real objects instead of just a virtual infinity list.
  - philsnow 4y ago
    Thank you for mentioning skedpal. I had never heard of it, and in the last week I've been thinking through the design of a very similar thing... the shininess of which is distracting me from working on the thing I actually want to be working on. Maybe I don't have to build the thing I was thinking about building.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- nvarsj 4y ago
  Yes... in my experience, flowtime is a much better approach for creative work. [1] It's like an inverted pomodoro. Set a timer and track how long you work. When your work has a natural break (you pushed some code, etc.), pause the timer and take a break based on how long you worked. 1: https://medium.com/@UrgentPigeon/the-flowtime-technique-7685101bd191 https://medium.com/@UrgentPigeon/the-flowtime-technique-7685...
duck 4y ago
Nice job with this! I love the clean/minimum interface. It doesn't seem to chime or notify when done? How do you use it to know when time has run out? One thing I've wanted from a pomo timer is a simple way to mark the number of distractions I've had.
poisonarena 4y ago
aren't pom's 20-25 min, not 60 min by default? the two green and blue choices are confusing, i didn't realize one was break and the other was work until i started a test session. Also the the time remaining should be displayed in the page title, so i can be in another tab and see it. The dark mode is nice
- ryanklee 4y ago
  Longer Poms are (often) receommended for people with ADHD because starting tasks is a massive, dangerous hurdle. Stopping more frequently means starting more frequently. Longer Poms help.
robswc 4y ago
Really cool, love the simple interface.
cglong 4y ago
I love the domain name :D
bentt 4y ago
I like it at a glance! Could you make a mode that is not 24hr but is 12hr am/pm? I find seeing 13:32 does not compute for my American brain.
- balaji1 4y ago
  does it need a title for the task? useful to see after the task is done.
angryhd 4y ago
[flagged]
- grzracz 4y ago
  Unjustified. How is this a grift if there's no monetization scheme? If you don't like it then don't use it
  - tailspin2019 4y ago
    To balance out the parent… I have ADHD and can totally see myself using it.
- ParetoOptimal 4y ago
  It's quite possible the creator made this for themselves since there's no monetization angle and also has ADHD.
kseistrup 4y ago
Does this thing run in UTC? I'm in the Europe/Copenhagen timezone (currently UTC+2) and the web app shows a time two hours behind localtime (and my pc is having the correct time from NTP).
- danstewart_ 4y ago
  Do you use firefox? I think by default it uses UTC to prevent fingerprinting. The site is showing the correct timezone for me on safari.
  - kseistrup 4y ago
    Correct, I'm using firefox. I didn't know about the UTC thing in firefox, usually it will show the correct local time. But now that you mention it, the online booking system for the local vaccination centre shows the time in UTC, too. Recently I actually filed a bug report to their administration because of that. All other sites I can think of — including https://time.is/ https://time.is/ — are showing the correct localtime.
  - jonas-w 4y ago
    This should only happen when you activate resistfingerprinting iirc
nico 4y ago
Thank you!
fallat 4y ago
Gonna say, seeing the "worked time" is actually really helpful to put me back on task. "What, I've only done 14 minutes?"
adr1an 4y ago
maybe tracking time is overrated
- asimjalis 4y ago
  I think you might be onto something.
flir 4y ago
Best. URL. Ever.
- make3 4y ago
  probably the best feature
doorhammer 4y ago
app looks clean. I dig it. Kind of unrelated to the app, but wanted to share a related thought that's been useful to me over the years in case it's useful for anyone else. I have pretty strong ADHD. Pomodoro and other time tracking techniques never really worked well for me long-term because they end up being associated with a lot of anxiety and self-shame as I used them, so I tend to stop using them as negative feelings build up. Now I use them differently. I'll set the timer for 30 - 45 minutes and when it goes off I ask myself if I'm using my time in the way I intended. I try to ask it in a non-judgmental way and the answer is mostly unrelated to the process. Sometimes it's fine that I got off on a tangent; sometimes it's not. The goal is really just to be aware that time is passing and have built in moments where I'm conscious of how it's being used. When I'm consistent about it (which isn't always), I find that I'm much more aware of how I'm actually using my time, which tends to lead toward naturally using it better but again, I try to separate the awareness from the tracking and planning. I personally use a physical clock like this one but I think using a website or clock is really personal preference: https://www.amazon.com/Hexagon-Rotating-Minute-Preset-Countdown/dp/B07L2QN8MY https://www.amazon.com/Hexagon-Rotating-Minute-Preset-Countd... I like that one because I enjoy the physical feeling of rotating it. I also like that the alarm is the light blue backlight flashing, which feels less aggressive and psychologically traumatic than my phone alarm. That's also not to say pomodoro is bad for someone with adhd. I still use similar methods and I think there are techniques for being more successful with it that I wasn't employing. I just like to separate the time/task management from time awareness now and feel that it's useful for me.
- dangwhy 4y ago
  Love this comment. I suffer from some of the same problems and feelings. One weird thing that works me is playing reality TV in the background (love and hip hop, vanderpump ect). Seems to have really calming effect on my brain which lets me focus on work. I've realized over the years that my adhd is just suppressed anxiety in disguise and reality TV masks it.
  - courseofaction 4y ago
    A cognitive psych professor of mine couldn't work without music playing to 'occupy a certain part of his brain', almost always prog rock. Didn't seem to be holding him back - sometimes a mask is a workable solution. :)
courseofaction 4y ago
Great project, but even better for other users - if you need something simple and bespoke, build it! I love how the age of AI development is making whipping up an app like this for personal use more viable. I created a CLI study flashcard with progress tracking app in <30 minutes for my own purposes the other day.
warrendlee1 4y ago
Haha love the URL. Great concept - will use. Just an idea, I get anxious looking at the time ticking like that. Maybe run the clock in the background but for the UI, show a color gradient slowing shifting as time winds down or something less harsh? Great job!
mzs 4y ago
Nice, I wish it subtly audibly ticked at 5s intervals and then sounded an alarm.
TurkishPoptart 4y ago
This is cool. I've been using https://mytomatoes.com/ https://mytomatoes.com/ for a long time.
23B1 4y ago
If you struggle with distraction or discipline, you must get http://freedom.to http://freedom.to on your devices. It is simple, easy, effective, and the single best ROI of any app I have ever paid for. Not affiliated with these guys, but this sh*t just /works/ for me.
arco1991 4y ago
Nice and clean! Does it allow for notifications?
joemazerino 4y ago
I love the domain name. Take my vote.
jstx1 4y ago
https://pomofocus.io/app https://pomofocus.io/app is similar (but with satisfying sounds!)
- globalnode 4y ago
  thanks for the link, i like that one.
Yizahi 4y ago
No offense author, but what is specifically ADHD related in this timer? Actually I'd argue that it is ADHD unfriendly because it is in the web browser. So now I need to open a browser and hunt down one tab among hundreds, because as a ADHD person I tend to hoard them to process later and of course never do it. There are also no notifications or sounds in your website (I may have nuked all browser notifications at some point, to combat asshole webdesign, and now I have no idea if that's a default setting). The 100% expected scenario of how ADHD person would use your timer is open it, set up a timer, check it periodically if it has finished or not, happily get to first break, then setup second work period, forget about timer until 3 days later, and find it when cleaning up open tab. Close it forever. Source - this would be a fifth or so exact same pomodoro "app"-website I've tried and abandoned.
- sizzle 4y ago
  Absolutely, the ADHD version would be a physical egg timer you manually turn the dial on and can’t lose sight of on your desk. A digital representation would have to float on top of all other apps somehow.
  - shaunsingh0207 4y ago
    now I'd spend all my time turning the dial and overengineering its replacement :(
    - thedrexster 4y ago
      me too, brother! <3
  - robotresearcher 4y ago
    That’s the original version. Pomodoro is named after a popular physical kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato (‘Pomodoro’ is Italian for ‘tomato’). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique
- loloquwowndueo 4y ago
aaron695 4y ago
[dead]
coolspot 4y ago
I found a work/rest timer like yours work really well for me. I use WorkRave which is free, available on all OSes and even locks keyboard for you after work timer is complete (with an option to postpone). [1] - https://workrave.org/download/ https://workrave.org/download/
shironononon 4y ago
dark mode: [x] no ad banner: [x] works as intended: [x] Well done, sir.
650REDHAIR 4y ago
I have nothing to add yet except that domain name is incredible and makes me feel seen.
globalnode 4y ago
awesome! needed this about 6 mths ago and had to write a bodgy python script. this is app is a lot nicer.
zhuowei18 4y ago
It would be great to have a two minute rest timer though. As a fellow ADHD patient, I normally goes (10+2)x5
TheBigRoomXXL 4y ago
Simple and clean, I like it. But the "let's get to work" button doesn't have enough contrast in light mode.
quangpham 4y ago
The URL is very interesting :)) As someone with ADHD, I think that simplicity is key when it comes to ADHD-friendly tools. I love the the simplicity of the app. However, one feature that I think is particularly helpful for ADHD users is the option to play ambient sounds during the work sessions. I used to use https://asoftmurmur.com/ https://asoftmurmur.com/ for ambient sounds but it's not a Pomodoro timer. Just found http://pomoup.com/ http://pomoup.com/ yesterday on a Show HN post and it has everything I need.
dottedmag 4y ago
To the fellow ADHDers out there: the Pomodoro timer is not what you think it is! Until I got diagnosed, I thought Pomodoro to be "keep focused for 30 minutes, do not context-switch, do not get distracted" timer. After I got diagnosed (thankfully a mild case) and started taking medications, the use of Pomodoro switched to "don't sit more than half an hour focused on one task without standing up, streching and getting some tea" mode. You can use this phase switch to your advantage, to measure the degree of ADHDness and efficacy of medication.
anshumankmr 4y ago
The best timer, I feel, is Forest, though it doesn't actually intend to be a timer, but since I work on a laptop 24x7, it reminds me to focus on my task if I open YouTube or something.
rootsudo 4y ago
The best "app" I discovered is on my iphone, theres a count down timer. It works great. I do not know if android has a built in app, it's been years since I used one... That's it, the biggest thing is having something by you/on you that works. I didn't know how to use the Clock app fully outside of different timezones/alarms. I was surprised there was countdown. You can extend continuously, so you can set 15 mins or 30 mins countdown and have it continue all day if you so desire. It's pretty powerful, I wonder how many basic built in features of operating systems I completely miss - because, the clock app seems innocent enough, it's application is really unlimited.
nerdyadventurer 4y ago
Does anyone know talk out loud app for Linux? I was not able to find an one.
meatjuice 4y ago
There was once a web app called maesure, which provides approximately the same thing. The website was closed short after its deployment. As one of the previous active users of the maesure app, I’m concerning if the app you’re developing will end up in the same situation.
aquaVitae 4y ago
Oooo, very clean app. Digging the color scheme!
nhkcode 4y ago
Pomodoro never has worked for me. The productive periods always seem to end just when I'm in a flow state and the short breaks aren't long enough to do anything really recreational and fun. I now just track my productive and procrastinating time and try to keep them somewhat in balance. For that I hacked together a trivially simple PWA at https://timeth.at/ https://timeth.at/. That way I can chug along for as long as it's comfortable to do something useful without interruption, and also get to enjoy some procrastination time without feeling guilty. I just need a gentle reminder from time to time not to spend 8 hours straight binge watching some show or waste the entire game playing video games.
LesZedCB 4y ago
i just wanna say i've been using this the last couple days and found it extremly useful! i don't have diagnosed adhd but my dad does and i'm just too lazy (ha) to get an evaluation myself. for whatever reason, having this tool and knowing there's a break coming makes is much easier to stay focused for the working time. so thanks for creating and sharing! :D

329 points by grzracz 4y ago

tailspin2019 4y ago

Simple and easy to use. Nice execution! I also appreciate the dark mode.

What makes this ADHD friendly? Also, as you prob know, there are multiple free/FOSS native taskbar based pomodoro apps that really get out the way, what is the advantage of using a browser based on?

grzracz 4y ago
It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. People with ADHD (myself included) struggle with time blindness and just starting tasks in general, so this helps with that (I hope) by: a) making the start of your tasks just a simple press of a button b) keeping your progress of time and your deadline right in front of you. It's just another one of pomodoro apps that I made specifically for myself and wanted to share in case someone wants to use it as well :)
- Ragii 4y ago
  Maybe you can try turning it into a progressive web app so it can be installed and receive notifications
- vineyardmike 4y ago
  A suggestion I have (as a time-blind ADHD person): try to hijack the browsers’ Picture in Picture mode, or display a timer icon in the window bar or tab favicon. Unless you keep your browser tab open, you can’t see it. A “gauge” icon in the browser bar would be enough to actually be in view without being distracting. Repackaging as a plug-in would give you a tab-free icon.
  - IndigoIncognito 4y ago
    Maybe a "livestream-esq" video would work
  - rpastuszak 4y ago
    Screen-level overlays work nicely if you can take the native route (or use sth like Tauri). I have a goat showing up on the screen at random intervals and telling the to slow the fuck down when I speak: https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 For time management I'm using Be Focused (always visible + sound cues)
  - myhf 4y ago
    Yes, time display in the window title can be nice. I made a simple web app for a similar purpose, that demonstrates the technique: http://pclock.github.io/ http://pclock.github.io/ based on an old flash app: https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrastinators/ https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrasti...
  - peebeebee 4y ago
    Indeed. Here is a very lightweight demo I did with this: https://pipodoro.vercel.app https://pipodoro.vercel.app Code can be found on https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro
- lelanthran 4y ago
  > It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. Then it really shouldn't be a browser app, it needs to be a local app that runs in the taskbar. I've made two of these in the past: V1, browser based: the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. V2, Bash+zenity script to run locally, pops up a uncloseable, uncoverable and omnipresent (across all workspaces) window, with a progress bar showing the time as it elapses[1], and properly sends desktop notifications. A much more functional experience than V1 which was invisible while I was working, stuck on a single workspace (I have nine in a 3x3 grid) and frequently didn't send notifications. V3, Next iteration, local application without a window but with taskbar integration for timer display. Might just decide to hack zenity to provide a 'taskbar' widget. [1] If you're interested my V2 app (run locally), see https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a22b4f61 https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a...
  - cj 4y ago
    > the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. E.g. I've built a chrome extension that shows an "On" badge when it's activated in the current tab. Via the same mechanism you could display the number of minutes remaining. Edit: Random article showing this in action: https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-badge-644 https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-ba... -- also, no idea if it's supported in v3
    - lelanthran 4y ago
      > Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. Then it's not a browser app anymore, it's a chrome app. Maybe not even that, it's a chrome app that needs a specific extension as well? I'm using Firefox. Having to install Chome+extensions just for a pomodoro app is extremely unappealing to me.
      - refulgentis 4y ago
        Nah, you’re reaching too far to neg your interlocutor, been available for mobile for years and even Safari finally shipped it
- rmdes 4y ago
  I would package this as a local nativefier app and have it running as a dedicated app/window for it to make sense for me.. This as a browser tab would just get lost. Is there source code for this?
  - grzracz 4y ago
    Yep! https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork Enjoy :)
- smcleod 4y ago
  For me it would make more sense as a (native) desktop app, personally I like the idea of attention / flow timers but not if they're another browser tab (or electron app.
- halfcat 4y ago
  One idea to explore, is using analog-looking timers instead of the digital-looking ones. I’ve heard this recommended by a number of “time blind” folks.
kawfey 4y ago
My company's IT bans installing anything outside of their software application management/installation application. All software goes through a laborious approval process. Webapps like this are very useful to me.
- sshine 4y ago
  My employer’s IT policy is to require asking for permission to access a laptop’s administrator account, and have the sysadmin audit the log. Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework.
  - lhoff 4y ago
    > Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework. Sadly the answer my employer has in that case: buy a VMWare Workstation License in the store and use you special snowflake OS in there. Still better than nothing but also a bit annoying.
    - rileymat2 4y ago
      Is this a problem? I am sure it is not a common workflow, but I have done most of my work inside VMS pretty much exclusively for years. It makes it so easy to freeze the state of a project, do backups, quick snapshots. Archive finished projects. Removes any fear of upgrading. Keeps work clean, I need to know project dependencies when starting a new one on a fresh VM. It keeps my base system very barebones with respect to software installed. I can also get up and running with a new host machine upgrade by simply copying the vms to the new host.
      - z3t4 4y ago
        What do you use for virtualization? And what do you use for graphics? (example Libvirt/VNC)
- ParetoOptimal 4y ago
diimdeep 4y ago
It allows to set 0 minutes work, and just doing breaks all day.
- tester457 4y ago
  That's a feature not a bug. Let me enjoy my day of only breaks.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

tra3 4y ago

Nicely done. Does anyone else get anxiety from watching the timer get close to 0 and not being nearly done with you've set out to do in the pomo?

varispeed 4y ago
Same, I can't use pomodoro technique because it creates anxiety without actually helping in anything. What I learned to do is just work when I feel like it and so take the break - trust my instinct.
jabroni_salad 4y ago
This is one of the reasons I'm using skedpal. I just make the task longer and it reshuffles all my other tasks to make room. Not just good for adhd, I also have trouble with my boss being way too chatty and blowing up my time boxing. Also since my tasks are on the calendar the 'what am I going to do next' decision paralysis is taken care of, and since they all occupy some amount of linear time they are real objects instead of just a virtual infinity list.
- philsnow 4y ago
  Thank you for mentioning skedpal. I had never heard of it, and in the last week I've been thinking through the design of a very similar thing... the shininess of which is distracting me from working on the thing I actually want to be working on. Maybe I don't have to build the thing I was thinking about building.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
nvarsj 4y ago
Yes... in my experience, flowtime is a much better approach for creative work. [1] It's like an inverted pomodoro. Set a timer and track how long you work. When your work has a natural break (you pushed some code, etc.), pause the timer and take a break based on how long you worked. 1: https://medium.com/@UrgentPigeon/the-flowtime-technique-7685101bd191 https://medium.com/@UrgentPigeon/the-flowtime-technique-7685...

duck 4y ago

Nice job with this! I love the clean/minimum interface. It doesn't seem to chime or notify when done? How do you use it to know when time has run out? One thing I've wanted from a pomo timer is a simple way to mark the number of distractions I've had.

poisonarena 4y ago

aren't pom's 20-25 min, not 60 min by default? the two green and blue choices are confusing, i didn't realize one was break and the other was work until i started a test session. Also the the time remaining should be displayed in the page title, so i can be in another tab and see it. The dark mode is nice

ryanklee 4y ago
Longer Poms are (often) receommended for people with ADHD because starting tasks is a massive, dangerous hurdle. Stopping more frequently means starting more frequently. Longer Poms help.

robswc 4y ago

Really cool, love the simple interface.

cglong 4y ago

I love the domain name :D

bentt 4y ago

I like it at a glance! Could you make a mode that is not 24hr but is 12hr am/pm? I find seeing 13:32 does not compute for my American brain.

balaji1 4y ago
does it need a title for the task? useful to see after the task is done.

angryhd 4y ago

[flagged]

grzracz 4y ago
Unjustified. How is this a grift if there's no monetization scheme? If you don't like it then don't use it
- tailspin2019 4y ago
  To balance out the parent… I have ADHD and can totally see myself using it.
ParetoOptimal 4y ago
It's quite possible the creator made this for themselves since there's no monetization angle and also has ADHD.

kseistrup 4y ago

Does this thing run in UTC? I'm in the Europe/Copenhagen timezone (currently UTC+2) and the web app shows a time two hours behind localtime (and my pc is having the correct time from NTP).

danstewart_ 4y ago
Do you use firefox? I think by default it uses UTC to prevent fingerprinting. The site is showing the correct timezone for me on safari.
- kseistrup 4y ago
  Correct, I'm using firefox. I didn't know about the UTC thing in firefox, usually it will show the correct local time. But now that you mention it, the online booking system for the local vaccination centre shows the time in UTC, too. Recently I actually filed a bug report to their administration because of that. All other sites I can think of — including https://time.is/ https://time.is/ — are showing the correct localtime.
- jonas-w 4y ago
  This should only happen when you activate resistfingerprinting iirc

nico 4y ago

Thank you!

fallat 4y ago

Gonna say, seeing the "worked time" is actually really helpful to put me back on task. "What, I've only done 14 minutes?"

adr1an 4y ago

maybe tracking time is overrated

asimjalis 4y ago
I think you might be onto something.

flir 4y ago

Best. URL. Ever.

make3 4y ago
probably the best feature

doorhammer 4y ago

app looks clean. I dig it. Kind of unrelated to the app, but wanted to share a related thought that's been useful to me over the years in case it's useful for anyone else. I have pretty strong ADHD. Pomodoro and other time tracking techniques never really worked well for me long-term because they end up being associated with a lot of anxiety and self-shame as I used them, so I tend to stop using them as negative feelings build up. Now I use them differently. I'll set the timer for 30 - 45 minutes and when it goes off I ask myself if I'm using my time in the way I intended. I try to ask it in a non-judgmental way and the answer is mostly unrelated to the process. Sometimes it's fine that I got off on a tangent; sometimes it's not. The goal is really just to be aware that time is passing and have built in moments where I'm conscious of how it's being used. When I'm consistent about it (which isn't always), I find that I'm much more aware of how I'm actually using my time, which tends to lead toward naturally using it better but again, I try to separate the awareness from the tracking and planning. I personally use a physical clock like this one but I think using a website or clock is really personal preference: https://www.amazon.com/Hexagon-Rotating-Minute-Preset-Countdown/dp/B07L2QN8MY https://www.amazon.com/Hexagon-Rotating-Minute-Preset-Countd... I like that one because I enjoy the physical feeling of rotating it. I also like that the alarm is the light blue backlight flashing, which feels less aggressive and psychologically traumatic than my phone alarm. That's also not to say pomodoro is bad for someone with adhd. I still use similar methods and I think there are techniques for being more successful with it that I wasn't employing. I just like to separate the time/task management from time awareness now and feel that it's useful for me.

dangwhy 4y ago
Love this comment. I suffer from some of the same problems and feelings. One weird thing that works me is playing reality TV in the background (love and hip hop, vanderpump ect). Seems to have really calming effect on my brain which lets me focus on work. I've realized over the years that my adhd is just suppressed anxiety in disguise and reality TV masks it.
- courseofaction 4y ago
  A cognitive psych professor of mine couldn't work without music playing to 'occupy a certain part of his brain', almost always prog rock. Didn't seem to be holding him back - sometimes a mask is a workable solution. :)

courseofaction 4y ago

Great project, but even better for other users - if you need something simple and bespoke, build it! I love how the age of AI development is making whipping up an app like this for personal use more viable. I created a CLI study flashcard with progress tracking app in <30 minutes for my own purposes the other day.

warrendlee1 4y ago

Haha love the URL. Great concept - will use. Just an idea, I get anxious looking at the time ticking like that. Maybe run the clock in the background but for the UI, show a color gradient slowing shifting as time winds down or something less harsh? Great job!

mzs 4y ago

Nice, I wish it subtly audibly ticked at 5s intervals and then sounded an alarm.

TurkishPoptart 4y ago

This is cool. I've been using https://mytomatoes.com/ https://mytomatoes.com/ for a long time.

23B1 4y ago

If you struggle with distraction or discipline, you must get http://freedom.to http://freedom.to on your devices. It is simple, easy, effective, and the single best ROI of any app I have ever paid for. Not affiliated with these guys, but this sh*t just /works/ for me.

arco1991 4y ago

Nice and clean! Does it allow for notifications?

joemazerino 4y ago

I love the domain name. Take my vote.

jstx1 4y ago

https://pomofocus.io/app https://pomofocus.io/app is similar (but with satisfying sounds!)

globalnode 4y ago
thanks for the link, i like that one.

Yizahi 4y ago

No offense author, but what is specifically ADHD related in this timer? Actually I'd argue that it is ADHD unfriendly because it is in the web browser. So now I need to open a browser and hunt down one tab among hundreds, because as a ADHD person I tend to hoard them to process later and of course never do it. There are also no notifications or sounds in your website (I may have nuked all browser notifications at some point, to combat asshole webdesign, and now I have no idea if that's a default setting). The 100% expected scenario of how ADHD person would use your timer is open it, set up a timer, check it periodically if it has finished or not, happily get to first break, then setup second work period, forget about timer until 3 days later, and find it when cleaning up open tab. Close it forever. Source - this would be a fifth or so exact same pomodoro "app"-website I've tried and abandoned.

sizzle 4y ago
Absolutely, the ADHD version would be a physical egg timer you manually turn the dial on and can’t lose sight of on your desk. A digital representation would have to float on top of all other apps somehow.
- shaunsingh0207 4y ago
  now I'd spend all my time turning the dial and overengineering its replacement :(
  - thedrexster 4y ago
    me too, brother! <3
- robotresearcher 4y ago
  That’s the original version. Pomodoro is named after a popular physical kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato (‘Pomodoro’ is Italian for ‘tomato’). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique
loloquwowndueo 4y ago

aaron695 4y ago

[dead]

coolspot 4y ago

I found a work/rest timer like yours work really well for me. I use WorkRave which is free, available on all OSes and even locks keyboard for you after work timer is complete (with an option to postpone). [1] - https://workrave.org/download/ https://workrave.org/download/

shironononon 4y ago

dark mode: [x] no ad banner: [x] works as intended: [x] Well done, sir.

650REDHAIR 4y ago

I have nothing to add yet except that domain name is incredible and makes me feel seen.

globalnode 4y ago

awesome! needed this about 6 mths ago and had to write a bodgy python script. this is app is a lot nicer.

zhuowei18 4y ago

It would be great to have a two minute rest timer though. As a fellow ADHD patient, I normally goes (10+2)x5

TheBigRoomXXL 4y ago

Simple and clean, I like it. But the "let's get to work" button doesn't have enough contrast in light mode.

quangpham 4y ago

The URL is very interesting :)) As someone with ADHD, I think that simplicity is key when it comes to ADHD-friendly tools. I love the the simplicity of the app. However, one feature that I think is particularly helpful for ADHD users is the option to play ambient sounds during the work sessions. I used to use https://asoftmurmur.com/ https://asoftmurmur.com/ for ambient sounds but it's not a Pomodoro timer. Just found http://pomoup.com/ http://pomoup.com/ yesterday on a Show HN post and it has everything I need.

dottedmag 4y ago

To the fellow ADHDers out there: the Pomodoro timer is not what you think it is! Until I got diagnosed, I thought Pomodoro to be "keep focused for 30 minutes, do not context-switch, do not get distracted" timer. After I got diagnosed (thankfully a mild case) and started taking medications, the use of Pomodoro switched to "don't sit more than half an hour focused on one task without standing up, streching and getting some tea" mode. You can use this phase switch to your advantage, to measure the degree of ADHDness and efficacy of medication.

anshumankmr 4y ago

The best timer, I feel, is Forest, though it doesn't actually intend to be a timer, but since I work on a laptop 24x7, it reminds me to focus on my task if I open YouTube or something.

rootsudo 4y ago

The best "app" I discovered is on my iphone, theres a count down timer. It works great. I do not know if android has a built in app, it's been years since I used one... That's it, the biggest thing is having something by you/on you that works. I didn't know how to use the Clock app fully outside of different timezones/alarms. I was surprised there was countdown. You can extend continuously, so you can set 15 mins or 30 mins countdown and have it continue all day if you so desire. It's pretty powerful, I wonder how many basic built in features of operating systems I completely miss - because, the clock app seems innocent enough, it's application is really unlimited.

nerdyadventurer 4y ago

Does anyone know talk out loud app for Linux? I was not able to find an one.

meatjuice 4y ago

There was once a web app called maesure, which provides approximately the same thing. The website was closed short after its deployment. As one of the previous active users of the maesure app, I’m concerning if the app you’re developing will end up in the same situation.

aquaVitae 4y ago

Oooo, very clean app. Digging the color scheme!

nhkcode 4y ago

Pomodoro never has worked for me. The productive periods always seem to end just when I'm in a flow state and the short breaks aren't long enough to do anything really recreational and fun. I now just track my productive and procrastinating time and try to keep them somewhat in balance. For that I hacked together a trivially simple PWA at https://timeth.at/ https://timeth.at/. That way I can chug along for as long as it's comfortable to do something useful without interruption, and also get to enjoy some procrastination time without feeling guilty. I just need a gentle reminder from time to time not to spend 8 hours straight binge watching some show or waste the entire game playing video games.

LesZedCB 4y ago

i just wanna say i've been using this the last couple days and found it extremly useful! i don't have diagnosed adhd but my dad does and i'm just too lazy (ha) to get an evaluation myself. for whatever reason, having this tool and knowing there's a break coming makes is much easier to stay focused for the working time. so thanks for creating and sharing! :D