The Problem with ADHD Productivity Tools
Every existing ADHD extension is built around time, not energy. Pomodoro timers. Website blockers. Task managers. All of them assume the problem is discipline — that you just need to be reminded more often or blocked from distractions more aggressively.
That’s the wrong model.
The real problem: ADHD brains have variable energy output that doesn’t map cleanly to a schedule. A 2pm meeting might cost 3x more cognitive load on a Code 3 day than a Code 1 day. You can’t plan your day without knowing your current state — and most tracking happens hours after the fact, in evening reviews.
What HowYaDoin Does
A lightweight Chrome extension that surfaces a 30-second check-in at configurable intervals (default: every 90 minutes):
- Energy Level — 1–5 scale. Not mood. Not stress. Just raw available capacity right now.
- Alignment Check — “Is what you’re doing right now what you planned to be doing?” Binary.
- Spiral Flag — One tap: “I’ve been doing this for longer than I intended.”
- Micro-redirect — If you flag a spiral, it surfaces your Top 3 from this morning and asks which one you want to return to.
All data syncs to your Obsidian daily note via a local webhook, so weekly reviews have actual energy curves to analyze.
Why This is Novel
Competitive research across 8 extension categories surfaced zero direct competition. Existing tools:
- Track time, not energy
- Block behavior, don’t redirect it
- Require manual activation — no proactive check-ins
The “Future You” framing is intentional: the extension doesn’t nag, it prompts curiosity. “Hey — Future You here. How’s it going right now?” That’s a completely different psychological posture than a reminder.
Architecture
- React + Manifest V3 — Chrome extension
- Local storage — No cloud, no account
- Obsidian webhook — Optional integration via local REST plugin
- Configurable intervals — 45min, 90min, or custom
What I Learned
The hardest product decision was the spiral flag mechanic. Early prototypes tried to detect spirals automatically (via tab switching frequency, time on social media domains). That felt invasive and got too many false positives.
The final design — a single self-report button — is actually more powerful. The act of deciding to flag the spiral is itself a pattern interrupt. You can’t flag it without becoming aware of it first.