Show HN: I built an app to create repeatable checklists to help with ADHD

I'm Spencer and recently built CheckYourList to help with my ADHD.

The app lets you create repeatable checklists. It's great for packing lists, daily routines, cleaning lists and things that you need to take with you constantly. The reason it is different to apps like Apple reminders is once you complete a checklist you can uncheck every item so it is ready to go next time.

I built the app because I found myself forgetting things more and more after the birth of my son. For example, dropping him at daycare and then going to the gym, required so many things. I felt overwhelmed and would take ages to leave the house as I searched around looking for what I needed. I wanted a solution, I built this app to help.

The app is available on iOS and WatchOS and syncs between the two with all the data in iCloud (I never see the data).

I'm constantly iterating the app, I am currently working on the ability to keep a history of checklists you have completed so you can check you did things (like taking medication every morning). If anyone has any ideas for features they would like to see let me know :)

I'm mainly a web developer, I've put a lot of work in my spare time over the last six months learning iOS development and swift. The app is built in SwiftUI, which coming from javascript the syntax was quite comfortable, although the language does have some very big differences.

The most difficult thing was learning where SwiftUI would not work and how to drop down to UIKit where needed. Things like how to focus a text field programmatically are missing in SwiftUI (coming in iOS15).

A big thank you to Paul Hudson at hackingwithswift.com as without his HWS+ videos I don't think I could have built a production ready app as most tutorials don't cover production scenarios and apples documentation is truely terrible. His information on core data was invaluable.

You can see the app in the app store here: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/checkyourlist/id1571623264

I've recently discovered together with my psychologist that I am "suffering" of something along the lines of ADHD. This includes selective memory (only remember what I focus on remembering), missing social cues and feeling overwhelmed if I have to suddenly do something I did not expect.

I've just started my journey in figuring out how I can live my best life, so I hope this way of creating repeatable checklists can help me on the way.

Maybe pull back a bit on that part of the marketing? People who have ADHD know how valuable checklist apps are, just seems like you're needlessly narrowing your target market.

I find that having something on my screen while working is also useful. What I'm doing now is using something with a simple UI (like Notepad on Windows) and Power Tools to create a dedicated spot on my desktop space.

Whenever something comes to mind, I jot it down. Most important is that I write out the next thing that I want to be working on and then indented is the next step. I might create a section for each project where I'll place further steps which I thought of which I haven't arrived to yet. I still add my current items to the "Stream" section. Whenever I find myself drifting off, I have that log to get me back on track.

It's simple and it's one of the very few things I have tried which has "stuck" in the last few years.

Edit: I'm not sure I would call what I have as ADHD. I just have so much stuff going through my head that I "lose the thread" easily and forget what I was doing. I don't see how it could be any other way since I can't run multiple threads in my head. I find that the fix for me other than the log is to have the discipline to focus rather than allowing myself to go down rabbit trails for things which aren't on my list. I also find that for whatever reason, I can only do this in an office environment. I think the office creates structure which forces me to experience time differently. When I feel how scarce time is, then I'm not as likely to procrastinate.

Even better, some sort of checklist app aggregator app which goes through my various checklist apps that I forget to check? The same thing for note taking apps would be great too.

Jokes aside, congrats on launching your app

I identify with this so strongly and my friends and family have commented on it as well...

Unfortunately I don't have an iPhone. I would love to try it if you ported it to a web app though!

- wake up (dad + kid) - make breakfast (dad) - eat breakfast (kid) - get dressed (kid) - make lunch (dad) - get in car (both) <––plays "Here We Go Again" by OK Go

The results have been AMAZING!!! Voice reminders FTW.

Before this, I was constantly running late. Constantly yelling at him to hurry. Constantly forgetting to make him lunch. It affected his school day negatively. The principal would call me in to tell us about behavior issues.

After implementing this Alexa-based voice reminder system, I started getting my son to school on time everyday with everything he needed. Actually, we had time to spare, so I would park and walk him to class. His school behavior improved dramatically, as did our relationship. Mornings were SO MUCH EASIER because instead of me having to remember and remind him, Alexa was reminding BOTH of us!

I also created an evening routine that caused major improvements in the regularity of his bedtime & bath. Highly recommend both!

You should look into doing something similar.

The idea of just repeating tasks - minus streaks - is something I see for the first time here. I personally find the motivation to extend a streak very useful, but maybe the positive reward from ticking off a task is enough. Maybe streaks are too heavyweight, and a more minimalist approach also meets the purpose? I think I might give Spencer's app a try.

An app just for morning routines, which is important to structure the whole day.

The app is totally free now, it works via iCloud, so I don’t have any servers to maintain.

An alternative I have been using is Microsoft Todo with recurring tasks and subtasks. I create tasks like "prepare weekday" or "prepare camping trip", and subtasks like "prepare kid's lunchbox, prepare kids clothes, etc". Everytime I tick the main task it resets the list and subtasks status

Also note that it is not just ADHD that needs checklists. Anything that has more than a few steps and/or is critical, or is done when tired. One of the major steps towards making flying safe was instituting pre-flight checklists. Surgery teams now keep lists of every item used to avoid leaving something in the patient. The US Army did studies on what kind of mental facilities degrade with lack of sleep, and they found that strategic judgment was quite intact, but failures happened due to forgetting the little things, like filling canteens or fuel before going into the field - total checklist items. Heck, last night leaving the shop late, I remembered to reset the HVAC system, but forgot to grab my water container on the way home.

So, if you can keep it streamlined, I think you are onto something.

thanks for building this. I'll try it out - I identify quite a lot with your description/motivation of why you build this.

I noticed one (small) problem with the website: The newsletter signup button does not work. It looks like you are missing the gatsby-plugin-mailchimp (based on the console error).

Good luck to you!

Also there are some cool features that are only accessible if you become a subscriber. On Android alone, the widgets they've made are spectacular. You can hit a checkbox and it disappears, color toward priority, and organize by date due. Mac has a similar popup as well which is very nice. Windows you need to open the app but it can also be in the overflow panel.

It is the best cross platform TODO software I've found.

I have a shortcut that runs everyday at bedtime and looks for any due reminders in a specific list. If it finds any, it will enable a dedicated alarm (alarm with a specific name, time and sound I have setup but disabled by default).

Alarms need more attention and action to dismiss than reminder notification and this has been working well for me so far.

I am trying to use any/all building blocks that come bundled on my phone and try not to install too many apps. Hence, this is just an alternative and not an attempt to downplay or trivialize the app in topic.

I’m looking forward to seeing how your app handles this. Looks like it’s just the thing I need to manage my routine.

Edit: Hmm, I need the checklist to stay checked for the day and then clear on some cadence automatically.

I don’t want it immediately unchecked because that ruins my comfort at having things checked off.

I don’t want it to stay checked because if I have to uncheck it myself the next day that’s not going to happen.

I currently use Workflowy for this, which has web/native desktop apps for easily typing out lists that can be completed on the phone like this, crossing them off in the same way. Workflowy don't have an apple watch app yet though so you have an advantage there.

Also I would change the "crossing out" action to work on clicking anywhere on the row, whereas now it only works on the radio button or label. That's a big pain for right handed people with one-word items.

Here's what I'm doing. Org-mode on desktop, and Organice on my mobile. I have Organice sync to dropbox. On the desktop, I have a few tiny rclone scripts that I can call from emacs to sync to dropbox. It's probably more complex than it needs to be, but it works.

One thing I notice is that when using VoiceOver to read out elements on the screen, there don't seem to be any labels on routine items, so a screen reader user wouldn't know what was on their checklist, and the labels on the big blue + icons in the lower right don't say what they do.

The thing is after a while I get fed up of my live being lived through ticking off boxes in a checklist, its OK for things on a weekly and above basis, but I don't like it for a daily reminder.

I’m working on something similar for the same reasons, a list-based personal knowledge hub if you will.

I think providing a help email address is generous and brave.