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As someone with ADHD, I’ve tried every productivity system under the sun…
Planners, apps, habit trackers, even full-on project management software. You name it!
For a while, each new tool feels exciting. But eventually, I’d stop using them.
Too complicated, too much setup, or just too overwhelming.
Then, almost by accident, I found the one tool that stuck.
And it wasn’t what I expected.
The Problem With Fancy Productivity Systems
A lot of productivity advice pushes the idea that we need more structure.
More rules. More layers of accountability.
I’ve downloaded apps that let me break down goals into micro-tasks, color-code my priorities, and gamify my streaks.
It always looks great on day one… but by day ten, I’m spending more time tweaking the system than actually doing the work.
The truth? I didn’t need more structure. I needed less friction.
The Unexpected Tool
Here’s what ended up changing everything: a simple timer.
Not a fancy Pomodoro app.
Not a subscription-based focus tool.
Just a digital cube timer I grabbed online.
You flip it to the side with the number you want, and it starts counting down. 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes. That’s it.
It cost me less than $20…and honestly it’s been the best productivity investment I’ve made.
Why It Works
- It removes decision fatigue. Instead of asking, “How long should I work on this?” I just flip the cube to 30 minutes and start. No overthinking.
- It creates urgency. When the timer’s running, I’m racing the clock. I get more done in 30 minutes of focused time than I used to in an hour.
- It’s flexible. I use it for deep work, cleaning the kitchen, writing drafts, even workouts. It’s not just for “productivity” — it’s for anything I’d normally procrastinate on.
How I Use It Daily
- Morning writing: I flip to 30 minutes and write without editing. That block often gets me 600–700 words done.
- Household resets: I set it to 15 minutes, put on music, and do as much cleaning as possible. When the timer dings, I stop.
- Emails/admin tasks: I give myself 20–30 minutes. When the timer ends, I move on.
- Breaks: I flip it to 5 minutes and actually step away from my desk, knowing I’ll get pulled back.
It turns out, productivity wasn’t about adding more software or planning. Rather, it was more about giving myself simple boundaries.
The Science Behind It
There’s actually some psychology to why timers work. It taps into something called the Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fill the time available.”
When I give myself “unlimited time” to finish a task, I drag my feet, check my phone, and get distracted.
But when I know I’ve got 30 minutes on the clock, my brain focuses in a way it never does otherwise.
Timers also tie into the Pomodoro Technique, which has been used for decades.
The cube just makes it more physical and immediate: no apps to fiddle with.
The Exact One I Use…
This is the exact cube timer I bought:
It’s lightweight, sits on my desk, and has completely replaced my old to-do app habit.
Who Does This Work For?
If you’re someone who:
- Struggles with procrastination
- Has ADHD or struggles with focusing
- Gets overwhelmed by big tasks
- Spends too much time “setting up systems” instead of doing the work
…this is the tool I’d recommend starting with.
It’s not glamorous.
It won’t “hAcK yOuR bRaIn” in some complicated way.
But it’s frictionless, and that’s why it works.
We live in a world where productivity has been overcomplicated.
Sometimes the best solution isn’t another app, but a physical reminder to just start.
For me, an $18 cube timer became the key. It’s simple, portable, and effective.
And the best part?
It doesn’t just help me work more. It also helps me stop working when I should, too.
Sometimes, the most powerful productivity tool isn’t the flashiest.
It’s the one that actually gets used.