Best Executive Function Tools & Apps for Daily Life
Willpower can be a helpful tool, but it can only take you so far if your brain struggles with things like planning or memory. It’s normal to need some help from time to time, and executive function apps can provide the structure and skills that don’t come easily to everyone.
Using the right executive functioning tools can help you hold information you might forget and break tasks into more manageable pieces. With so many productivity apps available, you can test out the ones that fit your daily life best.
This article will cover:
- What to look for in an executive functioning tool.
- Task management and organizational apps worth trying.
- Calendar and time management apps to help plan your day.
- Working memory tools and reminders to lighten your mental load.
- Focus apps and habit tracking tools for ongoing consistency.
- Where to turn if you still need more help.
Executive Functioning Aids
Executive functioning is the set of mental skills that help you:[1][2]
- Plan.
- Organize.
- Manage time.
- Follow through on what you need to get done.
If these skills are stretched thin — which they can be by everything from stress and challenges in life to conditions like ADHD — then the right executive function tools can help.
However, not every app works for everyone, and there are countless options on the market these days, so it’s handy to know what to look for before committing to using one. As a starting point, look for apps that:
Are Easy To Use
An app can only be helpful if you’re able to use it. You’re likely to give up on tools that require extensive set-up time or complicated navigation, especially if you’re already feeling overwhelmed.
Speak to Your Challenges
Some apps and tools target task initiation, while others focus more on time management and working memory. Choosing an app based on your biggest needs is often better than one that tries to do it all.
Are Clear and Visually Appealing
A cluttered interface might add to your cognitive load. Tools with clean and simple layouts are likely to work better for executive function support.
Potential Integrations
An app that connects with your existing calendar or email app can reduce the effort of working across multiple systems.
Task Management and Organizational Apps
Task management and organization apps can give you one place to take in, sort, and track all you need to get done. This can reduce the mental effort of trying to keep it all straight in your head.
Todoist
Todoist lets you organize projects and sort everything, with a simple overview that highlights what’s urgent. The straightforward design can be very helpful for people who find complex systems overwhelming.
Goblin Tools
Goblin Tools focuses on task initiation and breaking larger jobs into smaller, more manageable steps. This can be valuable when a task feels vague or too overwhelming to get started, a common barrier for executive dysfunction.
Notion
Notion offers you a customizable workspace for organizing tasks, notes, and projects in one place. It’s a good fit for those who want more structure and flexibility.
Structured
Structured combines task management tools with a timeline-based layout, showing your day as a sequence instead of a flat list of items.
Ultimately, the best choice here will depend on whether you prefer simplicity or flexibility. Try out a few tools one at a time, and stick with the one that works best for you. When a new tool becomes available, you can try it out and see if you need to make a change.
Calendar and Time Management Apps
Calendar apps and time management tools can translate a list of tasks into an action plan, giving each item a specific place in the flow of your day.
Google Calendar
One of the most popular scheduling calendars in the world, Google Calendar offers color-coded events, reminders, easy sharing across devices, and much more. Its familiarity and simplicity make it ideal as a starting point for basic time blocking and management.
Morgen
Morgen combines calendar scheduling with innovative task management, allowing users to drag tasks directly into open time slots. This visual approach can turn your to-do list into a realistic daily schedule to follow.
Sunsama
Sunsama focuses on prompting you to review and schedule your tasks each morning before the day gets underway, which can help you build consistency in planning ahead.
Tiimo
If you’re in the market for a visual, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-friendly planner with built-in reminders, check out Tiimo. Its design helps those with time blindness by making the length and sequence of tasks easier to take in.
For these apps, the right choice is really down to how you want your schedule to look and how interactive it is. A simple calendar might work for some, but many others might want more features, with built-in guidance and support.
Mission Connection is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Working Memory Tools and Reminders
Getting everything out of your head and into a trusted system can reduce mental strain. These working memory tools and reminders can help you remember all the important details.
Google Keep
Google Keep lets you capture notes fast for thoughts, lists, reminders, and more. Its low-friction design makes it a snap to jot something down quickly before it has a chance to slip away.
Otter.ai
Otter.ai transcribes your conversations and voice notes into text in real time, offloading the need to remember every detail from meetings. Anyone who processes and takes in information better via listening than by reading might find it especially handy.
Apple Reminders
Apple’s Reminders app allows for location- and time-based alerts, prompting your tasks right when you need them.
Due
If you’re looking for a tool that can help you remember a task, Due sends repeating reminders until the job is done, rather than a single notification.
These tools, like most of the apps in this article, work best when used consistently. Building a new habit of externalizing information can help you reduce your overall mental load throughout the day.
Focus Apps and Habit Tracking Tools
Follow-through is an important part of executive functioning, and focus apps and habit tracking apps can help you stay on top of things and build lasting routines.
Forest
Forest uses a gamified design: a virtual tree that grows while you stay off your phone, while leaving the app early kills it. This pleasing visual, low-stakes incentive can be a fun way to reduce distractions during focused work.
Focusmate
For a unique kind of support, Focusmate pairs you with another person for a live session, working quietly alongside someone else for company. The shared presence can make starting and maintaining your focus easier than working on things alone.
Habitica
Habitica pairs habit-tracking with a role-playing game, rewarding consistency with in-app progress. This gamified structure can motivate those who respond well to unique approaches and perceived rewards.
Streaks
Streaks, meanwhile, offers you a visual habit tracker built around developing your daily consistency. It makes use of a minimalist design for those who prefer a straightforward way to track their routines.
Again, consistency usually beats intensity. Picking a tool and using it daily will likely serve you better than switching between apps in search of the perfect system.
That doesn’t mean you should just stick with the first one you find, but don’t constantly be looking for something better if your current tool does the job. In the end, the perfect system is the one you come back to and helps you get things done.
Get Professional Help For Executive Function Issues With Mission Connection
Apps can be a tremendous source of support, but when professional help is needed, they are no substitute for treatment.
If disorganization and forgetfulness are affecting your day-to-day life, it might be time to seek more support, especially if your challenges are related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, or chronic stress.
Mission Connection offers quality outpatient mental health care for people managing executive function challenges and many other mental health condition-related issues. Our clinicians will work with you to identify the source of your difficulties and build new strategies together.
We offer several options for effective outpatient treatment, including in-person programs at our locations in California, Virginia, and Washington, virtual telehealth, and a hybrid program that combines in-person and virtual care. Mission Connection is Joint Commission-accredited. We also accept most major insurance providers, so that your recovery is not hindered due to financial issues.
Reach out to us online or call us at 866-833-1822 to find out how we can support your long-term recovery.
Best Executive Function Apps and Tools FAQ
Are these apps only helpful for people with ADHD?
Not at all. These tools can help people manage anxiety, chronic stress, or just a demanding schedule that strains their planning and memory day to day.
How many apps should I use?
Most people will probably do best pairing just a few at the same time, like a task manager, calendar, and one focus tool. Start with just one and build from there. That can help you integrate things slowly and find what works best for you.
Can these apps replace therapy?
No. Apps and tools offer external support, but they can’t work on the underlying causes of your executive function issues.
Are free apps as good as paid ones?
They can be. Many strong options are free to use and cover all the core needs well. Paid tiers can add convenience and additional features to explore.