apps I love as a SAHM with ADHD
Being a stay at home parent is much, much more than just sitting around playing with a baby. Running a household is hard work, especially when you’re also trying to make sure aforementioned baby gets plenty of interaction and time for developmental activities. When you add ADHD and other mental illnesses into the mix things can get overwhelming very quickly. Along with therapy and medication, these are some apps that I’ve found extremely helpful in managing SAHM life with ADHD.
Quick note: I’m not a mental health or medical provider. I’m just a mom with late-diagnosed ADHD who’s trying to make life a little easier. These apps are not replacements for medical treatment, but I believe they can be tools to make things more manageable.
🐦 Finch - Gamifying tasks is a common ADHD management tool, and this is my favorite app that I’ve found for it. One symptom of ADHD is difficulty in building habits - even everyday things like brushing your teeth don’t necessarily become habitual, and they remain things you have to consciously remember to do every day. You can set recurring tasks, no matter how basic or complex, and then check them off for stones to buy your bird new clothing or decorations or send them on little adventures. It’s cute and so far has been something I’ve really been able to stick with.
🧹 Sweepy - this is similar to Finch with gamifying tasks, but it’s specifically for cleaning. You can set up different rooms and the app will suggest tasks for the selected room, and you can also add your own. I like this app for the recurring tasks on a schedule, and it also gives points you can spend to decorate the rooms. I’ve gotten my entire house organized and kept it that way for several months now, and I definitely credit Sweepy for a lot of that.
🧠 How We Feel - this one isn’t for home or general life management, but more for tracking your own mental health. You pick from high energy negative, high energy positive, low energy negative, or low energy positive as a starting point, then break down what emotions you’re feeling from there. I use it because when I remember how I felt for a day all of the negatives (anxiety, frustration, etc.) come to mind and I feel like that’s all I’ve felt. I have the app set to remind me four times a day to check in, and that lets me see that I’m actually NOT always anxious or down, it’s just what sticks with me. This helps a LOT with pulling me out of a spiral before it starts. You can also add friends to share your checkins with (with the option not to share any time you log too!) and that helps me feel less alone if I log a not-so-great mood and one of my friends reaches out to check in.
🦙 Water Llama - I’ve mentioned on here several times that I’m *really* bad at drinking enough. I generally live that wilted houseplant life, and I’m trying so hard to get better with it. This app lets me track how many ounces of whatever beverage I drink, and calculates the hydration of all the liquids I’ve had for the day. I’ve only been using this one for a few weeks but I’ve noticed a huge difference in how I feel when I actually drink enough water.
These are some of the digital tools I use to try and keep my life together when my brain isn’t cooperating. What are some apps you use to manage your life?
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Navigating life as a stay-at-home parent with ADHD is a constant balancing act. While the core apps I shared like Finch, Sweepy, How We Feel, and Water Llama are absolute game-changers for managing tasks, cleaning, mental health, and hydration, I've discovered an entire ecosystem of digital tools that can further support an ADHD brain. It’s all about building a personalized system that works for *you*, and sometimes that means diving deeper into specific needs. One area I've found incredibly helpful, and something many ADHD adults struggle with, is focus and distraction management. Queries like "apps to block apps" really hit home. It's so easy to get sidetracked by notifications or mindlessly scrolling when you're supposed to be tackling a chore or engaging with your child. I’ve experimented with apps that essentially 'lock down' my phone for a set period, allowing me to focus on one thing at a time. Even just using my phone's built-in 'Focus' modes has made a huge difference. By blocking distracting apps and notifications, I can dedicate my full attention to a "gamified checklist" in Finch or power through a "task list" in Sweepy without interruption. It’s like giving your brain a quiet room to work in. Another big win for any busy parent, especially with ADHD, is streamlining household management. Beyond the "adhd cleaning app" like Sweepy, I've found meal planning apps to be invaluable. The mental load of deciding what to cook, checking ingredients, and then making a grocery list can be paralyzing. Using an app that helps me plan meals for the week and automatically generates a shopping list saves so much executive function energy. It's a fantastic alternative to the often chaotic process of last-minute meal decisions, reducing stress and helping me stick to a budget. These types of apps truly assist with the 'brain apps for adults' concept by offloading cognitive tasks. For general "self help app" needs, beyond tracking emotions, I also rely on simple reminder apps. For ADHD, out of sight truly means out of mind. Setting reminders for everything from taking medication to picking up dry cleaning or remembering a child's school event is crucial. I even use reminders for self-care, like taking a moment for myself or ensuring I drink enough water, complementing my "tracking beverages" in Water Llama. This external memory support is a lifeline. And for those looking for apps "similar to Habitica," the beauty of gamified habit trackers is that they turn mundane tasks into mini-quests, offering that hit of dopamine and satisfaction that an ADHD brain craves, whether it's "bird customization" in Finch or decorating virtual rooms in Sweepy. Ultimately, the goal is to create a digital toolkit that acts as an extension of your brain, providing the structure, motivation, and memory support that ADHD often makes challenging. It's not about finding one magic app, but rather curating a collection that addresses your unique struggles, turning overwhelming days into more manageable, and even enjoyable, routines. These "ADHD APPS stay at home mom edition" tools truly empower us to thrive.
until the dopamine wears out and I start ignoring the notifications