A new app, Lately, recently debuted on the App Store, aiming to assist individuals with ADHD in managing their time and encouraging punctuality through rewards.
Designed to help users with their travel arrangements, Lately sends alerts at 30, 10, and 5-minute intervals before a scheduled departure. It also utilizes Live Activities on iPhone and Apple Watch to display a countdown, ensuring timely departures.
The app’s unique feature is its point reward system, which operates on four difficulty levels. Starting with the “Goldfish” level, users earn 3 points for being early, 2 for being on time, and none for tardiness. The levels advance to “Coffee,” “Grown Up,” and “Yoda,” where penalties for lateness increase, such as Yoda’s 2-point deduction for being late.
As points are accumulated, users unlock virtual characters in the app, serving as motivational badges and providing a sense of achievement.
Developed by indie developer Erik MacInnis, Lately targets the time management struggles faced by individuals with ADHD. MacInnis shared his personal inspiration for the app, noting his own challenges with time blindness and poor time estimation, which Lately aims to address through constant reminders and gamification.
While other apps exist for similar purposes, such as Time to Leave on Android, MacInnis argues these are outdated, focusing instead on task management rather than addressing commuting-related time blindness.
During our review, we found Lately effective but noted a gap in providing time estimations for commuters who rely on public transport or biking, as the current options are limited to driving or walking.
Despite this, the app seems poised for success with its target audience. ADHD specialists often recommend reward systems to bolster motivation, and Lately’s gamified approach aligns with this strategy. Another app, Finch, uses a similar model, promoting self-care by rewarding users completing daily tasks.
MacInnis also shared future plans for Lately, including a social feature that automatically updates friends on a user’s travel status, and an Android version is in the works.
Lately is free, with a premium option available for customizing difficulty levels and scheduling recurring trips, priced at $3 per month or $10 annually.
