Managing time has always been a challenge, especially for individuals with ADHD. Recognizing this gap, indie developer Erik MacInnis has launched Lately, a fresh, gamified app designed to help users arrive on time while making the process rewarding and enjoyable. Released a few weeks ago on the App Store, Lately is already creating buzz among users looking for smarter ways to tackle time blindness and poor time estimation.
Let’s dive into how Lately works, what makes it unique, and why it could become a game-changer for those struggling with punctuality.
What Is Lately and Who Is It For?
Of late isn’t fair another update app. It particularly targets individuals who regularly discover it difficult to oversee their time, especially those with Consideration Shortage Hyperactivity Clutter (ADHD). The app’s mission is basic however effective:
offer assistance clients take off on time for their trips by keeping them mindful of up and coming flights and fulfilling them for reliability.
MacInnis, the mind behind Lately, shared his motivation during an interview with TechCrunch, stating, “I’ve always been the ‘late one’ in my friend group. For many of us, our toughest challenges are time blindness and poor time estimation. Lately addresses both by keeping the user constantly aware of when to leave—and it’s gamified, so you get points when you arrive on time, which honestly feels good.”
How Lately Works: Features That Make a Difference
The Of late app stands out since of its savvy combination of updates and rewards. Here’s what you’ll anticipate when utilizing it:
Opportune Notices:
Clients get alarms 30 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes some time recently their planned flight time.
Live Exercises:
Coordinates into the iPhone and Apple Observe, the app shows a live commencement, making it less demanding to remain mindful without opening the app continually.
Point-Based Remunerate Framework:
The app gamifies reliability by granting focuses based on how convenient clients take off for their trips.
These highlights work together consistently to handle the root causes of delay, advertising not fair updates but too inspiration.
The Gamified Reward System: Making Punctuality Exciting
What truly sets Lately apart is its four-level difficulty reward system:
- Goldfish Level: Earn 3 points for being early, 2 points for being on time, and none for being late.
- Coffee Level: A little tougher, pushing users to be more precise.
- Grown Up Level: Even stricter in awarding points.
- Yoda Level: The hardest; users actually lose 2 points for being late.
As clients rack up focuses, they open virtual characters interior the app. These act as accomplishment identifications, giving a sense of movement and achievement that taps specifically into human brain research. It’s not almost being on time—it’s around leveling up and seeing obvious advance.
Addressing ADHD Challenges Head-On
People with ADHD regularly involvement time visual impairment, making it troublesome to assess how long errands will take or when they ought to begin getting prepared. Conventional errand administration apps like Organized or TickTick offer planning offer assistance but do not straightforwardly address the commuting perspective or the enthusiastic compensate for reliability.
Lately changes that narrative. By offering continuous visual cues and a dopamine-releasing reward system, it aligns perfectly with the needs of its target audience.
How Lately Compares to Other Apps
Although apps like Time to Leave exist for Android users, many are outdated or lack engagement features. Lately feels modern, intuitive, and is designed to hook users into better habits without feeling like a chore.
Another successful example in the mental wellness category is Finch, a gamified self-care app that rewards users for completing daily tasks. Finch has shown that gamification, when done right, can significantly boost user engagement and habit-building. Lately is following a similar path but focuses purely on time management and commuting.
Current Limitations and Room for Growth
While the app shines in many areas, it’s not without limitations. Currently, Lately only supports driving and walking travel options. For users in big cities who rely heavily on public transportation or biking, this lack of flexibility can be a hurdle.
However, this doesn’t take away from the app’s core value. And according to MacInnis, there’s more coming: future updates will add support for different commute types, an Android version, and even a social feature that notifies friends when you leave, when you’re close, and when you arrive.
The Role of Rewards in Building Better Habits
Research shows that rewards can be crucial in building self-discipline, especially for people with ADHD. Small wins, like earning points for being on time, trigger positive emotions that reinforce behavior change. Lately capitalizes on this perfectly, offering just enough of a “feel good” reward to keep users motivated without becoming overly complicated.
It’s not just about setting alarms—it’s about celebrating small victories and feeling progress over time.
Lately’s Subscription Model: Free vs. Premium
Lately is free to download and use for basic functionalities. However, for users who want more customization, there’s a premium subscription available:
- $3 per month
- $10 per year
Premium features include the ability to customize difficulty levels and schedule recurring trips. Given the affordable pricing, it’s an easy decision for users who find real value in the app’s system.
Why Lately Might Become a Must-Have App
In today’s fast-paced world, promptness is more imperative than ever—and moreover harder than ever to preserve. For those who have battled quietly with time administration, Recently offers a delicate however capable bump toward way better propensities.
Its fun, gamified approach makes the travel agreeable instead of upsetting, and its ADHD-friendly plan fills a basic hole that most efficiency apps ignore.
As future overhauls roll out—including Android bolster and social sharing features—Lately has the potential to gotten to be an irreplaceable apparatus not fair for people with ADHD, but for anybody looking to construct superior time propensities.
