I Built a Productivity App That Deletes Your Tasks (And Why That's a Feature)

I have ADHD. Opening my to-do list used to feel like staring into an abyss of failure.

Every unchecked box was a reminder of what I didn't do. Every overdue task was proof I wasn't enough. The apps that were supposed to help me were actually making things worse.

So I built Slate—a productivity app that deletes your tasks after 7 days.

Yes, you read that right. And no, it's not a bug.

The Problem With Productivity Apps

Traditional productivity tools assume you're a rational task-completing machine. They pile on features: tags, projects, due dates, priorities, subtasks, recurring tasks, collaboration, notifications.

For neurotypical brains, this might work. For ADHD brains, it's overwhelming.

I talked to hundreds of people with ADHD and executive function challenges. The pattern was clear: the anxiety isn't from forgetting tasks. It's from remembering them.

That notification badge showing "47 overdue tasks" doesn't motivate you. It paralyzes you. The endless scroll becomes a monument to inadequacy.

What If Your To-Do List Had an Expiration Date?

Here's the radical idea: every task in Slate automatically archives after 7 days.

Gone. If you didn't do it in a week, it clearly wasn't urgent—or you need to re-evaluate whether it matters at all.

This sounds terrifying to organized people. But for ADHD brains, it's liberating.

No more guilt. No more endless lists. No more feeling like a failure every time you open the app.

Three Core Features (And Nothing More)

1. Focus Mode: Pomodoro Without the Guilt

Choose 15, 25, or 45 minutes. Hit start. The app goes dark mode automatically to reduce distractions.

When time's up, it suggests a break. Track your sessions. See your total focus time. Celebrate small wins instead of measuring yourself by tasks completed.

No streaks that break and make you feel like starting over. Just gentle accountability.

2. Task Dump: Capture Without Commitment

No projects. No tags. No due dates. No priority levels.

Just type what's in your head and let it go. The act of writing it down is often enough to stop the mental loop.

Swipe to delete. Promote tasks during focus sessions. Restore from archive if needed. That's it.

3. History: See Your Patterns

A heatmap shows your focus sessions. Track consistency, not perfection.

30-day stats show total hours, completed tasks, and productive patterns. No judgment. Just data that helps you understand how you work.

No ads. No selling your data. Just an app that might make productivity feel less terrible.

Check it out and let me know what you feel

Download: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/to-do-list-and-pomodoro-slate/id6752643070