A timer you can see
The disc is the time you have. It shrinks as the minutes go, so a glance tells you how much is left without doing any arithmetic. Name the one thing you’re doing, pick a length, press start.
The timer is the easy part. Starting is the hard part.
We make Now, an iPhone app for people who find starting hard, including many people with ADHD. It shows one task, one concrete first step and a big start button. Type “Clean the kitchen” and it suggests a first step like “Put five dishes in the sink”.
- A two-minute starter for when even the first step feels too big.
- An “I’m stuck” button that asks what’s in the way.
- Brain Dump, focus timers and a daily plan are free, with no account.
- Your tasks stay on your iPhone. Pro is optional.
Why a disc works better than digits
A number like 07:42 has to be read and compared with where you started. A shrinking wedge is the comparison already done: half the disc is half the time. That’s why visual timers are common in classrooms and with people who lose track of time easily.
Ways people use it
- Two minutes to get going. Promise yourself only the two. Starting is usually the obstacle, and you’re allowed to stop when it ends.
- Homework or chores with a child. Hide the numbers and let them watch the colour disappear.
- Transitions. “When the red is gone, we leave.” Five minutes of warning is easier to accept than a sudden stop.
- Meetings and turns. Full screen on a shared display, one disc per speaker.
- A 25-minute work block followed by a five-minute break, if that rhythm suits you.
Things to know
- The timer keeps correct time if you switch tabs, because it counts from the clock rather than adding up ticks.
- If your phone locks, the chime may not sound. Keep the screen on, or plug in and use full screen.
- Nothing is stored except your last length and colour, in this browser.
Stuck before you even start? The brain dump sorter helps you pick the one thing first.
Questions people ask
What is a visual timer?
A timer that shows the remaining time as a shape instead of only as digits. Here it is a coloured disc that shrinks as time passes, so you can judge what is left at a glance.
Does it keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. It works from the clock, so the remaining time is correct when you come back. On a phone the chime may not play while the screen is locked.
Can I hide the numbers?
Yes. Untick Show the numbers and only the disc remains, which suits young children and anyone who finds a ticking count stressful.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no advert and nothing to install.
Related
- Tiimo alternativeTiimo is an award-winning visual planner. If planning the day is not your problem but starting is, compare it with Now: one task, one first step, one timer.
- Brain dump sorter: pick three for todayFree brain dump tool: type everything on your mind, split it into tasks, choose one main, one smaller and one bonus for today, and park the rest. No sign-up.
- ADHD mom can't start cleaning: a five-question quizA five-question quiz for the mom with ADHD staring at a messy house. It names your kind of stuck and gives one two-minute first step for one room.
- Definition of Done for Personal TasksGive one task a visible finish line, a scope boundary and a first action. Editable card with four worked examples.