TimeNinja — not a todo list. A visible time coach for ADHD.
TimeNinja makes time tangible, plans backwards from your deadline, and learns how long your tasks actually take — so every plan gets more realistic over time.
The 25–75% variability band shows your true range — so you stop under-estimating tasks. Rate overwhelm 1–5 after each timer (skippable). The Progress view charts your weekly trend and compares sessions with vs without a backward plan — see if the system is actually working for you.
The Done Board logs every completed task with streak tracking — dopamine for the ADHD brain, on tap.
Screens show sample data.
Also inside
Break It Down AI
Stuck on a big task? Apple Intelligence (on-device) breaks it into small, doable steps in seconds. Nothing leaves your phone.
Routines that stick
Build morning, after-school, and bedtime routines with visual steps and timed transitions.
Calibrate Estimates
When your real timings drift ≥15% from a routine step's estimate, TimeNinja proposes a one-tap update using the median of your last 10 sessions. Your plans get more honest without effort.
Hyperfocus check-in
Deep in overtime with no distractions logged? A soft purple banner asks "Still on track?" with a gentle haptic — never a demand to stop, just a pattern-interrupt so missed transitions become a choice.
Movement breaks
Quick Add includes one-tap presets for stretch breaks, 10-minute walks, and quick workouts. Research-mandated structural elements — not optional extras to skip when you're behind.
The Capture → Plan → Execute → Learn loop
Most apps help you plan or help you time tasks. ADHD brains need a system that does both — and updates itself with what actually happened. Read the full method →
1. Capture
One tap to log what needs doing — or zero taps: say "Hey Siri, add a task in TimeNinja." Capturing intent before the moment passes is the foundation of executive-function scaffolding.
2. Plan
Enter the deadline, not the start time. TimeNinja schedules every step backwards so "when must I start?" becomes a concrete moment, not an abstract future. Why backward planning works →
3. Execute
A shrinking visual countdown plus a Lock-Screen Live Activity externalize time so you don't have to feel it. Off-track? A gentle nudge gets you back. The science of time blindness →
4. Learn
Every session feeds your personal Real Time Library. Over weeks, your 25–75% variability band shows your true range — so future plans use your real data, not optimistic guesses. Why variability beats averages →
Why we built TimeNinja
Clinical and experimental research consistently shows that ADHD brains have measurable difficulties with timing — discrimination, estimation, production, and reproduction. These weaknesses tangle with attention, inhibition, and motivation systems. The result is what most people call "time blindness": time feels abstract, working memory is unreliable, and the future has less pull than the immediate moment.
The fix isn't another todo list. It's a tool that makes time visible, shrinking, and procedural, then reduces the cognitive cost of planning by breaking it into short, concrete steps that are easy to execute. That's the gap TimeNinja fills.
No. TimeNinja is a productivity tool designed to help people who struggle with time blindness and executive function. It is not a medical device or treatment. If you need clinical support, please consult a licensed professional.
What ages is it for?
Self Mode is designed for teens and adults. Family Mode lets a parent set up photo-based routines for a child to run. We don't collect personal data from children.
Does it work offline?
Yes — fully offline. Your data stays on your device. The Break It Down AI also runs entirely on-device using Apple Intelligence (on supported iOS 26+ devices), so even AI works without internet.
How does the free trial work?
Start a 7-day free trial of any plan. You won't be charged until day 8. Cancel anytime in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions during the trial.
What platforms is it on?
TimeNinja works on iPhone and iPad, with gentle Apple Watch cues. Family Mode runs well on a child's iPad, so routines can live on the device your child already uses. On a laptop or classroom screen, use our free web visual timer.
How is my data handled?
All routine and task data stays on your device. The Break It Down AI runs on-device using Apple Intelligence — no task text or personal data is ever sent to our servers or any third party. See our Privacy Policy.
How can I tell if TimeNinja is actually helping me?
Open Me → Progress. It shows your weekly overwhelm trend, lateness vs estimates, and a side-by-side comparison of sessions with vs without a backward plan — all built from your own data. For a structured 14-day test, follow the ADHD productivity audit.
What happens if I get stuck in hyperfocus?
When you continue past your original estimate without logging any distractions, TimeNinja shows a soft purple "Still on track?" banner with a gentle haptic. It never tells you to stop — it just creates a pattern-interrupt so missed transitions become a deliberate choice. More on hyperfocus and lost hours.
Does the app update its estimates from my real timing?
Yes. The Real Time Library logs every session automatically. When your real durations drift ≥15% from a routine step's estimate, the Calibrate Estimates view proposes a one-tap update — using the median of your last 10 sessions, not the most recent (which could be an outlier). Read more on variability vs averages.
Free guides that work on their own
Research-backed and written in plain words. Useful even if you never download the app.
Make time visible
Backward planning
Family Mode
Learn your real timing
Celebrate the wins
