The Research

The Core Problem

ADHD presents unique challenges for managing thoughts and action:

• Working memory limitations - Difficulty holding multiple threads in mind
• Time blindness - Poor estimation of how long things take
• Decision paralysis - Overwhelm when faced with too many choices
• Variable energy - Focus and energy fluctuate unpredictably
• Shame spirals - Traditional systems punish inconsistency

Tali addresses each of these through gentle conversation.

GTD through Conversation

Getting Things Done (GTD) emphasizes capturing everything and organizing by context. Tali makes this feel natural.

Why Contexts Matter

Instead of one overwhelming list, Tali understands where or with what thoughts can be untangled:

Context	Description
@home	Only possible at home (house repairs, helping family)
@work	Work-related, office tasks
@errands	Requires going somewhere (shopping, pickups)
@phone	Requires making a call
@computer	Requires a computer (coding, emails, research)
@anywhere	Location-independent (reading, thinking tasks)

When you tell Tali where you are, she filters automatically:

This externalization removes the cognitive load of filtering tasks yourself. Your brain doesn't have to remember which tasks can be done where - Tali handles it.

Energy and Time Attributes

Energy Levels

ADHD brains have variable energy and focus. Tali tracks energy requirements for each thought:

Level	Description	Examples
tiny	Mindless, no thinking required	Taking out trash, sorting mail
low	Easy, low focus needed	Routine emails, simple admin
medium	Normal focus (default)	Most regular tasks
high	Deep work, requires concentration	Complex coding, important writing

Research basis: Energy, not time, is often the limiting factor for ADHD. Plan high-focus tasks for energy peaks (often morning) and save low-energy tasks for sluggish periods.

Time Estimates

Tali supports effort estimates to help with time-limited windows: 5m, 15m, 30m, 1h, 2h, halfday, fullday.

When you have "15 minutes before a meeting," Tali can suggest tasks that actually fit.

The 30% Buffer Principle

ADHD planners consistently underestimate how long tasks take. Tali's AI is instructed to recommend buffer time:

"When planning, leave buffer time for ADHD time-blindness"

If you're planning your day, Tali won't pack in tasks back-to-back. It accounts for transition time, unexpected delays, and the reality of ADHD time perception.

Untangling Big Things

Large goals are paralyzing for ADHD brains. Tali encourages breaking them into smaller pieces and supports relationships between thoughts:

• Task B can be blocked by Task A
• Blocked tasks don't appear in "ready" lists
• Completing blockers automatically unblocks dependent tasks

This prevents the overwhelm of seeing tasks you can't actually do yet.

No-Shame Design

Why This Matters

ADHD often comes with a history of missed deadlines and broken productivity systems. Traditional tools make this worse with:

• Red overdue warnings
• Streak counters that break
• Aggressive reminders that induce anxiety

Tali's Approach

Tali is designed to be judgment-free:

• Matter-of-fact handling of overdue tasks - No guilt, just "let's roll this forward"
• Brief celebrations for completions - Acknowledge wins without over-the-top praise
• No lectures or over-explaining - Practical help, not productivity advice
• Flexible rescheduling - Moving tasks is normal, not failure

Ubiquitous Capture

The ADHD Capture Problem

ADHD brains generate many ideas but struggle to hold them. If capturing a thought is difficult, it gets lost.

WhatsApp as Capture Tool

Tali uses WhatsApp because:

• It's always on your phone
• No app to open or remember
• Natural language - no syntax to learn
• Messages can be sent anywhere, anytime

This zero-friction capture means ideas don't get lost in the gap between thinking and recording.

The Memory System

ADHD affects working memory, making it hard to remember what was discussed before, personal context and preferences, and planning decisions made in previous sessions.

Tali maintains four types of memory:

• Personal Context - Background information you've explicitly shared
• Declarative Facts - Key-value information (name, timezone, preferences)
• Episodic Memories - Summaries of planning sessions and decisions
• Recent Messages - Conversation continuity

This means Tali remembers your name, timezone, and personal context. It knows your wife's name (so it understands "help Vik with laptop"). It recalls that you planned to focus on house projects this week. And it remembers what we discussed yesterday.

Design Principles Summary

Principle	Implementation
Reduce overwhelm	Context filtering, energy matching
Account for time blindness	Effort estimates, 30% buffers
Support variable energy	Energy levels, low-energy task lists
No shame	Matter-of-fact overdue handling
Ubiquitous capture	WhatsApp integration
Break down big things	Dependencies, project breakdown
Remember context	Four-lane memory system
Flexible structure	Themed days, elastic scheduling
Visible progress	Task IDs, status tracking
Adapt to you	Regular reviews, system tuning