The next small action is a deliberate design choice. Our reading spans therapy trials, a meta-analysis, executive-function theory, and research on reward pathways. Each offers a different kind of evidence. Here’s what it tells us, and how we use it.
This meta-analysis evaluates cognitive behavioral therapy for adult ADHD, drawing on randomized controlled trials identified through a systematic literature search.
It provides a broader view of the therapy evidence than a single trial. Its conclusions still depend on the quality and comparability of the studies included.
Why it belongs here
A wider evidence base. A careful translation.
We look to the wider CBT literature when choosing ideas to explore. Evidence for a therapy program does not establish that a single app feature works.
Adults with persistent ADHD symptoms who were taking medication received either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or relaxation with educational support. CBT produced greater symptom improvement.
The program included planning, problem-solving, and breaking overwhelming tasks into manageable steps. The trial tested the whole program, not task breakdown on its own.
How it informs our design
One visible action. A clear place to begin.
We’re applying the task-breakdown idea to routines: turn “go for a walk” into “put on your shoes.” That translation is our design hypothesis.
A group metacognitive therapy program taught skills for time management, organization, and planning. Researchers compared it with supportive group psychotherapy in adults with ADHD.
The intervention taught practical self-management strategies within a structured therapeutic program. It did not evaluate a standalone routine app.
How it informs our design
Make the plan concrete. Keep the next step visible.
Our routine builder is being designed around concrete cues and explicit next actions. The aim is to make a plan easier to return to during the day.
Barkley’s model links behavioral inhibition with working memory, regulation of motivation and emotion, internal speech, and the ability to organize behavior.
It is a theoretical account supported by a review of evidence. It is not a trial of reminders, small steps, or an app.
How it informs our design
Put the next action where you can see it.
Visible cues and explicit next steps are our response to the demands of holding and organizing a plan in your head. Their usefulness in this app still needs testing.
Primary research / PET imaging
Explore reward and motivation.
Volkow et al., 2009 JAMA 53 adults with ADHD · 44 controls
PET scans found lower dopamine receptor and transporter availability in parts of the reward pathway in never-medicated adults with ADHD compared with controls.
This is evidence about group differences in brain biology. It does not show that tiny tasks change dopamine, or establish an ideal task size.
Why it belongs here
Take motivation seriously.
This provides biological context for thinking about reward and motivation in ADHD. Our small-step approach is a design choice, not a dopamine treatment.
What the evidence means for this app
These selected references span therapy trials, a meta-analysis, theory, and brain imaging. They are not a complete review of ADHD research, and none evaluates Giant Tiny Step. Our lighter-day mode and focus on momentum are product choices we still need to evaluate. The app has not been clinically validated and is not a substitute for treatment or medical advice.
02 / From research to routine
A routine should fit your day. Even this one.
01
Make the next action obvious.
Turn “I should go for a walk” into “put on your shoes.” One concrete, physical action gives you somewhere to begin.
02
Lower the effort on harder days.
We’re building a lighter mode for low-capacity days. Scale the routine to the energy you have, with a smaller starting point.
03
Pick up where you are.
Life interrupts. Our focus is momentum instead of counting misses, with concrete cues that help you return to a routine.
Bondhusvatnet, Hardanger. Photo: Svein Magne Tunli. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image cropped for layout.
Not yet. Giant Tiny Step is in development, and we haven’t announced a release date. If you’d like to learn more, send us an email.
Who are you building it for?
We’re designing it for people with ADHD who find starting and returning to routines difficult. The focus is small physical actions, concrete cues, and flexibility on low-capacity days.
Can I share an idea or ask a question?
Yes. We’d like to hear what makes routines difficult for you and what would make starting easier. Email post@ducksplantsrobots.com.
Where can I read your privacy policy?
Our privacy policy explains how Ducks, Plants and Robots handles information across this website and our apps.
Good things start small
Let’s take the next step.
A question, an idea, or a routine that never quite sticks? We’re listening.
