Why it works
In plain words
Glimby is built from techniques used in cognitive behavioural therapy for adult ADHD and from well-replicated findings about planning and habits. Each idea below lists where it comes from.
To be clear: no study has tested Glimby itself. It’s a tool that makes these techniques easy to use, not a treatment.
Make the first step tiny
Starting is often the hardest part with ADHD, especially when a task has no obvious first move. Breaking work into small, concrete steps is a core skill in CBT programmes for adults with ADHD, which have improved symptoms in randomised trials. Glimby’s breakdowns make the first step small on purpose, and “just five minutes” lowers the bar further.
Safren et al. (2010), JAMA. Solanto et al. (2010), American Journal of Psychiatry.
Decide when, not just what
A plan like “after coffee, I’ll reply to Priya” ties a task to a moment that already happens. These “implementation intentions” are one of the most studied ways to follow through on what you meant to do, with reliable effects across hundreds of tests. In Glimby, tap “When?” on a task, or just type “after lunch” as you add it.
Gollwitzer & Sheeran (2006), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. Sheeran, Listrom & Gollwitzer (2024), European Review of Social Psychology.
No streaks, no guilt
Missing a day is part of life with ADHD. Apps that punish it, with broken streaks or dying plants, can turn one slip into giving up. Self-compassion, on the other hand, is linked to less procrastination. So Glimby counts what you did, never what you missed, and welcomes you back without a lecture.
Sirois (2014), Self and Identity.
Make time visible
Many adults with ADHD find it hard to sense how time is passing or how long things take. Glimby compares your estimates with how long things really took and adjusts to your pace, and keeps timers and the shape of your day where you can see them.
Barkley (1997), Psychological Bulletin.
Give habits the time they need
New habits take about two months on average to feel automatic, and the range is wide: some take weeks, some most of a year. Glimby doesn’t declare a habit “done” on a date; after a couple of months, it asks whether it feels automatic yet.
Lally et al. (2010), European Journal of Social Psychology. Singh et al. (2024), Healthcare.
Games, kept light
Points and levels make things more fun, but in health research they add only a little on their own. So Glimby’s game layer is gentle and optional, and the tools above do the real work. Daily check-ins never earn points, so there’s no reason to game them.
Nishi et al. (2024), eClinicalMedicine.
What we don’t claim
- Glimby doesn’t treat, cure or diagnose ADHD, and it isn’t a replacement for care.
- The research above tested techniques, not this app.
- Everyone’s ADHD is different. If something here doesn’t fit you, you can switch it off.
Want to see it for yourself? Try Glimby. It’s free, and you don’t need an email.