Before you switch to that shiny new app
I've been getting ads for a new note-taking app (a Notion dupe), and my ADHD brain immediately went: ooh, what if THIS is the one that finally makes everything perfect?
Then I remembered: I've spent years building and using a Notion ecosystem that actually works for me.
This is the thing about ADHD brains and shiny new tools - we're pattern-matching for "the thing that will finally fix everything." And tech companies know this. They're very good at making their tools look like the solution.
So here's how to tell if a new tool is actually worth switching to, or if it's just shiny object syndrome:
Ask these questions first:
What specific problem am I trying to solve? Not "I want to be more organized" - that's too vague. What exact thing isn't working in your current setup?
Can my current tool solve this with a tweak? Most of the time, the issue isn't the tool - it's how you're using it or one missing piece you haven't set up yet.
What am I going to lose if I switch? All the time you've invested, the muscle memory, the systems you've built. Is the new tool worth starting over?
If you decide it might actually be worth it, do this:
Set a 30-minute timer and only research during that window. Don't let yourself spiral into comparison YouTube videos for three hours.
Look for deal-breakers, not features. What would make this tool completely unusable for you?
Test it with ONE thing, not your entire system. Migrate one project or one area and see if it actually works better.
Give yourself a two-week trial period, then decide. Not six months of "I'll figure it out eventually."
The goal isn't to never try new tools! It's to be intentional about when and why you're switching, instead of just chasing the dopamine hit of something new.
Your current system doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to work.
Talk soon,
Em
