I realised my productivity app was increasing pressure instead of reducing it — so I rebuilt it around conversation
I’ve been building an ADHD-focused productivity app called NestStep for a while now.
Originally it was a fairly normal task breakdown/productivity tool.
But while testing it, I kept noticing the same thing:
people already overwhelmed by work/uni/life would open the app and immediately feel worse.
Overdue tasks.
Too many systems.
Too much pressure to “perform productivity correctly.”
So I started experimenting with a different direction:
what if the app focused on reducing emotional friction first?
That led to building “Nest” — a conversational companion inside the app.
Instead of immediately generating productivity plans, it helps shrink tasks into emotionally manageable first steps.
For example:
instead of “create study plan”
it might start with:
- place your laptop on the table
- open one tab
- write one messy sentence
What surprised me is that momentum often comes from conversation first — not pressure.
The interesting product challenge has been balancing:
- calmness vs usefulness
- emotional support vs productivity
- conversation vs action
Still early and still experimenting, but this pivot feels much more meaningful than trying to become “another AI productivity app.”
Would genuinely love thoughts from other builders here.