I realize that today’s Tool of the Trade rec might create two opposite reactions among readers: “I don’t get it; why would you even need that?” and “Oh wow, I gotta try that!” In the words of its software-engineer creator, goblin.tools is “a collection of small, simple, single-task tools, mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.” (I’m not sure where the name comes from, because it doesn’t quite jibe with “goblin mode.” Hmm…)
The tools are Magic ToDo (“Breaking things down so you don’t”), Formalizer (“Turn the spicy thoughts into classy ones, or vice versa”), Judge (“Am I misreading the tone of this?”), Estimator (“Just tell me how long this is probably gonna take”), and Compiler (“Compile my braindump into a list of tasks”). Right now, you can use goblin.tools in your browser (in either dark or light mode) or Android phone, and it’ll be available as an iPhone app soon. It’s free, and there are no ads.
{related: how to manage ADHD in the workplace}
Things like goblin.tools — which uses AI technology — are great for folks with ADHD or anyone who deals with procrastination, time blindness, decision fatigue, rejection sensitive dysphoria, anxiety, problems with prioritizing tasks, and so on. I can see how goblin.tools would be helpful both at home and at work.
To me, the most useful of the five functions the site offers might be Magic ToDo. Depending on how much you need a task broken down into parts, you can adjust the “spiciness level” — from one chili pepper to five chili peppers. Once goblin.tools has broken down a task, you can get it to further simplify any subtasks if necessary. Once you check a box for a task/subtask, it’ll be crossed out. (You can also manually make a to-do list with Magic ToDo.)
While playing around with Magic ToDo for this post, entering some random tasks, I noticed that it did a pretty good job of breaking down projects like “clean up my yard for spring,” “plan a kitchen renovation,” “plan a baby shower,” “run for school board,” “get rid of old financial documents” … and “take over the world,” just for fun (or WAS it?). (I would include a screenshot of one of these task lists if the image didn’t have to be huge to be readable here.) Of course, complicated projects will need additional research to complete, but this website gives you a helpful starting point for anything you want to do.
{related: using AI chatbots to plan a vacation}
Readers, have you tried goblin.tools or anything like it? If not, does it look like something that could help you at home or at work? Any similar online tools to recommend?