AM168 – Forest: Stay focused, be present

Hey there!  Welcome to Accessibility Minute, your weekly look at Assistive Technology, those clever tools and devices designed to help people who have difficulties with vision, mobility, hearing or other special needs!

Did you know 1 in 8 people are addicted to their smartphones?  With the increased use of smart technology, this statistic is only on the rise. Are you part of this statistic?  I must admit I am!  So often I check my phone for the time…which turns into me playing a game…and before I know it, I’ve wasted a LOT of time!  With all these potential distractions at my fingertips, and an attention span the size of a sesame seed, it’s no wonder my focus has dwindled in recent years.

I have tried many things to try to regain my focus, but alas I always have the urge to check my phone.  Fortunately, there is an app called Forest that helps me stay on track!  It is a self-motivated and interesting way to help beat phone addiction.  To use the app, you’re presented with a single seed.  You then set the timer (10 minutes-2 hours) and during that time, IF you don’t leave the app, you’ll find that seed grew into a beautiful tree!  However, if you do leave the app, your poor little tree will wither away. 🙁  If you stay on task throughout the day, you’ll be able to plant many trees, creating a lush forest!  This app could benefit many individuals–especially those with ADHD!

To learn more, check it out on iTunes.