2024-12-20 18:12:41
Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and live happier. Clint Jarvis is the founder of Roots, a mobile app designed to set boundaries with your phone and make time for the things you love.
In this interview, we talked about how to find balance in the digital world, how to build an intentional relationship with technology, how gamification can help us stick with our intentions, and much more. Enjoy the read!
Hi Clint, thanks for agreeing to this interview! You’re on a mission to help us live a balanced life in a digital world. What does that mean exactly?
We live in a very digital world where we are more “connected” than ever before. This has some amazing benefits, but it also comes with some big downsides. The 2024 Oxford Word of the Year was “Brain Rot”. I think this is a strong signal of how people feel about living in our hyper-connected world.
For us, finding balance is about intentionally building a healthier relationship with our digital devices and setting clear boundaries. This applies to all technology, but I think phone usage is the most acute and addressable problem. Studies show that over 50% of us are addicted to our phones, and I suspect the real number is higher.
The average person spends over 6 hours per day consuming content, and checks their phone around 150 times… that’s every 6 minutes. When you add it all up, we touch, tap, or scroll on our phones 2,617 times per day.
For most of us, this was not a conscious choice. We just woke up one day and realized that our phones were stealing our time, attention, and energy. And it has a major impact on our mental and physical health. Excessive phone usage leads to an increase in anxiety and depression, neck pain, and sleep disturbances… shorter attention spans, less time outside, less time with loved ones… the list goes on and on. You’ve probably seen the infamous chart that shows how mental health problems spiked the year of the first iPhone launch.
So, we have found ourselves in a position where things have gotten pretty out of balance when it comes to our relationship with technology.
But this is not about demonizing technology, right?
That’s a great point. We love technology. When used intentionally, it really can make our lives better. And, it’s not going anywhere. We are not suggesting that you get rid of your phone, or avoid technology completely.
But, if we continue on our current trajectory, we could end up living in one of those near future dystopian movies where everyone is plugged into virtual reality 16 hours a day. It feels like an important moment for us to take a step back and reassess what it means to use technology thoughtfully,
It’s really about building a balanced relationship. We believe it’s possible to use technology to its fullest potential without compromising your wellbeing.
So that’s what inspired you to create Roots.
That’s right. I’ve experienced this problem first hand. When I was building my first startup, I reached a point of serious burnout. I was working 7 days a week, and in a self-imposed way, I was never disconnected. I checked slack and email 24/7, and filled every gap in my day with my phone.
My brain was always wired, I struggled with sleep, I was having back issues, and generally was not very happy on a day to day basis. And I was only 25 years old. I took a long look in the mirror, and decided it was time for a change.
I started taking small steps towards finding better balance in my life. It wasn’t just about screen time or my phone, but taking a fresh look at everything I was doing. That was about 10 years ago and was the start of a journey towards finding better personal balance. It’s still a work in progress and I imagine always will be.
Around 3 years ago I started to get the urge to build something that could help other people find better balance in our digital world, but I didn’t know what it should be. At the time I was building my second startup, Intown Golf Club, which was growing fast, we went from zero to #205 on the Inc. 5000 list over the last 5 years. Despite the success of Intown Golf Club, I felt a strong pull towards building something new. I started working weekends on a few ideas.
Two years ago, we launched the first version of Roots — a nature-based mindfulness app — as a side project. After talking to a lot of our users, I realized that we were building something that was “nice to have”, not “must have”. But, during those conversations I started to see a pattern. People talked about how their phones were getting in the way of everyday life. This resonated strongly with my own experience.
I joined a startup studio with Wildwood Ventures to explore what Roots could become. I came in with several broad ideas, but we honed in on phone addiction pretty quickly. Everyone we talked to had a similar story — the paradox of “I don’t have enough time”, and “I spend 4+ hours per day on my phone”. It felt like there was a real opportunity to unlock this time.
It was clear that people needed help keeping their mindless scrolling in check, and they didn’t have a solution — they either weren’t aware of the native phone limits, or found it too easy to ignore them.
We believed we could build a brand that promoted better balance, and create an app that acted like a friendly accountability partner with app blocking that had more friction, so you could actually stick to it.
Even with a clear vision, the path is a winding one. There was actually a point in the journey where we almost quit. In early 2024, we had just launched our beta version of the app, we were struggling with the Apple Screen Time API, we were almost out of cash, and it felt like everything was an uphill battle. The voice in my head started having doubts. I specifically remember going for a walk in my neighborhood to clear my mind and decide whether we should keep moving forward.
I saw 5 people on the walk. Two kids walking to the bus stop, a mom pushing a stroller, a grandparent in the park, and a man running. Every single one of them was distracted and on their phone. It felt like a sign from the universe. I went home, and decided to commit to the next phase, which included making a personal investment in our pre-seed round to extend the runway.
We made a ton of progress over the next 6 months. In October, it felt like we turned a corner. I send a personal email to everyone who signs up. For a long time, I rarely got a reply. If I did, it was usually about a bug or potential improvement. Then, I started getting love letters. Lots of them. We track a lot of KPIs, but this one is probably my favorite.
So, how does Roots work, exactly?
Roots works like a friendly accountability partner. We give you tools to set hard limits, offer encouraging nudges, and help turn data into actionable insights.
We start by setting your intentions — how much time do you want to spend on your phone? How often do you want to check your phone? What kind of limits and downtimes do you want to adopt? And, importantly, what are the simple things you can use as “scroll replacements”? It’s easier to cut back on doom scrolling when you have something to replace it with.
Then we help you set up a personalized combination of app limits and downtimes. One of our most popular blocking features is “Monk Mode” which keeps you from unblocking apps completely. Another popular blocking feature is “Intentional Mode”, which keeps apps blocked by default and forces you to unblock mindfully for each session. We think it’s important to offer a flexible set up since everyone has a unique relationship with their phone.
We also include a small dose of gamification. We have a beautiful tree for you to keep healthy by staying within your intentions. As you stay under your limits and downtimes, you’ll build a streak, and you can earn cheat days and custom app icons as you go.
We take boring screen time data and make it interesting. The “Daily Balance Score” is like a sleep score for your phone. We break down app usage using our patent-pending “Digital Dopamine Tracker”, which helps quantify the impact of time on each app, since not all screen time is equal. We show you “how often you check your phone” instead of just pickups, and much more.
Finally, we help you quantify progress and encourage you to keep it up by showing you how much time you’ve unlocked by using the app, and progress over time.
Another interesting feature is challenges. Can you tell more?
This is one of my favorite features. The idea is to host time-based phone detox challenges that anyone can join. The beauty of it is, the app will track everything automatically and keep you accountable. Plus, you can invite friends or family to join and make it a social thing.
We have hosted everything from a “Sunday Social Media Detox”, to “Be Present for Thanksgiving”. We typically will host a few unique challenges per week. All of them involve blocking your most distracting apps for the day, and only allowing a few unblocks.
There is something special about the community aspect of Challenges. It’s fun to know that you’re in it together. Even for our team, on Monday’s, it’s always exciting to share stories from the Sunday Detox Challenge.
Challenges are also a great way to get “back on the horse” if you fall out of your daily blocking habits. We’ve heard from many users that they will use a Sunday Detox Challenge as a way to kick things back off when they start to slip.
What kind of people use Roots?
It’s funny, part of the playbook when you build an early stage company is to “start narrow.” Meaning, you should have a single focus on a specific type of user.
We started with this goal in mind, but as we went along we realized that Roots works really well for many several different types of people.
Professionals (both remote and in-office) are a big one. Folks who are tied to a screen for work and want to set boundaries so they can be more productive, and enjoy real downtime.
Parents use Roots to be more present with their family, and to set better examples for their kids. Students use Roots to stay focused on studying, and help with anxiety and mental health. Couples use Roots to be more present in their relationship, and join challenges like “phone free date nights”.
The beauty is that many types of people use Roots to boost productivity, unlock more time, improve wellbeing, be more present, strengthen relationships, and get better sleep. The average person on Roots is unlocking two hours every single day.
What about you, how do you use Roots?
I use Roots every day. I averaged 4 hours per day on my phone before Roots. Now I’m consistently under 2 hours per day. My pickups have gone from 150 per day down to 50. But, if I’m testing something new and delete my regular setup, it’s a slippery slope. I find myself creeping back up towards 4 hours per day very quickly. I’ve found I really need the guardrails.
I use it in a few different ways. First, I have a weekly set of blocking rules. I keep all social media and work apps blocked in the morning (4:00AM – 9:00AM) and evening (6:00PM-4:00AM). In the morning I give myself 2 unblocks, so I can check in on the day, without doom scrolling my morning away. In the evening, I use “Monk Mode”, so I can’t unblock even if I want to. This helps me wind down at night and keeps me off my phone in bed. If I really need to get online I’m forced to be intentional and use my computer.
Outside of my downtimes, I keep social media blocked by default and only allow 5 unblocks per day. This has made a big difference. It’s only a small amount of friction to unblock, but it forces me to think twice each time.
I set up my “scroll replacements” to be reading, stretching, going outside, and walking my dog. Each time I want to unblock an app, I’m forced to look at the list of things I could be doing instead. My dog gets a lot more walks than she did before I started using Roots.
In Roots, we show you “how often you check your phone”. So I keep a close eye on my pickups and try to stay above “every 20 minutes”, which is around 50 pickups per day. I do our weekly “Sunday Social Media Detox” challenge, this serves as a nice reset each week. I will usually take a few minutes on this day to review the prior week and see which apps I consumed the most “digital dopamine” from, check my balance score, and assess my plans for the coming week so I can adjust as needed.
Every month or so I will go phone-free by turning on Monk Mode for 24 hours. The first time I did this I was shocked by how good it felt. I hadn’t stayed off my phone for 24 hours since I got my first iPhone in high school in 2008. By the end of the 24 hours, I honestly felt like time had slowed down and I was more at peace than I had been in a long time.
And finally… What’s next for Roots?
We are very bullish about the future. I believe everyone who has a phone can benefit from Roots. It feels like the screen time space is in a similar position to where meditation apps were in 2015. Headspace and Calm were early in their journey, and over the next 10 years we would see several unicorns emerge and hundreds of millions of people start using meditation apps.
2025 will be all about growth. We have worked very hard this year to iterate quickly, and set the app up to be very scalable. We have several exciting marketing activations kicking off in the new year.
I expect the team will grow quickly. We currently have 4 full time co-founders, and several key part-time team members. I am very proud of our founding team. We have an amazing culture where everyone is excited about what they are doing on a daily basis.
On the product side we have a lot of exciting things planned for Q1 2025, and beyond. We are a very design focused team. We are obsessed with continuing to iterate the app, and building it into the best possible product it can be. We still have a long way to go to realize our vision, but we’re already helping people change their lives with the current version.
We aim to be the category winners of the screen time space. Our goal is to help 100,000,000 people build a better relationship with their digital devices in the next 5 years. I truly believe we can help change the world, and the way we live with technology.
Thank you so much for your time, Clint! Where can people learn more about Roots?
Thank you for all the great questions! You can learn more on our website, or jump right in and download the app. Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, or Twitter (X), where we share insights and product updates. And, if you’re up for a challenge, join us for a Sunday Social Media Detox this weekend!
The post Scroll Less and Live More with Clint Jarvis, founder of Roots appeared first on Ness Labs.
2024-12-20 00:43:56
This time last year, I had just nervously hit “send” to share the first draft of the manuscript with beta-readers. The book didn’t have a cover. We didn’t even have the final title.
I felt quite lost and had to apply all the principles in the book to enjoy this dance — one that had no clear steps, set to strange music I had never heard before — and trust that things would unfold in time. It was a meta-exercise in curiosity.
Now, the book has been officially announced, and I can’t wait for it to be in readers’ hands. As someone who loves feedback, this is the longest feedback loop I’ve ever had to go through!
Here are some of the other highlights of 2024:
Read on for a detailed account of my year, along with the experiments I’m excited to explore next year. You can also find my past annual reviews here.
Let me start with my proudest accomplishment: in 2024, for the first time in my adult life, I didn’t drink a single drop of alcohol. Given my long struggle with depression, this feels bigger than any other milestone.
Over the past twelve months, I explored how to build healthy routines upon this foundation. It started with a meditation experiment where I committed to meditate for 15 minutes every day for 15 days, and to learn in public by documenting the process in a shared Google Doc.
This simple experiment completely changed my relationship with meditation. I went from “this isn’t for me” to “this is a tool I can learn to use.” I shared my notes, including the parts I found challenging, and people left comments suggesting different techniques, from breathing and visualization to shifting my posture. Today, meditation has become part of my toolkit.
Two other important tools this year were journaling (to connect with the mind) and dancing (to connect with the body). Although I missed a few days, I always journaled several times a week. I also attended Ecstatic Dance sessions (a freeform dance practice) several times a month.
Intentionally building those moments of self-connection into my routine has been crucial to managing my mental health despite a busy schedule. However, it wasn’t always perfect.
Around the summer, I started experiencing early signs of what my best friend and I like to call “wobbliness” — when you can feel yourself losing balance and instinctively grabbing for your usual crutches.
For me, since I quit drinking, those crutches have been sugar and social media. At first, I treat myself to a snack or some mindless scrolling, but soon enough my reward system becomes overstimulated. Those bad habits impact my sleep, which affects my decisions, and the cycle repeats… You get the idea.
I’ve found that psychedelics help a lot when I’m on the verge of falling into such a vortex. They play a crucial role in my mental health. This year, I worked with Ayahuasca again, designed our own mini psilocybin retreat with close friends, and regularly used mushrooms on my own in a medicinal / ceremonial way.
Things still get wobbly at times, but thanks to these tools I’ve learned to trust myself to regain balance when I stumble.
I also froze my eggs at the start of the year — a decision my partner and I made when we didn’t know when we’d live together again. What a rollercoaster…
As someone who’s usually emotionally level, I was stunned by the wild mood swings and how quickly my body changed. Brainstorming titles for Tiny Experiments during that time became quite emotional!
On top of it all, navigating the medical process was incredibly complicated. I was fortunate that one round was enough, and my heart goes out to anyone who has to go through this more than once.
Tiny Experiments is my first book, and every decision is one I’ve never had to make before. I didn’t have ready-made heuristics or mental models to rely on — but I do have access to the internet.
At first I looked into hiring freelancers and spoke to a few agencies. I set the bar high, inspired by James Clear who went to great lengths to find Lyndsey, his “Executive Assistant / Master of Many Things.” I kept telling myself: I need to find my Lyndsey!
But I eventually realized the right people were already around me. The Ness Labs team had the skills to take on tasks related to the book — it was just a matter of transferring their expertise from one project to another.
What started as a search for outside help became an opportunity to grow together, and I feel so lucky to work with such an incredible group of people.
This was a recurring theme this year — how the people around me helped me learn, grow, and discover more about myself and the world. I attended two life-changing retreats for entrepreneurs, kindly hosted by Tiago Forte and Rand Fishkin, and was invited to give talks at incredible conferences. Friends offered to introduce me to their friends.
As a result, I connected with several people I’d previously only known online and deepened relationships with others to the point where the lines blurred between friendship and creative collaboration. What these people have in common is that I could just as easily spend hours discussing the meaning of life with them as jump on a quick call to brainstorm an idea.
I’m not going to list them all here — they’re all in the acknowledgement section of my upcoming book — but I’m deeply grateful for these friendships.
Something has become crystal clear for me this year. My creativity and productivity are fueled by two streams that must flow freely for me to do work that feels alive and connected: my intellectual health and my relational health.
Taking care of my intellectual health means having ample time to conduct research and write, whether that’s the Ness Labs newsletter, academic papers, or even another book. It means being able to read purely for curiosity’s sake and having space for those nourishing conversations with fellow curious minds.
I’ve been fortunate over the past years to work with Prof. Ellie Dommett at the ADHD Research Lab. She’s always supported my hypercurious mind and the many projects I love to juggle. We’ve now secured funding to continue working together in 2025, and I’m also applying for longer-term funding to investigate the intersection of ADHD and curiosity, hopefully with Dr. Vincent Giampietro, my other wonderful PhD supervisor.
To make space for deeper exploration, I’d like to work with the Ness Labs team to design a system where I can continue contributing to our educational content while empowering them to manage — and even lead — the business aspects.
The other stream is relational health. In 2024, I prioritized spending time with friends and family whenever I could. I jumped on trains and planes, traveling to more than a dozen cities across Europe and the world.
I had my parents over several times, and we went on house-hunting visits together. We dressed up for a big Halloween party, I introduced them to my research supervisors, and overall included them more fully in my life.
We also spent much more time together with my siblings, particularly my sister, who lives in Seoul. This year, I saw her in San Francisco, Paris, London, Singapore, and the Philippines, where we saw flying foxes and swam with whale sharks — making many lifelong memories.
In 2025, I want to spend even more time with the people I love: building a home with my partner in London after years of long distance, enjoying as much time as possible with my parents, and deepening connections with old and new friends by creating shared spaces for meaningful connection.
I see my spiritual health as the land between these two streams: it serves as the necessary foundation that supports both my intellectual and relational health. I plan to keep exploring psychedelics, journaling, and other mindfulness practices.
One possible experiment for 2025 is attending my first silent Vipassana meditation retreat — something I’m both excited and a little nervous about. Some other questions I’d like to explore include:
In short, I don’t know what 2025 will look like, but I want it to be a year shaped by curiosity and to have many opportunities to learn from others throughout this big experiment we call life.
P.S. The title of this year’s annual review is a reference of the original title of my book, which was supposed to be called Liminal Minds. In a fun twist, I had to embrace a long period of uncertainty until we settled on what I now think perfectly encapsulates the themes of the book.
The post 2024 Year in Review: Life is in the Liminal appeared first on Ness Labs.
2024-12-16 19:15:00
As the end of the year rolls around, it’s tempting to hit pause on everything. Between holiday preparations, end-of-year deadlines, and social commitments, the thought of adding one more task to your plate might seem overwhelming.
The last thing you want to do is sit down and think about the past year… You’d rather curl up with a warm drink and switch your brain off until January. But what if this winding-down period was actually the perfect moment for something transformative?
An annual review is a chance to reflect, process, and set the stage for the future. It’s about taking a step back to see how far you’ve come and where you might like to go. In fact, it’s one of the best opportunities for personal growth. Let’s explore why it’s so powerful and how you can make it work for you.
An annual review isn’t just another task on your to-do list. It’s a gift you give to yourself, a chance to make sense of your journey and shape the path ahead — perhaps the most valuable gift you give yourself this year. Here are five reasons to make this an annual ritual:
When you conduct an annual review, you’re not just reflecting on the past; you’re equipping yourself with insights and tools to create a more intentional future. It can transform how you approach the coming year. And these benefits also compound over time as each annual review builds on the previous ones.
There are many ways to conduct an annual review, some more structured than others. Feel free to experiment with different methods, and don’t feel like there’s a correct way to go about it. What matters most is carving out some uninterrupted time to reflect.
That being said, here are some practical steps to get started:
1) Choose an annual review method that resonates with you. This can be free-flow writing, filling out a structured template, or following along with a workshop video by one of your favorite creators. Don’t overthink it — the best method is the one you’ll actually use. Here are some methods:
2) Find a quiet space and make yourself comfortable. Turn off notifications and let the people you live with know that you need this time for yourself. Make yourself a cup of tea. Put some relaxing music on. You don’t need a full day to conduct an annual review. While 2-3 hours is ideal, even 30 minutes with a structured template can be incredibly valuable.
3) Complete your annual review by combining both intuition and evidence. Think about key moments, lessons learned, and patterns you’ve noticed. While your gut feelings are important, also do some “archaeology work” by reviewing your notes and calendars. This helps avoid recency bias — the tendency to overemphasize recent events while forgetting earlier experiences.
If you stop here, you’ve already done something wonderful for yourself. But if you’re feeling brave, consider sharing your review as an exercise in learning in public. By doing so, you might connect with others who share your experience and find inspiration in their stories.
An annual review isn’t just about looking back; it’s about reflecting on the past to reimagine your future. Use it to identify areas of curiosity, questions you’d like to explore, and experiments you might want to try. Think of it as creating a map of possibility, an exercise that could lead to new adventures.
Whatever your achievements this year, however life unfolded, remember to rest and recharge. The insights from your annual review will be waiting to guide you when you’re ready to restart your journey next year.
The post The Power of an Annual Review: Reflect on the Past to Reimagine your Future appeared first on Ness Labs.
2024-12-13 00:31:57
Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us work smarter and live better. Ian Inseok Seo is the founder of Routinery, a mobile application that helps you design and actually stick to better routines.
In this interview, we talked about environment-driven habit formation, the routines of successful people, how to maintain a balanced life, how to adjust routines over time as needed, the relationship between routines and neurodiversity, and more. Enjoy the read!
Hi Ian, thanks for agreeing to this interview! When did you become interested in helping people design better routines?
My journey into the world of routines began during a challenging period of my life when I faced several entrepreneurial setbacks over about four years. It was during this time that I truly grasped the importance of having structured routines. I found that routines served as a stabilizing force, helping me navigate the uncertainty and frustration of feeling stagnant in my entrepreneurial journey.
To explore this further, I started with simple, self-guided tests. I created an Excel sheet where I documented the environments and times that allowed me to wake up best, detailing everything from music to temperature settings.
I also experimented with different sequences for activities like writing and meditation, adjusting environmental factors to see what worked most effectively. This personal journey highlighted how valuable routines can be, not just for me but potentially for countless others facing similar struggles.
I realized that amidst the chaos, a solid morning routine could set the tone for the entire day. It offered me a way to regain control and establish a sense of purpose. However, I noticed that many people struggle to create effective routines, even when they understand the benefits.
Life can be hectic, and the temptation to prioritize immediate tasks over planning can be overwhelming. People often feel paralyzed by choice, unsure of how to structure their time in a way that aligns with their goals.
Through numerous self-experiments, I tested how my environment changed at different times, and I refined those methodologies over more than two years. This experience sparked the idea: “Could I help others craft their own routines?”
I started by assisting Jane, our current CTO, in developing her routine, and the results were remarkable. This success led me to a bigger vision: to create a platform that could assist even more people in designing effective routines tailored to their needs. That was the seed from which Routinery grew.
Understanding the transformative power of routines is what drives me to help others achieve that clarity and focus in their daily lives.
And what makes your approach different?
What sets Routinery apart is our fundamental focus on environment-driven habit formation. Rather than emphasizing sheer willpower, we prioritize creating the right conditions for people to effortlessly follow their desired routines. This idea is encapsulated in our slogan: “Designed to drive your action.”
Let me illustrate: if you want to read more, simply deciding to read won’t necessarily make it happen. However, if you bring a book and leave your laptop at home, then go to a cozy café, you’ll naturally start reading. This is the power of environmental design, and we’ve embedded this principle into Routinery to help users not just plan, but actually live their ideal routines. In the early days, I honestly didn’t invest too much time in formal user research. My team and I were focused on solving a problem I personally faced, and as a team with the skills to develop an app, we went for it.
We launched Routinery quickly, iterating until it met our standards. But as the app gained traction, we started receiving feedback from users worldwide, and I was struck by how serious and diverse their challenges were.
It became clear that maintaining even small routines, which some might find simple, was deeply difficult for others. And when these small efforts failed, the ripple effect impacted other aspects of their lives, often leaving them feeling overwhelmed and stuck.
From these insights, our mission evolved to “Empowering people to improve their daily lives.” Through ongoing user interviews, we learned that even minor adjustments, like a morning stretch or a few minutes of focused breathing, could have a profound effect on someone’s day. Yet, many people struggle to incorporate these small actions into their routines.
For some, these seemingly simple tasks are monumental. Recognizing this, we felt a stronger commitment to provide a solution that wasn’t just about planning but about creating an environment for consistent, positive change.
That makes sense. Actually, neurodivergent users are particularly enthusiastic about Routinery.
Absolutely, I’m thrilled to discuss this! Routinery has resonated particularly well with neurodivergent users, especially those with ADHD. Our app is designed to help individuals create structure and establish routines, which can be incredibly beneficial for managing symptoms of ADHD.
For many people with ADHD, staying organized and maintaining focus can be challenging. Routinery allows users to break their day into manageable chunks, providing clear, visual cues for each task, which can be especially helpful in navigating tasks one at a time.
This not only aids with time management but also reduces the overwhelm that can come from trying to juggle multiple responsibilities. Features like customizable routines, timers, and task flows empower users to sustain their focus by breaking tasks into manageable steps and creating a sense of accomplishment as they complete them.
For example, a user might set up a morning routine that includes specific times for getting out of bed, showering, and having breakfast. The visual representation of their progress helps keep them motivated and reduces the cognitive load of remembering each step. We’ve also included options for breaks and transitions, which are vital for maintaining focus.
That said, while Routinery is particularly beneficial for neurodivergent individuals, we’ve surpassed 5 million downloads, which speaks to its broad appeal. People from all walks of life use Routinery to design a better day, whether they’re looking to boost productivity, improve time management, or simply cultivate healthier habits. Our goal is to support everyone in building routines that work for them!
You decided to go for a mobile-first approach. Why is that?
When we started Routinery, we knew that routines needed to be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives—not just planned at a desk but accessible in those small moments when people need them the most. That’s why we decided on a mobile-first approach.
Routines aren’t confined to a specific time or place, and to make them truly impactful, they need to be adaptable and available whenever the user requires them. Whether it’s setting a morning routine as you wake up, or a calming evening ritual to wind down, we wanted Routinery to be right there, on-the-go.
A mobile app allows users to check in with their routines anytime, anywhere. This level of accessibility is key to our mission: helping users build sustainable habits that fit seamlessly into their daily lives. Imagine starting a routine on the subway, in a café, or even during a lunch break—it’s possible because of the convenience of a mobile platform.
To make Routinery truly universal, we prioritized making it available on both iOS and Android right from the start. People’s lives are incredibly diverse, and we wanted Routinery to be accessible no matter what device they prefer. By taking this approach, we’re not just supporting different technologies; we’re enabling more people to integrate routines that can help them lead better lives.
Ultimately, our mobile-first design reflects our belief that routines should be something users carry with them—not just as a reminder, but as an empowering tool to create positive changes throughout their day, wherever they are.
So, how does Routinery work, exactly?
Routinery is designed to make routine-building simple, effective, and — most importantly — personal. At its core, the app allows users to create customized routines made up of small, actionable tasks. Users can select from suggested activities or add their own, crafting a routine that aligns with their unique goals and daily needs.
Our approach is deeply rooted in behavioral science principles, particularly two key concepts. The first is habit stacking. Instead of the traditional checklist style, where users mark tasks one by one, Routinery prompts users to start their first task and then naturally flow into the next.
Once they’ve taken that initial action, momentum builds, making it easier to carry on with subsequent tasks without overthinking. By having everything mapped out in advance, they’re free to focus on simply doing.
The second principle is the use of a timer with a time limit. Humans are naturally more focused when we have a set amount of time for a task. This is especially helpful in the morning when distractions are everywhere. The timer provides a gentle sense of urgency, helping users to stay focused and avoid being sidetracked.
We wanted Routinery to support users with planning and executing routines seamlessly. When planning, users have a range of options to customize their routines. But when it’s time to put those routines into action, we aim to minimize distractions and maximize focus. This flow encourages users to follow through and complete their routines consistently.
Additionally, we’ve put a lot of thought into human-friendly interactions to make the experience feel less mechanical and more like a supportive companion. Instead of just sending reminders, Routinery communicates with users in a way that feels natural and encouraging.
We’ve also been intentional with our UX writing for push notifications, ensuring that users feel motivated and supported rather than burdened. Our goal is for Routinery to feel less like an app and more like a helpful friend guiding them through their day.
To make all this possible, we’ve put a lot of effort into a clean, simple mobile design. We believe in reducing friction and making the app experience intuitive, so users can focus on what matters — their routines. Through this streamlined design, Routinery becomes not only a tool but a friendly, reliable guide in building the life they want.
You have spent lots of time researching the routines of successful people. What are some of your favorites?
At Routinery, we highlight the routines of several well-known figures, including Andrew Huberman, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Tim Ferriss, and Haruki Murakami. While each of these routines is unique, they all share a common thread: dedication to consistency and a clear sense of purpose.
Personally, I don’t have a favorite routine, per se. Instead, I’m inspired by the commitment these individuals demonstrate in maintaining their routines. Observing their dedication helps remind me that routines aren’t about perfection but about consistent effort. This realization has been especially meaningful for me, as it offers reassurance that small, sustained actions can make a significant impact over time.
Recently, I’ve become more interested in running and writing, which is why Haruki Murakami’s routine resonates with me. Murakami is known for his disciplined approach to both his writing and his physical well-being—running a marathon every year, maintaining a strict daily schedule, and ensuring he has the mental space to create. His consistency is incredibly inspiring, and it motivates me to keep pushing forward in my own pursuits.
On the other hand, I also draw a lot of methodological inspiration from Andrew Huberman. His emphasis on science-backed practices for optimizing both physical and mental performance aligns with our mission at Routinery to make habit-building an intentional and effective process. Observing how he incorporates scientific principles into his routine has given me ideas on how to support Routinery users more effectively in structuring their daily habits.
Ultimately, I think the most powerful takeaway from these routines is the reminder that finding a rhythm that works for you—and sticking with it—can be transformative. We all have unique needs, and by curating a routine that aligns with our personal goals, we can achieve more balance and fulfillment in our daily lives.
What about you, how do you use Routinery?
In the early days, I experimented with several routines, but over time, I found that simplicity works best for me. Now, I keep my routines straightforward, focusing on a few key rituals that help me stay grounded and productive.
My regular routines include a morning and evening routine on weekdays, a cleaning routine on Saturdays, and a Sunday evening routine to prepare for the week ahead. I also use Routinery’s Pomodoro timer on a more flexible basis—primarily when I need extra help staying focused on a task.
In the morning, I use Routinery to guide me through calming activities like meditation and writing. Starting the day with a clear, centered mind is crucial because my days tend to be filled with fast-paced work and various demands. This morning routine gives me a moment to anchor myself, allowing me to approach the day with greater resilience.
My evening routine is a time for reflection and unwinding. I often review my day, noting any significant moments or insights and letting go of lingering concerns. The routine helps me mentally put the day to rest so I can transition smoothly into sleep. I also include activities like meditation and stretching to help my body relax and ensure I’m prepared for restful sleep.
Over time, I adjust my routines as needed, expanding or simplifying them depending on my situation. I’ve learned not to be rigidly bound by routines but rather to let them work in a way that suits me best. This flexibility is key to keeping routines sustainable and beneficial over the long term.
Routinery has become an essential tool that helps me maintain a balanced and intentional life. I love that I can keep these routines tailored to my needs, and I find the app’s customizable reminders and timer functionality invaluable for keeping me on track. Routinery is a constant reminder that I can set the tone for my day, and I appreciate having a system that supports me in creating my ideal environment for each part of my routine.
The best part is that I get to use the very service I’m building every day. It brings me a deep sense of happiness and gratitude to know that while I’m helping others, I’m also helping myself. As an entrepreneur, I consider it a blessing to create something that has a meaningful impact—not only on our users’ lives but on my own as well.
And finally… What’s next for Routinery?
At Routinery, our mission is clear: to empower people to improve their daily lives. While we’re currently focused on providing this support through our app, we’re excited to take our vision even further. We’re constantly researching ways to create environments and develop tools that make positive change feel natural and effortless. Our goal is to help people overcome the challenges of personal growth by designing solutions that support their unique journey, every step of the way.
In terms of future directions, we’re exploring beyond just the Routinery app. We envision expanding our offerings to include additional apps, as well as offline events that bring our community together to share insights and support one another. Ultimately, we aim to deepen our understanding of human behavior and use that knowledge to make meaningful contributions to the science of personal transformation.
We also see the future of Routinery moving into the wellness space, where we can expand our focus from behavior improvement to mental wellness. We believe that partnering with experts in fields such as psychology and mental health can help us offer even more valuable support for our users.
Many people who use our app face challenges such as ADHD, depression, and insomnia. Our goal is to help them with tailored routines that offer not only structure but also comfort. We’re designing these features with the same intention and attention to behavioral science, ensuring that even wellness-focused additions like mindfulness routines or tailored support for conditions such as ADHD or insomnia are practical, engaging, and easy to implement in daily life.
We want Routinery to be a service that aids in alleviating mental health challenges, providing a path to more balanced, fulfilling lives.
As we look to the future, we’re also excited by the potential of IoT (Internet of Things) to bridge the gap between digital and physical environments. Imagine a meditation session that automatically sets the room lighting, adjusts the temperature, and plays soothing music the moment you start a meditation timer. By creating these kinds of immersive environments, we can help users enter the right state of mind for their routines without extra effort.
Our long-term vision is to create a world where change is accessible to everyone—where the barriers to personal growth are minimized by science-backed solutions and intentional design. Whether through technology, events, or scientific research, we’re committed to helping people make lasting improvements to their daily lives.
I believe that as we continue to evolve, Routinery will remain a trusted companion that helps people live with more ease and fulfillment. We envision Routinery as more than just an app—it’s a catalyst for a global movement toward mindful, purpose-driven lives.
Thank you so much for your time, Ian! Where can people learn more about Routinery?
Thanks for having me! You can go to our landing page, blog, YouTube, Instagram, or head directly to the store to install the app.
The post Design a Better Daily Routine with Ian Inseok Seo, founder of Routinery appeared first on Ness Labs.
2024-12-10 17:49:00
In 2008, Spotify set the ambitious vision to create a legal music streaming service that could compete with piracy. Their initial strategy was clear-cut: secure licensing deals with major record labels, build a robust platform, and acquire users.
But the path that led to their current 626 million active users was anything but straight. They had to constantly pivot, experiment with different features, and even temporarily abandon certain markets. Their success didn’t come from religiously following their initial roadmap, but from treating each setback as an opportunity to learn and adapt.
Spotify’s story illustrates a crucial insight from decades of psychological research: the most significant breakthroughs often emerge from nonlinear paths. Yet, we cling to goal setting methods that promise certainty and control.
Have you ever felt like you’re climbing an endless ladder, where each rung represents another goal to achieve? The moment you reach one objective, there’s always another waiting, leaving you exhausted and wondering if you’re making actual progress.
Linear goals dominate our approach to personal and professional lives. They offer a reassuring sense of clarity and measurability that our brains can find deeply appealing. That might be why the SMART goal-setting framework, introduced in the 1980s, is still used in companies around the world to this day.
But this traditional approach to goal setting is rooted in industrial-age thinking: straight lines, predictable outcomes, and measurable progress. While this might work well for manufacturing widgets, they fall short in uncertain environments characterized by rapid change.
Worse yet, research found that over-emphasis on specific, challenging goals can lead to reduced risk-taking, decreased intrinsic motivation, and even unethical behavior.
The problem lies partly in how our brains process goals and rewards. Neuroscience research has shown that the brain’s dopaminergic reward system is activated not only by achieving goals but also by anticipating rewards.
When goals are narrowly defined and tied to specific outcomes, the brain can overprioritize immediate, extrinsic rewards, leading to stress and fear of failure when those expectations aren’t met. This response helps explain why linear goals often lead to:
These issues become particularly acute in what organizational psychologists call VUCA environments (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) – precisely the conditions most of us navigate daily in our careers and personal growth journeys.
Nature rarely moves in straight lines, and neither does our personal and professional development. When we embrace nonlinear goal setting, we activate the brain’s reward system differently. Instead of seeking the dopamine hit of achieving a single goal, we create multiple feedback loops that encourage exploration and sustain motivation.
1) Start with observation. Keep a curiosity journal by taking field notes tracking your emerging interests, interesting conversations, and energy patterns. Document your current challenges and doubts without judgment. In particular, notice which activities energize you versus drain you.
2) Design tiny experiments. Create small, low-stakes tests to collect data. Focus on the process and let go of the outcome. You can’t fail when any outcome is treated as a source of valuable information to support the design of your next experiment.
3) Make space for reflection. Schedule regular review sessions. The Plus Minus Next method is a simple metacognitive practice that can help integrate learnings and adjust your trajectory based on emerging insights – not based on an artificial finish line.
Remember that you’re not aiming for perfection. Instead, notice what emerges without forcing specific outcomes. By releasing the need for perfection, you will paradoxically create the conditions for more meaningful growth. This flexible approach will not only feel better but also produce more sustainable results. What tiny experiment will you try first?
The post Rethinking Goals: the Science of Nonlinear Goal Setting appeared first on Ness Labs.
2024-12-06 00:35:48
Welcome to this edition of our tools for thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Bálint Orosz is the founder of Craft, a rich text editor designed to be frictionless, whether you want to take notes, write papers, plan your day, or just get things done.
In this interview, we discussed frictionless creativity, the value of well-crafted tools, the power of the Apple ecosystem, integrating AI with note-taking, bridging our personal and professional lives, and much more. Enjoy the read!
Hi Bálint, thanks for agreeing to this interview! First, let’s address the most obvious question: in such a crowded space, what inspired you to create another tool for thought?
Since the early 2010s, technology has evolved so much, but the tools we use to write, think about, and organize information have essentially been pretty much the same since the 1980s. Personally, I have always been “fighting” tools because I never had the fluidity of being able to express myself easily. I love the famous quote of Steve Jobs that “computers are like a bicycle for the mind”, but I felt this was untrue for many tools I used.
This was amplified in a previous job for which I had to travel a lot; most of the time I spent travelling was wasted because I couldn’t truly effectively work on mobile devices.
This pain point recurred year after year, until I reached the point where I decided to try to solve the problem by creating an app which allows me to capture, organize, think, and plan; whether for buying groceries, or writing an executive summary.
Generally, I’m very picky with my tools when it comes to aesthetics and UX, so I knew this app needed to be a joy to use. That meant it must be beautifully designed, offering a native experience, and fully functional offline so that I could use it during flights, without compromise.
So you got to work.
I’ve been doing design and engineering for 15 years, and after my early days of building Flash websites, I moved on to building native apps for iOS. There’s something in being able to have an idea and make it tangible on a touch device, that just deeply satisfies me.
I knew the space I was entering was extremely crowded, so I started out with the goal of building something truly useful for me; then maybe others would like it, too. In the first two years, I worked on the early versions and prototypes of Craft on my own, and read lots of books and research notes about productivity and human cognition. This was an insightful period, which allowed me to formalize some of my intuition.
I continuously shared prototypes with close friends for early feedback, and after many iterations, I eventually achieved a version I felt confident could be the foundation of Craft, as we know it today. This was in 2019, when the project’s code name was “Luki.” Interestingly, many aspects of that early prototype are present in Craft 3.
At that point, I was ready to go all-in, so I hired the first three team members, and together we developed the first beta version, which was released in February 2020 for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
We took a long time to build and release the first beta version! This was because I wanted to ensure the core experience of writing and syncing across devices was perfect. I knew this was core to everything that followed; without a strong foundation, the entire concept would fall apart. The solid groundwork means we’ve been able to iterate very quickly ever since, releasing major new versions every 2-3 weeks.
And you made the opinionated decision to focus on the Apple ecosystem. Why is that?
One insight from my previous projects is that it’s extremely hard to take a well-developed desktop application, and scale it down to touchscreen devices because the core mental models and UX just fall apart. However, it is absolutely possible to go too far the other way, and focusing on mobile alone places very strong constraints on how complex a product can become.
Also, native and mobile are my core expertise, so it made sense to start as an iPhone/iPad app to ensure we could create a simple, powerful product.
Later, Apple introduced MacCatalyst, a technology which enabled us to use one code base to ship Craft across iOS, iPadOS, MacOS. Our vision has always been to deliver an exceptional experience by leveraging the unique power and capabilities that only native apps can provide: great performance, full offline support, ability to use your Apple Pencil, and features powered by Apple Intelligence, to name just a few. So, it was logical to continue on this path.
That said, it’s important to note that Craft also works on the web, Windows, and mobile web, and these versions are continuously improving. And yes, an Android app is coming, eventually!
The way you engage with your community is also quite unique.
Community has always been a big part of our approach, and we’ve developed a very strong connection with users. Since the first day of the beta in February 2020, we’ve been interacting with our community, daily. Hearing our users’ stories about how they use Craft, discussing ideas, and working together to identify and fix bugs, has been an incredibly rewarding experience unlike anything I’ve encountered with other products I’ve built.
Our team uses Craft every day, both collaboratively and individually, which creates a unique bond with our community: we can genuinely relate to people’s pain points and joyful experiences. Their feedback plays a crucial role in shaping how we prioritize upcoming features and improvements, ensuring we’re always building Craft with users in mind.
We just released Craft 3, our biggest update ever. This was a six-month process in which we worked closely with over 1,000 beta testers to refine every aspect of new and existing features. Our community has been with us every step of the way, supporting us since the very first beta.
So, how does Craft work, exactly?
Craft adapts to your needs, whether you want to capture a thought, style beautiful docs, share with others, build collections, or manage tasks. Documents are still the core of Craft, but with version 3, there are many more ways to use Craft.
First, tasks. We’ve introduced three major features to task management: a dedicated tasks inbox for quick capture, the ability to schedule tasks and view them in the calendar, and a global view showing all your tasks in Craft. We believe tasks are an integral part of docs, as we often think of them while making notes. The latest improvements are aligned with that idea. This way information is not duplicated, and the entire context from where this task is emerged from, is always present.
Collections in Craft helps you organize related information in one place. Instead of scattered notes, you can gather and arrange items like books to read, project resources, research notes, and also customize how you view and sort them, based on what matters to you.
It delivers the power of databases in a streamlined, easy-to-use interface. Building on Craft’s ability to nest content inside blocks, every item in a Collection can contain its own content.
We also want everyone to be able to create their own digital home in Craft, where they feel comfortable and in control, which is only possible if you can customize the look and feel of docs to your preference. Styling brings an extensive set of capabilities which offer precisely this level of control. Just like other Craft features, it’s simple and surprisingly powerful. You can create different worlds across docs. With Styling, it’s simple to create and share all kinds of things; from children’s party invitations, to professional documents for the workplace.
Please tell us more about the AI features.
Craft Assistant leverages the OpenAI models of GPT-4o and GPT-4o-mini. You can access it easily by using the slash command, or tapping on the “Assistant” button. Our users use it for various tasks, such as making their writing more professional, fixing typos, and translating work into other languages.
AI models are becoming increasingly powerful, but there remains a significant UI/UX challenge. This is something we aim to tackle in the coming year.
Another recent enhancement is the integration of Apple Intelligence. As a native app, we’ve been able to utilize features like Writing Tools which are already available, and in just a few weeks, we’re planning to introduce Image Playgrounds, as well.
We’re particularly excited about Apple Intelligence because it enables us to provide AI tools that function on-device and even in offline mode!
You also put a lot of effort into the small details.
Well, once you choose the name “Craft,” you need to ensure your product is well crafted! We believe it is incredibly important to build an emotional connection with users, as well as a functional one. After all, most Craft users spend more than 2 hours a day using it.
Aside from making people more productive, it’s also an opportunity for us to provide some tiny bits of “magic.” We love adding small finishing touches like subtle animations and sound effects, that enhance your daily use of Craft and make it a delight to use.
As we continue to expand Craft’s capabilities, we’re careful not to lose this. Our goal is to keep Craft as simple and easy to use as possible. Balancing new features while maintaining simplicity is one of the most exciting product challenges we face.
A great example of this balance is Focus Mode, which allows you to hide all sidebars and controls, enabling you to fully concentrate on your document. This helps you get into the flow and pour deep thoughts into Craft without distractions.
Another example is Presentation Mode, which transforms a document into slides, making it easy to present at school, work, or even to friends and family, without ever leaving Craft.
What kind of people use Craft?
Our most passionate users are individuals who value bringing their personal and professional life in a single space, and are always looking for the best product to support their busy lives. But we see Craft resonate across many groups.
Knowledge workers integrate Craft seamlessly with their existing workflows, often alongside company systems. Real estate agents create sophisticated property presentations on their iPads in between showings. Students transform complex lecture notes into clear, structured knowledge. Even pastors have embraced Craft for sermon preparation; drawn to its clean, distraction-free environment. Creators and journalists love to write scripts and do research for future articles and posts in Craft too.
What makes Craft stand out is its thoughtful simplicity. If you appreciate well-crafted tools that just work, you’ll feel right at home. You don’t need to be a “technical” person to use it.
What about you, how do you use Craft?
There are a number of layers and dimensions to my Craft usage, spanning my personal life and work. From a personal perspective, I store lots of reference-type information like important documents, invoices, manuals, etc; basically, anything that I might need later, I put into Craft. Personally, I really enjoy travel planning in Craft.
I’m also the type of person who thinks best by writing. When I have a thought, I sit down and start writing it out. These initial notes often start out as raw and unstructured, but they evolve as I revisit and refine them over time. What makes Craft super helpful is how naturally it supports this flow: I can quickly jot down thoughts, then easily reorganize them with drag-and-drop, and grouping. This fluid interaction between capturing and organizing thoughts mirrors how my mind works. It makes Craft feel less like a tool and more like an extension of my thought process.
Craft as a company uses Craft as a product as our main form of communication and collaboration. We use daily notes heavily, where each team member writes up their day, and uses it as the basis for daily meetings and standups. We also share Craft documents instead of sending emails, so a big chunk of my day is spent consuming and creating information in Craft.
This depth of usage is so amazing to have while building a product; you’re extremely connected to all aspects of it.
And finally… What’s next for Craft?
With Craft 3, we’ve created the tool we dreamed of when we began building Craft 1.0, but this is just the beginning. We already have a long list of improvements and next steps planned for Task Management, Collections, and the app overall. We’ll roll them out continuously, starting as soon as the next few weeks. Also, we’ll address one of the longest-standing and most requested features: tags are coming in 2025!
Thank you so much for your time, Bálint! Where can people learn more about Craft?
Actually, there are quite a few places! We are very active on social media (Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, Linkedin), and with our Community (Reddit, Slack) with whom we have daily discussions. We are also updating our Help site continuously, writing blog posts, and creating video content on Youtube.
One last thing: to celebrate Craft 3, we are running our biggest sale. It’s a 50% discount for life for all new Plus, Family, Team, and Business subscriptions or upgrades from any existing subscriptions (even from old Pro and Business ones) until December 15! It’s available through our web app and people can use the code CRAFTV3 during checkout.
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