Show HN: I built a reminder app designed to feel uncomfortable on purpose (opens in new tab)

(momclock.com)

1 pointsdearroy2mo ago1 comments

Hi HN,

I’ve tried dozens of reminder and habit apps over the years. They’re all polite. Gentle. Easy to ignore.

So I built something intentionally different.

Mom Clock is a reminder app that behaves more like a strict parent than a productivity coach: – no snoozing – no “later” – optional app blocking using Screen Time APIs

The idea came from my own behavior: I don’t need motivation — I need enforcement.

This is not for everyone. Some people hate it. Some people love it. I’m genuinely curious where HN stands on this tradeoff: comfort vs. effectiveness.

Happy to answer questions about: – behavior design – iOS Screen Time APIs – what Apple allows / doesn’t allow – or why I think “nice UX” can sometimes be counterproductive

1 comments

dearroyOP2mo ago

One thing I didn’t expect: some users told me the app makes them anxious, others say it’s the first time they actually finish tasks. That polarization itself has been interesting to observe.

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