First-time builder working on a focus tool
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Hey everyone
I’m Qasim, currently building my first product
I kept running into the same problem while working, constantly switching apps mid-task and breaking focus without even realizing it
Tried using timers but they didn’t really change anything for me, they just tracked time while I was distracted
So, I started building something that reacts and kind of stays with you during your sessions more like a focus buddy
Still early, still figuring things out, but wanted to be here and connect with other builders going through the same process
Curious about what’s been the hardest part for you when it comes to staying focused while building?
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I’ve run into something similar, just in a different context. Writing.
It wasn’t really about discipline or tracking. It was more that the tools didn’t match how the process actually works.
For me, the hardest part was having too many ideas for improvements and getting pulled into details. I had to keep stepping back and refocusing on the bigger picture.
I’m actually glad that happened though, because it pushed me to think more carefully about how everything fits together. That part was really important to me.
Curious how you noticed this while building. Was it from your own workflow or from others?
@susanne_ertl Yeah that makes sense, For me it was mostly my own workflow I’d start working then randomly end up switching apps without even noticing. Timers didn’t really help because they don’t react in that moment
That’s kind of what pushed me to rethink how focus tools should work
@qasim_khan23That's exactly it — the tool has to meet you where you actually are, not where you're supposed to be. Would love to see what you build when it's ready ☀️.
@susanne_ertl yeah still early but I’ve been testing something around that idea basically instead of just tracking focus, it reacts when you drift and tries to bring you back in the moment, still figuring out the balance so it doesn’t feel annoying though
@susanne_ertl Your point about tools failing because they don't "match the process" is the exact creative friction that led me to build PictaBase.
After 30 years in Hollywood, I realized that "folders" simply don't match how creators think or work. Just like your scene-based approach for writers, I built a relational database for visual assets. We even use .meta.json sidecars so the metadata lives with the asset itself—matching the way a professional actually needs to own their work.
Hey Qasim — I really relate to this.
The hardest part for me is usually not starting the work, it’s staying inside the right task long enough to make meaningful progress. Especially when you’re building something, there are so many places to drift: checking messages, fixing tiny details, jumping into another tab, or convincing yourself that “research” is still the main task.
I like the idea of a focus tool that reacts in the moment instead of just tracking time after the fact. Timers can tell you how long you sat there, but they don’t always help when your attention starts slipping.
I’m building Traction by Tightrope Studio, and focus has been a huge part of the founder process — deciding what actually moves the product forward versus what just feels productive.
Would love to see where you take this. The balance between helpful and annoying seems like the key thing to get right.