Have ADHD? Try Why Am I Here

Announcement Open source Chrome extension Productivity

Published: July 4, 2026

You open Chrome to look up AWS pricing. Twenty minutes later you are on Reddit, email, and three unrelated tabs. Or the opposite: you stay on topic, but suddenly you have 40 AWS tabs open and no idea what you came for. Developers, students, and researchers know both patterns. People with ADHD know them especially well.

Why Am I Here? is a free, open-source Google Chrome extension I built to help. Set a goal in the popup, browse normally, and get a gentle nudge when you drift off task or stay on topic too long. No blocking, no shame, no system notifications. Just a ! badge on the icon and a check-in in the popup.

Install from the Chrome Web Store · Source on GitHub

Two problems, two nudges

Problem	What it feels like	What the extension does
Distraction	You came for AWS pricing but ended up on random tabs	Focus nudge when off-goal time adds up and off-goal tabs outnumber on-goal ones
Rabbit hole	You are on topic but lost in 40 related tabs	Rabbit-hole check-in when you have spent a long time on-goal with many tabs open

Most tools catch only one. Blockers punish off-task browsing but ignore deep dives on the right topic. Timers do not know whether your tabs match your intent. This extension tracks both time and tab alignment against the goal you set.

How to use it

1. Set a goal

Click the ? icon in your toolbar. Type what you came to do, for example AWS pricing, and press Set goal (or Enter). The extension starts counting which tabs match and how long you spend on them.

2. Browse like normal

Keep working. Open the popup anytime to see minutes on-goal vs distracted, and how many tabs are on-goal vs off-goal. Tracking runs in the background while Chrome is focused. Switching tasks? Set a new goal anytime. No need to end the old one first.

Current goal and live stats — Live stats: on-goal vs distracted time and tabs

3. Answer when it nudges you

When the icon shows !, open the popup.

Focus nudge: you drifted to off-goal tabs. Get back on task or tap Back on track to snooze.
Rabbit-hole check-in: you stayed on topic a long time with many tabs. Tap Done, Keep going, or Dismiss.

Rabbit-hole check-in when you have gone deep on a topic

Optional: adjust thresholds

Click the gear in the popup. Change distraction and rabbit-hole thresholds, then Save settings.

Privacy

Local-only storage. No accounts, analytics, or remote servers. Permissions are tabs, storage, and alarms only. No host permissions, no notification permission, no network access.

Important disclaimer

This is a personal productivity tool, not a medical device. It is not FDA approved, not a diagnostic tool, and not a substitute for professional care. I built it from publicly known ideas about focus, tab switching, and self-regulation while browsing. It may help some people with ADHD or anyone who loses track online, but your experience will vary.

Open source

MIT licensed. Built with WXT, TypeScript, and Vitest. Full tutorial: tutorial on GitHub.

If you want to read what researchers say about focus, tabs, and ADHD online, these are worth a look:

Nagel, J. et al. (2025). "Too Many Tabs Open? Using Everyday Computer Data to Support Focus for adults with ADHD" (RMIT University). A proof-of-concept study showing that tab switching, idle time, and task relevance can estimate attention in real time.
KIT researchers (2025). "FocusUp: A Browser Extension for Enhancing Online Attention and Productivity for ADHD Individuals". Describes a Chrome extension that tracks tasks and reading progress to reduce cognitive overload while browsing.
NIMH: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Overview of ADHD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

These sources informed the general idea behind the extension. They do not endorse or validate this specific tool.

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