How to get reminders without a to-do list

Sometimes you only want the reminder

“Maybe call your parents.” “Look at the plants.” “Take the camera out sometime.” These can be things you want to remember without keeping a record of how often you did them.

A task list asks what is finished. A habit tracker asks how you are doing. Super Bump brings your own words back to mind and leaves the rest to you.

Write the words you want to receive

Use the wording you would want to see on your phone. A short, recognisable thought works well: “Maybe call your parents” gives you more context than “Family”.

The reminder does not need a target, a completion date, or an explanation of how to prove you acted on it. You are writing a nudge to yourself.

Give it a loose rhythm

In Super Bump, choose how often a reminder returns and a part of the day. The app chooses a random time within that window.

1. Create a bump and write what you want it to say.
2. Choose how often it returns and the part of the day that suits you.
3. Allow notifications on your iPhone so the reminder can appear.
4. When your words arrive, carry on with your day. There is no completion box to keep up with.

Set up random reminders on your iPhone

Change it when it stops being useful

Pause a bump when you want a break. Use Bump me later from a notification if another moment would suit you. Choose quiet hours when you do not want notifications.

If reminders are not appearing, check notification permission for Super Bump and your iPhone’s Focus settings. A reminder should fit your day, not become another system to look after.

Use an exact alarm for an exact time

A reminder that can arrive sometime in the afternoon is different from an alarm you need at 14:00. Use an appropriate exact-time alarm or calendar reminder when timing is essential.

Super Bump runs on iPhone with iOS 18 or later. Three active bumps are free; one purchase unlocks more. There is no subscription, habit score, streak, or history you need to maintain.