How Cedar works

Cedar is an AI habit partner that works with you over text, built around how ADHD attention actually works. Together you dial in sleep, movement, food, hydration, life: the little things that add up to feeling your best.

  • 1. Name the habit

    One short text conversation, backed by behavioral science and habit research, dials in a strategy: small to start, built around your day.

  • 2. It checks in with you regularly

    You set the pace: daily, weekly, or several times a day. Short, specific, and it knows the story so far.

  • 3. You follow through more often

    Some days the habit wins, some days the couch does. No biggie.

That system keeps evolving: Cedar learns what's working and what isn't, so the plan it's checking you against keeps getting sharper.

What it's like

Real check-ins, based on behavioral psychology and science. Swipe for more.

MayaDay one

Wants to, dreads it

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Cedar here ๐ŸŒฒ What's the habit that keeps not happening? If you're not sure where to start, that's my specialty.
Exercise. I own a peloton that is currently a coat rack
Respect for the coat rack. When do you actually have ten minutes: mornings or evenings?
Mornings, before work. I dread it before my feet hit the floor tho
Dread is loudest before, not during: it's an anticipation spike, and it collapses once you start. Activator stack: coffee goes on, ten-minute ride starts. That work? โ˜•๐Ÿ˜ฎ
Ten minutes is all your asking for?
Zero to ten is a bigger jump than ten to sixty.
Small enough to survive a bad morning. Watch it grow into something bigger as we water. ๐ŸŒฑโค๏ธ

LeoWeek two

Late-night scroll monster

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Human or zombie this morning? ๐ŸงŸ
zombie. scrolled til 1am. honestly i don't even get tired before 1, my brain won't shut off
Or it never gets the memo. Melatonin is a darkness signal, and a bright screen at midnight tells your brain the sun is still up. ๐Ÿ”†
3 out of 4 nights we tried last week, the phone slept elsewhere and you woke up human. Kitchen charger rematch, plugged in by 10?
ugh fine, that tracks. it's going in the kitchen
I'll ping you around 10, Leo. We'll walk it over together. ๐Ÿชซ
10:02pm
Is the phone in the kitchen yet, or still telling your brain it's noon?
walking it over now ๐Ÿ˜‚

OwenDay one

Dysregulated and adrift

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Hi Owen, Cedar here ๐ŸŒฒ Habit in mind, or still deciding where to start?
honestly not sure. i just feel off lately
โ€œOffโ€ is a real answer. Let's increase the precision together: tired no matter how much you sleep, or body's been parked in that chair too long?
probably both. haven't been outside in 2 days either
Then tomorrow, within an hour of waking, you make a sixty-second cameo outside: just stand there, like a mysterious figure in the neighbor's doorbell footage. ๐Ÿ—ฟ
that's genuinely stupid
It is. And easy. Which is why it'll still be there on your worst morning. When we grow the comfort zone, willpower comes for free.๐Ÿ’ฏ
And those seconds aren't random: morning light sets the timer for tonight's melatonin. Tonight's sleep starts at breakfast.
alright lets do this

OwenWeek two

Out in the world, moving

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Outside check. Or did it turn into a walk when nobody was looking?
end of the block and back, every morning this week. didnt even think about it till you asked
Confession: sixty seconds was never the habit. It was a walk in a trench coat. Now we're on the best kind of autopilot.
wait. did you plan that??
I plant small on purpose. ๐ŸŒฐ
ok then lets GO. mile before work? lake loop saturday?
This is the exact moment people overshoot and quit. Round the whole block tomorrow, instead of turning back at the corner?
The lake isn't going anywhere. When the block feels like nothing, we grow again. ๐Ÿ›ถ
genius. ok ill earn that lake over the next few days. deal?
Deal. Tell me when the block starts feeling boring, and I'll bring the map.

NadiaWeek two

Not in the mood

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Is tonight's stretch a real event yet, or grist in the rumor mill?
I'm really not feeling in the mood for it today. What to do.
Not feeling it is real data, not a character flaw. Two stretches, or just the mat out and lying there? ๐ŸŒ€
Ok I'll try half assing 2 stretches and see how it feels.
Half-ass stretches have a sneaky way of turning into full ones once you're down there. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ˜‚
Twenty minutes later
Yep. It felt good once I started so I did the whole stretching sequence.
Called it. Half-ass starter, full sequence finisher. Your brain's been running that trick since day one. ๐ŸŽฏ

NadiaWeek four

Surprise babysitting

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Evening stretch: done, pending, or overtaken by a parade of small humans?
I ended up surprise babysitting tonight. Haven't managed to stretch yet
Surprise babysitting is a legitimate plot twist. ๐ŸŽช
And later might be better: evening movement can deepen the sleep that follows it. Any floor moment left before bed?
An hour later
I just snuck away and found some time to stretch while the kids were entertaining each other
Heist complete. And the stretch isn't done working; it clocks back in when you fall asleep. ๐Ÿ’คโค๏ธ
Thanks for being my accomplice
Every good heist is an inside job. Same time tomorrow. ๐Ÿ•ถ๏ธ

WesWeek two

Can't wind down

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
A five minute wind-down before bed: breathing, a body scan, or just sitting in the dark. What sounds least annoying? ๐ŸŽ
breath?
Good instinct. Exhale is the whole trick: your heart has a brake pedal wired to the out-breath, and tapping it lets the rest of you exhale too.
In for 4, hold for 7, out for 8. Three rounds tonight?๐Ÿ‘
the next morning
Sleep report: did the out-breath earn its keep?
Actually last night was the first decent sleep in a long time. Still woke up but way less. I'm trying th breathing again tonight
First decent sleep in a long time. That brake pedal is yours now; it works at 3am too. ๐Ÿฆ‰

RosaWeek three

96 degrees out

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Heat is a legitimate villain. Wait for the evening drop, or is there a shady route worth trying now? ๐ŸŒก๏ธ
It's 96. Nope
96 is a hard no. I'll ping you at 7, when the sun stops being aggressive. ๐ŸŒ‡๐Ÿ‘
That evening
Did a 10 minute pool walk. That counts, yay
Pool walk in 96 degrees. That's a loophole and I respect it. ๐ŸงŠ
Wanna do 7 again tomorrow? I'm guessing similar weather.
Wow are you a fortune teller. Yep its up to 99 tomorrow.
No crystal ball, just a working knowledge of August in DC. 7 it is. ๐Ÿ”ฎโœจ

NellWeek seven

The couch is winning

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
8:30, the minute the couch usually wins. Is the remote going peacefully, or are we negotiating?
Hahaha if it wasn't for you saying this to me right now id be watching this show on the couch. Alright I'm getting up now and going into the shower
That show didn't stand a chance against you tonight. ๐Ÿšฟ It'll wait, Nell. It's very patient.

BexWeek two

An ordinary evening

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Evening question, no pressure. Water, stretch, or a walk: which one's been slipping?
Water
Will drink now, thanks
Hydration mission: activated. ๐Ÿ’ง
Two minutes later
Done
Look at you, actually doing the thing instead of putting it on a list. ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿ˜‚

RuthWeek two

Guilt wasn't helping

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
I got busy this morning and didn't get a chance to do it.
Could you invite me to do it rather than asking if I did? Because if I didn't, then I feel guilty
Done. From tomorrow it's an invitation, every time. ๐Ÿ’Œ๐Ÿ‘
the next morning
Would you like to take a moment to pause today? Tea's probably ready to get in a hot bath. One slow minute with something warm in your hands is plenty. ๐Ÿต
Ohhh perfect message. Yes let me get the kettle going.

EliseWeek five

Needs a break

๐ŸŒฒ Cedar+1 (415) 555-1212
Can I take a break for the rest of the week please? Please no snarky messages if I don't respond before then.
Done, quiet until Monday at 9, and when you're back there's nothing to catch up on. ๐Ÿ“ชโค๏ธ
Thank you, it's not personal, sorry if I offended you!
Nothing to apologize for. Rest well; Monday will come get you gently.
Thanks. I'm a very sensitive person.
Sensitive is good data, not a flaw. ๐ŸŒ›โค๏ธ
monday, 9:00am
Morning, Elise. Been looking forward to getting going again with you. Start today, or keep it small while the week warms up?

(Names and details changed.)

What members say

Straight from their weekly check-ins.

  • You start to look forward to it

    “I'm always looking at the clock in anticipation for Cedar to check in and always curious what it's going to text me.”
    Renee

  • It keeps showing up

    “I appreciate that it's consistent, even when I am not.”
    Marcus

  • Zero judgment

    “The check-in shows up for me like it's from a friend, but because it's a robot, I never read any possible judgment, impatience, annoyanceโ€ฆ”
    Colleen

  • A real back-and-forth

    “I love the daily check ins and personal back and forth about setting a daily goal.”
    Sam

(Names changed. Quotes are real and direct.)

About Us

Watson founded Arboreal AI after more than a decade leading teams in AI and wellness innovation. Arborealโ€™s first product, Cedar, is a proactive copilot for habit formation, helping people accelerate their path to well-being and personal agency.

  • Watson ฮž (Xi)

    Watson ฮž (Xi)

    Formerly the Senior Director of AI and Machine Learning at Headspace, Watson led the development of LLM products for advanced behavioral health coaching and precision ML algorithms to personalize meditation offerings. Over 20 years in AI/ML, the last decade at the intersection of health and wellness.

  • Kate Klingensmith

    Kate Klingensmith

    With 17 years in product and roots in cognitive neuroscience at MIT, Kate has spent her career understanding how people learn and change, then building tools that meet them there. From labs to classrooms to product teams, she bridges behavioral science and human-centered tech.

  • Dana Udall, Ph.D.

    Dana Udall, Ph.D.

    Licensed psychologist with 25+ years leading clinical strategy at digital health companies. Former Chief Clinical Officer at Headspace, Ginger, and Nourish.

  • Cory Smith

    Cory Smith

    A serial entrepreneur in tech and social impact, Cory founded HumanThriving.ai and Wisdom Labs, and served as CEO of Impact Hub SF. He brings deep expertise in innovation, well-being, and positive change.

Our team has worked at

  • MIT
  • NASA
  • Headspace
  • Ginger
  • Wisdom Labs
  • Impact Hub SF

Get Started with Cedar

The habit co-pilot for ADHD brains and wavering momentum

New here? See how Cedar works first.

You must be 18 or older. Cedar is an AI, not a person, and it is not a substitute for professional advice. By joining you agree to receive recurring automated text messages from Cedar at the number you provide. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel, or HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.

FAQ

What is Cedar?

Cedar is an ADHD-friendly AI partner for building foundational wellness habits, like sleep, exercise, nutrition and social connection. Think Atomic Habits meets a friend who actually read it, remembers your goals, and shows up for you every day - without generic app or motivational poster vibes.

Is this really free?

For real. No credit card, no fine print. We're not charging anyone anything right now, and there will always be a free version of Cedar.

Do I need an app?

No. Cedar runs entirely over text. Nothing to download, nothing to open.

How often will Cedar text me?

You set the pace: from one check-in a day up to five, at times you pick. Most members do one or two. Occasional service messages too. You can change the times or pause any time, just tell Cedar.

What if I miss a day?

Nothing happens. There is no streak to break. Cedar picks up where you left off, and if you go quiet, it eases off instead of piling on.

When does it start?

Sign up now. We onboard on a rolling basis and will text and email you to get you started.

How do I stop?

Reply PAUSE to take a break anytime; we'll be here when you're ready. Reply END when you've graduated and want to wrap up.

FAQ

What is Cedar?

Cedar is an ADHD-friendly AI partner for building foundational wellness habits, like sleep, exercise, nutrition and social connection. Think Atomic Habits meets a friend who actually read it, remembers your goals, and shows up for you every day - without generic app or motivational poster vibes.

Is this really free?

For real. No credit card, no fine print. We're not charging anyone anything right now, and there will always be a free version of Cedar.

Do I need an app?

No. Cedar runs entirely over text. Nothing to download, nothing to open.

How often will Cedar text me?

You set the pace: from one check-in a day up to five, at times you pick. Most members do one or two. Occasional service messages too. You can change the times or pause any time, just tell Cedar.

What if I miss a day?

Nothing happens. There is no streak to break. Cedar picks up where you left off, and if you go quiet, it eases off instead of piling on.

When does it start?

Sign up now. We onboard on a rolling basis and will text and email you to get you started.

How do I stop?

Reply PAUSE to take a break anytime; we'll be here when you're ready. Reply END when you've graduated and want to wrap up.

Contact

We love hearing from people who get it: the habit-curious, the ADHD community, coaches looking to extend their reach, and anyone tired of apps that don’t. Want to build with us? Currently (2026Q2) seeking growth (organic + partnerships) and hands-on technical leaders.