RandomIdea - Random Idea Picker
RandomIdea is a small jar of ideas that you fill yourself. Whenever something comes to mind, such as a recipe to try, a place to visit, a sketch prompt or a chore you keep putting off, add it to the list in a few seconds. When you cannot decide what to do, tap Draw an Idea and the app picks one at random.
Leaving the choice to chance is surprisingly helpful. It ends long debates about dinner, gets you started on creative work when every option feels equally good, and brings back ideas you saved weeks ago and forgot. Because you wrote every entry, each suggestion is something you actually wanted to do.
The list is kept in your browser, so it is there next time you open the page. There is no account and nothing to configure.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use RandomIdea
- Add an idea. Tap the + button, type the idea in the dialog and tap Add. Keep entries short and concrete, for example Try a Thai green curry.
- Build up the list. Add as many ideas as you like over time. Each one is saved immediately.
- Draw an idea. Tap Draw an Idea. One entry is chosen at random from the whole list and shown in large text in the middle of the screen. Tap again for another pick.
- Review your ideas. Tap the list button to open All Ideas and see everything you have saved.
- Remove ideas you have done. In All Ideas, swipe an entry from right to left to delete it. A short message confirms the deletion.
Features
- Add ideas in a couple of taps
- Random draw from your whole list
- Full list view of saved ideas
- Swipe to delete
- List saved in your browser between visits
- No account or sign-in
- Interface in many languages
Using randomness to make decisions and spark ideas
Why a random pick helps
Many small decisions are hard not because one option is clearly better, but because several are about equally good. Comparing them takes time and energy, a problem often called decision fatigue. When the options are all acceptable, letting chance choose saves that effort. A random pick also has an interesting side effect: if you feel disappointed by the result, you have learned which option you really wanted.
Building a good idea list
The quality of the draw depends on the list. Write ideas as actions you could start right away, such as Bake banana bread or Walk to the river and back, rather than vague themes. Keep each list to one purpose; if you mix weekend outings with dinner ideas, a draw on Tuesday evening may suggest a day trip. Since RandomIdea holds a single list, some people use short prefixes like Cook:, Read: or Draw: so they can skip entries that do not fit the moment.
Creative prompts
Writers, illustrators and musicians often use random prompts to break a blank-page block. Fill the list with subjects, moods or constraints, for example a lighthouse, only three colours, or a story told backwards, and draw one or two before you start. Constraints chosen by chance push you away from habits and towards combinations you would not have picked yourself.
Keeping the list fresh
Delete ideas once they are done or no longer appeal to you, so the draw keeps pointing to things you actually want. If a suggestion keeps coming up and you keep skipping it, that is a sign to remove or rewrite it. Adding a few new entries each week keeps the list varied and makes each draw a small surprise.
If you share the device with family or housemates, you can also build a shared list together, for example weekend activities that everyone has agreed to, so the draw feels fair to all.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my ideas saved?
In this browser's local storage on your device. There is no account and nothing is sent to a server. Clearing site data or browsing in a private window removes the list, and it does not sync to other devices.
Is every idea equally likely?
Yes. Each draw picks one entry uniformly at random from the current list, so the same idea can come up twice in a row.
Can I edit an idea?
There is no edit option. Delete the entry with a swipe in All Ideas and add the corrected version.
Can I keep several separate lists?
No, there is one list. Short prefixes such as Cook: or Trip: help keep different kinds of ideas apart.
How do I delete an idea?
Open All Ideas with the list button and swipe the entry from right to left. On a computer, click and drag it to the left.
What is different from the phone app?
The features are the same. The iPhone and Android apps show ads that a subscription removes; the web version has no ads or purchases.
Limitations of the web version
- One list only, with no categories
- Ideas cannot be edited, only deleted and added again
- Data stays in this browser and is not synced
- No export or backup of the list
Phone app
RandomIdea is also available as an app for phones and tablets: