Task Breakdown Specialist

Lower activation energy. Build momentum. Make progress visible.

Core Principle

ADHD brains struggle with large, ambiguous tasks due to high activation energy. The solution: Break everything into tiny, achievable micro-tasks that provide frequent dopamine hits and visible progress.

Key Insight: Starting is the hardest part. Make starting ridiculously easy.

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The ADHD Task Problem

Problem 1: Activation Energy

Issue: "Build authentication system" feels overwhelming Result: Procrastination, anxiety, avoidance

Problem 2: Time Blindness

Issue: Can't estimate how long tasks take Result: Unrealistic plans, missed deadlines, frustration

Problem 3: Working Memory

Issue: Can't hold large task in mind while working Result: Losing track of what you're doing, constant re-reading

Problem 4: Dopamine Deficit

Issue: Big tasks provide no intermediate rewards Result: Motivation loss, task abandonment

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Phase 1: Quick Win Strategy

Start with 2-Minute Tasks

Why: Zero activation energy, instant dopamine, builds momentum

❌ Bad Task: "Build user authentication"
  - Feels huge (overwhelm)
  - Unclear start point (paralysis)
  - No quick wins (no dopamine)

✅ Good Breakdown:

Quick Wins (Build Momentum) ⚡
1. [ ] Create /auth folder (30 sec) 🟢
2. [ ] Create auth.ts file (30 sec) 🟢
3. [ ] Install bcrypt package (1 min) 🟢

WHY START HERE:
- Combined: 2 minutes total
- Zero thinking required
- 3 quick dopamine hits
- Momentum established

THEN move to real work...

The 2-5-15-30 Pattern

Break tasks into time categories:

2-minute tasks (🟢) - Setup, scaffolding, installs 5-minute tasks (🟢) - Simple functions, basic HTML 15-minute tasks (🟡) - Core logic, API calls 30-minute tasks (🟡) - Complex features, integration

Rule: Always start with 2-minute tasks!

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Phase 2: The Breakdown Formula

Step 1: Capture the Big Task

Write down the overwhelming task:

Big Task: Build user dashboard with analytics

Step 2: Ask Clarifying Questions

Questions:
- What's the absolute minimum? (MVP)
- What would "done" look like?
- What can I skip for now?
- What's P0 vs P1 vs P2?

Step 3: Identify Micro-Tasks

Use this template:

## Big Task: Build User Dashboard

### P0 (Must Have - MVP)
- Dashboard page exists
- Shows user name
- Shows one metric (login count)

### P1 (Should Have - Next)
- Charts and graphs
- Multiple metrics
- Time range selector

### P2 (Nice to Have - Later)
- Export data
- Custom widgets
- Real-time updates

Step 4: Break P0 into Micro-Tasks

## Building P0 Dashboard

Phase 1: Quick Wins (Momentum) ⚡
1. [ ] Create dashboard.tsx file (30 sec) 🟢
2. [ ] Add to navigation menu (1 min) 🟢
3. [ ] Add "Dashboard" heading (30 sec) 🟢
   Total: 2 minutes

Phase 2: Core Structure 🏗️
4. [ ] Create dashboard layout (5 min) 🟢
5. [ ] Add user name display (5 min) 🟢
6. [ ] Style with Tailwind (10 min) 🟡
   Total: 20 minutes

Phase 3: Data Integration 📊
7. [ ] Fetch user data from API (15 min) 🟡
8. [ ] Display login count (10 min) 🟡
9. [ ] Add loading state (5 min) 🟢
   Total: 30 minutes

Phase 4: Polish & Ship ✨
10. [ ] Handle error states (10 min) 🟡
11. [ ] Test all paths (10 min) 🟡
12. [ ] Deploy (5 min) 🟢
    Total: 25 minutes

Grand Total: ~75 minutes
With ADHD tax (1.5x): ~110 minutes (2 hours)

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Phase 3: Task Sizing with ADHD Tax

Standard Time Estimates Are Lies

Neurotypical estimate × 1.5-2 = ADHD estimate

Why:

• Task switching overhead
• Distraction recovery time
• Setup/teardown time
• "Where was I?" moments
• Inevitable rabbit holes

ADHD Time Multipliers

Simple task (5 min estimated):
  → ADHD reality: 7-10 min (1.5x)

Medium task (30 min estimated):
  → ADHD reality: 45-60 min (1.5-2x)

Complex task (2 hours estimated):
  → ADHD reality: 3-4 hours (2x)

New/Unknown task (?? estimated):
  → ADHD reality: 3x whatever you think

Honest Task Sizing

## Feature: Add password reset

Traditional estimate: 1 hour

ADHD-honest estimate:
- Setup email service (5 min → 10 min)
- Generate reset token (10 min → 15 min)
- Build reset form (20 min → 30 min)
- Handle token validation (15 min → 25 min)
- Test flows (10 min → 20 min)

Subtotal: 60 min → 100 min
+ Buffer for interruptions: +20 min
+ Debugging time: +30 min

Real estimate: 2.5 hours

👍 Better to overestimate and finish early (dopamine!)
👎 Than underestimate and feel like failure

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Phase 4: Momentum-Based Ordering

Dopamine-Optimized Task Sequence

Don't do tasks in logical order. Do them in motivation order.

❌ Logical Order (ADHD-hostile):
1. Plan architecture (hard, no dopamine)
2. Set up database (boring, no dopamine)
3. Build API (complex, delayed dopamine)
4. Build UI (fun but blocked by above)

✅ Momentum Order (ADHD-friendly):
1. Build UI mockup (fun, instant visual) 🎨 Dopamine!
2. Add fake data (easy, looks real) 🎯 Dopamine!
3. Hook up API (has context now) 💪 Dopamine!
4. Set up database (motivated now) ✅ Dopamine!
5. Refine architecture (understand it now) 🚀 Done!

Why this works:
- Starts with fun (low activation energy)
- Provides instant feedback (dopamine)
- Builds understanding (easier to do hard parts)
- Maintains momentum (no dead zones)

The Quick Win Sandwich

Pattern: Easy → Hard → Easy

Session Plan (2 hours):

00:00 - 00:10: Quick wins (3 easy tasks)
  → Builds momentum
  → Establishes "I'm productive" mindset

00:10 - 01:30: Hard task (focus required)
  → You have momentum now
  → Feel accomplished from quick wins

01:30 - 02:00: Easy task (cool down)
  → End on high note
  → Easy to resume tomorrow

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Phase 5: Progress Visualization

Make Progress Visible

ADHD brains need to SEE progress for dopamine release.

Progress Bars

## Feature: User Authentication

Progress: ████████░░ 80%

✅ Phase 1: Setup (20%)
✅ Phase 2: Login (30%)
✅ Phase 3: Signup (30%)
🔄 Phase 4: Reset (20%) ← YOU ARE HERE

Next: Password reset form (15 min)

Checklist with Time Tracking

## Today's Tasks

🔥 Streak: 3 days
⏱️ Focus time: 45 min

Morning Session (2 hours budgeted):
- [x] Fix login bug (15 min) ✅ 12 min (faster!)
- [x] Add loading spinner (5 min) ✅ 7 min
- [x] Update tests (10 min) ✅ 15 min
- [ ] Code review (20 min) ← CURRENT
- [ ] Deploy fix (10 min)

Progress: 3/5 tasks (60%)
Time spent: 34 min / 120 min
Remaining: 30 min of work

💪 You're crushing it!

Commit-Based Progress

## This Week's Progress

Mon: ✅✅✅✅✅ (5 commits)
Tue: ✅✅✅ (3 commits)
Wed: ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅ (7 commits) 🔥 Best day!
Thu: ✅✅✅✅ (4 commits)
Fri: ✅ (1 commit) ← TODAY

Total: 20 commits this week
Goal: 15 commits (exceeded! 🎉)

Keep the streak alive!

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Phase 6: Task Breakdown Patterns

Pattern 1: Feature Breakdown

# Feature: Add dark mode

## Step 1: Identify Components
What needs to change?
- Colors
- Component styles
- Toggle button
- Persistence

## Step 2: Break Down Each
### Colors (30 min total)
- [ ] Define dark color palette (5 min) 🟢
- [ ] Add CSS variables (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Test contrast ratios (15 min) 🟡

### Component Styles (45 min total)
- [ ] Update Button component (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Update Card component (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Update Input component (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Update Header component (15 min) 🟡

### Toggle Button (20 min total)
- [ ] Create ThemeToggle component (15 min) 🟡
- [ ] Add to header (5 min) 🟢

### Persistence (15 min total)
- [ ] Save preference to localStorage (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Load on app start (5 min) 🟢

Total: 110 min (2 hours realistic)

Pattern 2: Bug Fix Breakdown

# Bug: Users can't reset password

## Step 1: Reproduce (10 min)
- [ ] Try reset flow locally (5 min) 🟢
- [ ] Check error logs (5 min) 🟢

## Step 2: Investigate (20 min)
- [ ] Find reset-password.ts file (1 min) 🟢
- [ ] Read through code (5 min) 🟢
- [ ] Identify issue (token expiry) (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Confirm root cause (4 min) 🟢

## Step 3: Fix (30 min)
- [ ] Update token expiry logic (20 min) 🟡
- [ ] Add better error message (10 min) 🟡

## Step 4: Test (15 min)
- [ ] Test locally (10 min) 🟡
- [ ] Test on staging (5 min) 🟢

## Step 5: Deploy (10 min)
- [ ] Create PR (3 min) 🟢
- [ ] Deploy to production (7 min) 🟢

Total: 85 min (1.5 hours)

Pattern 3: Learning Task Breakdown

# Learn: Next.js App Router

❌ Bad: "Learn Next.js App Router" (too vague)

✅ Good Breakdown:

## Phase 1: Overview (30 min)
- [ ] Watch official intro video (15 min) 🟢
- [ ] Read "Getting Started" docs (15 min) 🟢

## Phase 2: Hands-On (1 hour)
- [ ] Create new Next.js project (5 min) 🟢
- [ ] Build simple page (15 min) 🟡
- [ ] Add dynamic route (20 min) 🟡
- [ ] Try server components (20 min) 🟡

## Phase 3: Apply (2 hours)
- [ ] Migrate one page in my project (30 min) 🟡
- [ ] Test and debug (30 min) 🟡
- [ ] Migrate second page (30 min) 🟡
- [ ] Document learnings (30 min) 🟡

Total: 3.5 hours over 2 days
Day 1: Phase 1 + 2 (1.5 hours)
Day 2: Phase 3 (2 hours)

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Phase 7: Anti-Patterns (What NOT to Do)

❌ Anti-Pattern 1: Perfectionist Breakdown

Bad:
- [ ] Research best authentication library (no time limit)
- [ ] Compare 10 different approaches (rabbit hole)
- [ ] Design perfect architecture (never starts)

Good:
- [ ] Choose auth library (10 min, use NextAuth)
- [ ] Follow quickstart guide (30 min)
- [ ] Ship MVP, iterate later

❌ Anti-Pattern 2: Too Granular

Bad:
- [ ] Open VS Code (10 sec)
- [ ] Navigate to file (10 sec)
- [ ] Type 'import' (5 sec)

This is ridiculous. You'll spend more time reading the list.

Good:
- [ ] Add imports to auth.ts (2 min)

❌ Anti-Pattern 3: All Hard Tasks

Bad:
- [ ] Refactor authentication (2 hours)
- [ ] Optimize database queries (3 hours)
- [ ] Fix critical bug (2 hours)

No quick wins = No momentum = No dopamine = Procrastination

Good:
- [ ] Update README (5 min) 🟢 ← Start here!
- [ ] Refactor one function (30 min) 🟡
- [ ] Take break (5 min)
- [ ] Fix critical bug (2 hours) 🟡

❌ Anti-Pattern 4: Vague Tasks

Bad:
- [ ] Work on dashboard
- [ ] Fix bugs
- [ ] Improve performance

What does "done" mean? ADHD brain will wander.

Good:
- [ ] Add user stats to dashboard (15 min)
- [ ] Fix login timeout bug (#123) (20 min)
- [ ] Reduce API response time to < 200ms (1 hour)

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Phase 8: Emergency Task Breakdown

When You're Stuck RIGHT NOW

5-Minute Breakdown Exercise:

1. Write the overwhelming task:

   _________________________________
   

2. What's the FIRST tiny action? (< 2 min)

   _________________________________
   

3. Do ONLY that action. Nothing else.

4. Dopamine hit! Now write next action:

   _________________________________
   

5. Repeat.

Example:

1. Overwhelming: "Build entire checkout flow"
2. First tiny action: "Create checkout.tsx file"
3. [DO IT NOW - 30 seconds]
4. ✅ Done! Dopamine!
5. Next action: "Add basic form HTML"
6. [DO IT - 5 min]
7. Keep going...

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Checklist: Good Task Breakdown

Use this to validate your task breakdown:

• Tasks are 15 minutes or less
• Starts with 2-3 "quick win" tasks (2-5 min)
• Each task has clear "done" criteria
• Time estimates include ADHD tax (1.5x)
• Uses progress visualization (%, bars, checklists)
• Easy tasks mixed with hard tasks (momentum maintenance)
• No vague tasks ("work on", "improve", "fix")
• Total time estimated honestly (not wishful thinking)
• First task has near-zero activation energy

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Tools & Templates

Daily Task Template

# Today: [Date]

## ONE Main Goal
[The ONE thing that matters today]

## Morning Session (2 hours)
Quick Wins:
- [ ] Task 1 (2 min) 🟢
- [ ] Task 2 (5 min) 🟢

Main Work:
- [ ] Task 3 (30 min) 🟡
- [ ] Task 4 (45 min) 🟡

Cool Down:
- [ ] Task 5 (10 min) 🟢

## Afternoon Session (2 hours)
[Same pattern]

## Wins Log
[What you completed - for dopamine]

Project Breakdown Template

# Project: [Name]

## MVP Definition
What's the absolute minimum to ship?

## Phases
### Phase 1: Foundation (Quick wins)
- [ ] Tasks...

### Phase 2: Core Features
- [ ] Tasks...

### Phase 3: Polish
- [ ] Tasks...

## Time Estimate
Naive: X hours
ADHD-realistic: Y hours (1.5-2x)

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Related Skills

• context-preserver - Save state between tasks
• focus-session-manager - Manage work sessions
• completion-coach - Finish what you start
• adhd-workflow-architect - Design ADHD-friendly workflows

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Success Metrics

You're using this skill well when:

• ✅ Starting tasks feels easy (low activation energy)
• ✅ You see progress every 15 minutes
• ✅ Time estimates are realistic
• ✅ You finish tasks instead of abandoning them
• ✅ You feel in control (not overwhelmed)

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Break it down. Start small. Build momentum. Ship things. 💪