🔪The ADHD TASK SLICER : Slice through procrastination & boost your productivity 🚀!
Master the art of slicing tasks into easy actionable steps 🥧 and watch your productivity soar 📈!
🔥 The Task That Never Ends…
I once had to send a simple email. Just a few lines. Easy, right?
Except… I stared at the screen for 20 minutes. Then, I got up to make coffee. Then, suddenly, my bookshelf needed organizing. Before I knew it, two hours had passed, my email was still unwritten and I was deep into watching a video about…
medieval sword fighting?! 🤔
Sound familiar? 🙃
If you have ADHD, breaking down tasks is the secret weapon
to actually getting things done.
Let’s dive in! 🚀
🧠 Why Big Tasks Feel Impossible for ADHD Brains
Our ADHD brains don’t process tasks the way neurotypical brains do. Instead of seeing “Write Email” as one step, our brains see:
Think of what to say 💬
Find the right words ✍️
Worry about sounding stupid 😬
Open inbox, get distracted by 30 unread emails 📩
Decide to do it later ⏳
Repeat cycle forever 🔄
The bigger the task feels, the harder it is to start.
That’s why we need task breakdown magic! 🪄✨
🔬 The Science Behind ADHD & Task Avoidance
ADHD brains struggle with executive function, the system that helps us:
🧩 Organize information
📌 Prioritize tasks
⏳ Start and finish tasks
Research shows that people with ADHD have lower dopamine levels, making uninteresting tasks feel physically uncomfortable to start (Volkow et al., 2009).
Additionally, the prefrontal cortex- the part of the brain responsible for planning and organizing - functions differently in ADHD brains, leading to task paralysis
(Barkley, 2010).
Good news? 🥳 Breaking tasks into micro-steps reduces overwhelm and increases dopamine, making it easier to start and finish.
🔥 The Real-World Impact of Breaking Tasks Down
🚨 Without Task Breakdown:
Overwhelm, avoidance, and last-minute panic
Missed deadlines, stress, and lost opportunities
Increased self-doubt and frustration
✅ With Task Breakdown:
Small wins build momentum
Tasks feel doable, not impossible
Less stress, more confidence and actual progress
Small changes = big life upgrades.
🔄 The ADHD Task Breakdown Formula
1️⃣ Shrink the Task – Make it laughably small.
2️⃣ Use a Task Ladder – One step at a time.
3️⃣ Stack Rewards – Trick your brain into wanting to do it.
Let’s break it down:
🏆 1. Shrink the Task Until It’s TOO Easy
Your brain resists big tasks but loves small wins. Instead of "Clean the whole kitchen", tell yourself:
✅ "I’ll put away one dish."
✅ "I’ll wipe one countertop."
Once you start, momentum kicks in! It’s the 5-minute rule in action. ⏳
🪜 2. Climb the Task Ladder (Example in Action)
👉 BIG TASK: “Do Laundry” 🧺 (Overwhelming!)
🚀 BREAKDOWN:
📌 Step 1: Gather dirty clothes into a basket.
📌 Step 2: Take basket to laundry room.
📌 Step 3: Put clothes in washer & add detergent.
📌 Step 4: Start washer.
📌 Step 5: Set a timer to remind yourself when it's done.
Each small step removes the mental block and keeps your ADHD brain engaged!
🎁 3. Stack Rewards (ADHD Trickery at Its Finest)
ADHD brains love dopamine. So, attach a fun reward to a boring task:
🎧 Listen to music while sorting laundry.
🎮 Play a game after finishing a report.
🍪 Treat yourself to a snack after tackling emails.
Make your brain excited about completing tasks. 🎉
🔥 Final Recap: ADHD Task Breakdown Cheatsheet
💡 Start SMALL → Make tasks laughably easy (5-minute rule)
🪜 Use Task Ladders → Break big tasks into micro-steps
🎧 Stack Rewards → Pair boring tasks with dopamine boosts
👯 Body Double → Work with a friend or virtual coworker
⏳ Timers & Deadlines → Race the clock to beat procrastination
🚀 Try one today and feel the difference!
Quick ADHD Cheat Sheet:
🔥 Struggling to get started? ADHD brains find big tasks overwhelming. Break them down like this:
✅ Shrink it → Make tasks so small they feel easy.
✅ Task Ladder → Break it into micro-steps.
✅ Stack Rewards → Attach a dopamine boost (music, snack, etc.).
💡 Try it today & feel the difference! 🚀
🎯 Final Thought: Progress, Not Perfection
ADHD brains thrive on momentum. The hardest part is starting—but once you do, everything gets easier.
💡 A task broken down is a task half-done.
Start small, stack wins and watch how productivity finally clicks into place.
Now it’s your Turn!🚀
Tag a friend who needs this & share your biggest ADHD procrastination moment below! 👇
📢 Share this with someone who struggles with getting started!
🔔 Subscribe for more ADHD-friendly productivity hacks!
Hope this helps you on your ADHD journey! 🤝
Rdgs,
Lud
📚 Scientific Resources & Studies
📖 Volkow et al. (2009) – Dopamine & ADHD Motivation
📖 Barkley (2010) – ADHD Executive Function & Task Initiation
🛠️ Practical ADHD Productivity Resources
📲 Todoist – Task management app for ADHDers
📲 Tiimo – ADHD-friendly planner with visual timers
💻 Focusmate – Virtual coworking for accountability
📖 The Pomodoro Technique– Master 25-minute work sprints
⏳ Time Timer – Visual countdown for task focus
This made me so happy to read you have no idea. Thank you 😊 🙏🏼