Task Breakdown Specialist

Problem 4: Dopamine Deficit

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

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!

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)

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

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):