As someone with [[ADHD]] I struggle with scale. As I've gotten older I've recognized three things: - I experience my life moment-by-moment, and I can only truly focus on one thing at a time. I can't multi-task, unless it's enjoying myself (i.e. I can play a game and listen to a podcast, but I can't do much else in combination with anything but listening to music) - I cannot **do** a project. I can only do individual next-action steps *related* to a project, and when I've done those steps, the project itself is completed. - Single-tasking is the easiest way for me to get things done because I can give 100% focus and attention to that step, then the next action, then the next. So I've learned that I need to create **Discrete Assignments** to work on and execute things sequentially. This on its face probably sounds obvious. I am happy for you. But I am neurodivergant and have to think about everything twice as much as the next person. If that's you, I hope these notes are helpful! A "discrete assignment" is just a reminder for exactly what to do to get a particular task done. I **need** specific tasks to work on - every commentment I have, whether full project or individual task, is broken down into pieces that I can then complete. ## Creation A Discrete Assignment is simply a bucket to put next steps in that reminds me what I need to do. It comes in three parts: 1. Outcome 2. Timeframe 3. Info ### Outcome This is the one-line explanation of what I'm trying to do. If a task is only one step and doesn't need any information, then this is also your "next step." Ex: Get the mail. But most tasks require more information than just that, which is what "Info" is for. ### Timeframe This is a combination of how long I think the task will take, against how much time I want to give the task. This lets me: 1. Place the task into my timeline and get an idea of how long I need, for scheduleling purposes. 2. Give me an escape route so that it doesn't feel like the task will take forever, because I am definitely time-blind. So I guess how long it'll take to do the work, and define how long I'll **allow** myself that work, so that time doesn't creep up on me and I've come to realize that I've been working for 7 hours on something. ### Info This is the extra information that you need for a more in-depth task. There are three types of info: 1. Next-action steps 2. Trap card actions 3. Relevant info #### Next Steps These are the very next physical actions required to make progress on the tasks. For example, say you write down "Clean up house." This is a useless thing to me on it's own, because I don't know where to begin. Be specific as possible, like this: **Clean up house (20 Minutes):** - Take out trash - Do dishes - Sweep and mop floors in living room, kitchen, and dining room - Wipe down dinner table Each of tasks in the discrete assignment is actually executable. Something I can think, say, or do. This works in particular to help me deal with [[When I'm Feeling Overwhelmed]]. #### Trap Card Actions But sometimes tasks are especially hard, and I need an easy way to get started on them. I call these Trap Card Actions because I'm an idiot. These are easy, single-step actions that let my brain recognize that it's time to get going. Let's again look at cleaning the house up: **Clean up house (20 Minutes):** - Trap Card: Put on cleaning gloves - Take out trash - Do dishes - yadda yadda Making the act of putting my cleaning gloves on a task I can check off is helpful because when I write down tasks I need to get done later, I have energy and commitment for it *then*, but that almost certainly changes when the time actually comes. But when I look at a task as easy as "just put on the gloves five-head," my brain is tricked into believing that I've done a good job to get started, so I may as well do the rest! #### Relevant Info This is just anything in relation to a task that's important to have on hand. For example, when I need to set-up my dentist appointment: **Setup Dentist Appt (5 Minutes):** - Call dentist - Note: Phone Number is ###-###-#### - Note: Hours are 9-5PM Mon-Thus --- This isn't everything I need to get stuff done. I also need: - Reliable reminders - Notes on how to execute on the work I'm doing - A clean working environment - etc. But the concept of creating a "discrete assignment" is how I've come to learn how to be productive in any way in this capitalist hellscape. When I define exactly what and how I want to accomplish something, I can finally work on it. Maybe give this a shot if you're struggling to do something.