Our brains can only negotiate a limited number of ideas or questions at one time. Complicated and large tasks often raise multiple issues at once, leading to stress, overwhelm and procrastination. We can reduce the number of issues we must deal with at once, thereby reducing our cognitive burden by breaking down tasks into tiny steps. Not only does this make getting started much easier, working on tiny tasks in succession can help to build success spirals.

To create tiny tasks, follow these steps:

• Make tasks specific:
  • Use “research key elements of a business plan” rather than “research”.
• Make tasks actions rather than outcomes:
  • Use ‘search for a present for Lucy’ instead of “present.”
• Make the tasks as small and as easy to do as is practical:
  • Rather than ‘buy guitar, use:
    • Research beginner’s guitars for 30m.
    • Search for guitar shops.
    • Visit the shop to try out guitars.
    • Buy guitar.
  • If a task isn’t easily broken down into small steps, you can divide it by segments of time, for example:
    • ‘Write article for 30m’ instead of ‘finish article.’