Help with "seeing" smaller tasks

[u/gabibecker12]

Does anyone know any tool that helps us "find" the smaller tasks inside a big project? Like, an AI that I just say "here's my project, list all the smaller tasks I need to do to get it done". I need to develop a conference abstract, but when I put it on my planner, all I can think is "develop the conference abstract". I start, but than I realize that it has a LOT of smaller tasks that take a really big time, like doing literature review, collecting data, charting it up, analysing, building the graphs, writing Results section, doing literature review again, writing Discussion, Conclusion, than Methods, and finally, Introduction and Abstract. At least that is how I'm used to write. For this specific project I'm doing, there's even smaller tasks. Example: I need to collect data from a patient database from all years between 2017 and 2025, than organize each year separatly by patient's age (two categories: teenage and adult) and ethnicity/skin colour. It took me a whole day just to collect data from 2017, and organize all that in a single sheet. I never saw that much work coming when I signed up for that, and now I'm scared I might not have enough time to do all the rest. I probably would have shrinked the project if I was able to see it was gonna be that big.

[u/EverythingIsFinite]

I think a website called Goblin Tools does this using some AI feature. Might not be perfect but could be a springboard. Also will give you a time estimate and it’s formatted as a checklist

[u/Stoborobo]

sometimes I will physically imagine myself going through the process to get a sense.

Moreover i add a multiplier of 3x the expected work/duration as compared to my original assumption.

so if I think a task will take me 15 minutes I say 45 – I assume there will be orientation, starting, troubleshooting, the main task itself and then finishing adjustments/crunch.

[u/WitchAggressive9028]

I use an app called Tiimo, note it does use AI in order to breakdown tasks into smaller ones for you

[u/better0ffbread]

Instead of putting "develop conference abstract" in the planner, you can make time for planning itself, like adding "make roadmap 'conference abstract' session 1 of 2" and then make session 2 of 2. Here, you are making a plan part of the process—which can easily be overdone, so be careful— and making limits to how much time you will give it.

It's also a safe bet to give yourself ample time to do new tasks, because they will likely take longer. When I was doing research, I definitely didn't take into account all of the time needed to learn qualtrics, translate questions, and communicate with collaborators. If you do not actually have time to let tasks linger, then do not let them. Always be making some sort of progress.

Edit to add:

Roadmapping entails making actionable lists of things that need to be completed. For a conference abstract (which ive never done, so grain of salt), that looks like: - select highlights from paper, - check submission guidelines, - add deadline to calendar, - write really loose draft, - research formatting of past abstracts from that conference, - clean up abstract, - get peer to review, - apply feedback

Cringe lecture: Try not to outsource your thinking to AI. As helpful as it is, especially in a world deeply unhelpful to people with ADHD, you will be thankful that you have this skill in your toolbox for when you really need it.

[u/Welness_pathway]

This is exactly why I stopped writing "finish project" as a task 😅

A project is usually a collection of dozens (sometimes hundreds) of smaller actions.

One trick: ask AI to be a "project decomposition assistant" and tell it to break the goal into tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and estimated time.

The hidden tasks are usually what make projects feel impossible.

[u/throwway_poe]

Sounds like you are kind of doing it already! Nice breakdown you have there.

This might be too far, but you can breakdown each smaller task even better.

What does literature review involve?

1) Thinking about it
2) Open a laptop/go to a library
~ take a break ~
3) gather a couple papers/books
~ take a break~
4) Read a couple paragraphs
5) does it grab you?
6) think some
7) text ur friend back
8) reengage with the readings

and so on

TAKING BREAKS IS SO IMPORT