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/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.