Too Many Ideas? The ADHD Project Parking Lot System
If you start more than you finish, you don’t need fewer ideas. You need a parking lot: a simple system to capture ideas, limit active projects and finish on purpose.
The ADHD Task Friction Audit: Fix the Task Before You Blame Yourself
Some tasks keep getting avoided for a reason. A five-question friction audit helps you find what’s really blocking you, and remove it.
I Post About ADHD··3 min read
Photo: JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
The short version
- Friction is anything that makes a task harder to start or finish: missing info, extra steps, boredom, discomfort.
- Before “trying harder,” audit the task and remove the friction.
- Small changes, like moving a tool or deciding one detail, often unlock a task you’ve avoided for weeks.
When a task sits on your list for weeks, the usual reaction is “What’s wrong with me?” A more useful question is: “What’s wrong with this task?”
Most avoided tasks have friction: hidden obstacles that make them harder than they look. Remove the friction and the task often moves.
The five-question audit
Pick one task you keep avoiding and ask:
- Is it clear? Do I know exactly what “done” looks like? If not, define done.
- Do I have what I need? Information, passwords, documents, tools, a stamp?
- Is there a decision hiding in it? “Book the dentist” hides “which dentist?”
- Is it uncomfortable? Boring, scary, physically awkward, emotionally loaded?
- Is it in the wrong place or time? Does it need a computer when you only think of it on your phone?
Common friction and fixes
| Friction | What it looks like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing info | “I need to find the account number first” | Make finding it the first task |
| Hidden decision | “Which form do I use?” | Decide now, write it down |
| Too many steps | Laundry needs 4 trips | Put the basket where the clothes come off |
| Boring | Data entry | Pair with music, use a timer, body double |
| Scary | Opening a bill | Open it with a friend on the phone |
| Wrong location | Remembering in the car | Use a location reminder |
If a task needs a decision, make the decision a separate task. “Pick a dentist” is a 10-minute job. “Book the dentist” is then easy.
Try it now
Our task breaker tool can help turn the result into steps.
Try it: Task BreakerBreak a big, vague task into small steps you can actually start, with suggestions for common task types.
Open 
This article is for education and organization, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer and editorial policy.
