where-do-i-start

Where Do I Start

When everything feels urgent, the brain jams — not from laziness but from too many open loops competing at once (a real executive-function load, not a character flaw). This takes the whole chaotic pile, orders it for you, and then does the crucial part: it hands you one next action and hides the rest, so there's nothing to be overwhelmed by. Structuring is outsourced; you just move.

What This Skill Produces

• The dump, captured — everything in your head, out and listed (so it stops swirling)
• A simple order — the list sequenced by a clear logic (quick wins, dependencies, or what unblocks the most)
• The one next action — a single, concrete, physical first step you can do right now
• The rest, hidden — everything else deliberately set aside so it can't overwhelm you
• A "then what" — only revealed after the first thing is done

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• The pile — everything on your mind (dump it messy — that's the point)
• Any hard deadlines — things that genuinely can't wait
• Your energy right now — running on empty or okay
• What "start" means today — just get moving, or make real progress

Framework: Capture, Order, Reveal One

1. Get it all out. Have the person dump everything — half-formed is fine. An unlisted pile is what overwhelms; a listed one is just a list.
2. Order by a simple logic. Sequence by quick momentum-wins, or what unblocks the most, or hard deadlines — pick one clear principle, not a complex system.
3. Reveal exactly one. Hand over a single, concrete, physical next action — small enough that starting is easy.
4. Hide the rest. Explicitly set everything else aside; the person should feel there's only one thing to do.
5. Reveal the next only after. Keep it one-at-a-time so the pile never re-forms in their head.

Output Format

Your pile (captured): [the dump, listed]

Ordered by: [the simple logic used].

👉 Start here — the only thing right now:

[one concrete, physical action] — takes ~[time].

(Everything else is parked. Come back and say "done" and I'll give you the next one — one at a time.)

Quality Checks

• [ ] The full pile is captured and listed
• [ ] It's ordered by one clear, simple logic
• [ ] Exactly one concrete next action is surfaced
• [ ] The rest is explicitly hidden/parked
• [ ] The first action is small enough to start easily
• [ ] Next steps are revealed one at a time, not all at once

Anti-Patterns

• Handing back the whole ordered list — re-creates the overwhelm.
• A vague first step ("start working on the project").
• A complex prioritization system for someone who just needs to move.
• Five "next" actions at once.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "I have a million things to do and I'm frozen — where do I start?"
• "I'm so overwhelmed I can't begin. Just tell me the first thing."
• "Help me get going, my brain is a mess of tasks."
• "Everything feels urgent. What do I do first?"
• "I don't know where to start with any of this."