Getting Started with ADHD: 7 Tricks to Break Through the Starting Block

The ADHD paradox: you genuinely want to — and your body just won't cooperate. Getting started is the hardest discipline of all, but you can outsmart it.

7 tricks that actually work

1. The first small move: Not "build the presentation" but "open the laptop." Ridiculously small = doable.
2. The 10-minute deal: Just 10 minutes, then you're allowed to stop. Most of the time you won't want to.
3. Keep the timer visible: A shrinking ring makes time physical — it fights time blindness.
4. Let the task get broken down: When your brain freezes, have someone (or AI) suggest the smaller steps.
5. [Body doubling](/blog/body-doubling-adhd-focus): Someone works next to you — their presence alone is enough.
6. Announce the reward: Task first, then the payoff. Be honest with yourself.
7. Change your spot: The kitchen table instead of your desk resets the brain surprisingly often.

The core idea

Lower the threshold instead of beating yourself up. Every trick above makes getting started smaller — find more fundamentals in the ADHD productivity guide.

By the way: In ToDoClub you just toss tasks into the chat as a sentence — the AI figures out the due date, priority, and life area on its own. Try it for free at todoclub.org.