Who this is for
Anyone who stalls on big tasks because the first step is invisible. This is task initiation, not motivation, and a smaller step is the fix.
The moment this saves you
You have looked at the same task for four days. It is one word on a list and that word is a wall. You say it out loud and describe roughly what it involves, and ask where to even begin.
See it work
Messy spoken thought in. A clean, structured artifact out.
I have to do my taxes and it's just sitting there terrifying me, like I don't even know, I think I need my W2 and there's some 1099 from the freelance stuff, I have to find all the receipts which are probably in three different places, and then actually do the filing thing, I used some software last year I can't remember which, ugh it's just this huge blob and I can't make myself start.
Task breakdown, June 5, 2026
Task: Do my taxes
First step (do this now, ~2 min)
- ☐ Open a folder or note called "Taxes 2026" and drop your W2 into it. That is the whole first step.
Then, in order
- ☐ Track down the 1099 from the freelance work
- ☐ Gather receipts from the three places they live (start with one place)
- ☐ Find which tax software you used last year (check your email for a receipt)
- ☐ Log in and start the filing, even just the first screen
Notes
- You do not have to finish today. You only have to do the first step.
The workflow
Record a voice note
Hit the hotkey and talk, no formatting, no typing.
Tag it with this context
Contextli shapes your words into the structured output above.
Find it later
Everything's searchable and organised by context.
Pull it into Claude or ChatGPT
Bring your contexts straight into your AI tools with the Contextli MCP.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
The prompt behind this context
I'm going to name a task that feels too big to start, and tell you what I know about it. Break it into small, concrete next-actions. Give me these bold sections: **Task:** restating the task in a few words, **First step (do this now, ~2 min)** with one tiny physical action as a checkbox `- [ ] step` that I could literally do in the next two minutes, **Then, in order** with the remaining steps as a markdown checklist in a sensible sequence, and **Notes** with at most one short reassuring-but-practical line. Build the steps only from what the task actually involves and what I told you, never invent details or requirements I did not mention. Keep every step small and physical. Do not lecture me about ADHD or productivity. Output only the breakdown, no preamble.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Use this context
One click copies it and shows you exactly how to drop it into Contextli.
Next, open Contextli, go to the Contexts page, click Import, choose From JSON, paste, then Import Context. It is ready to use.
Make it your own. This is a starting point. Once it's in Contextli, tweak the instructions so the output comes out exactly how you like it.
Your raw recording and transcription stay on your device, so you can always go back to the original.
Related contexts
Frog of the Day
There is one thing you keep skating past, the call, the form, the conversation, and the avoidance is eating the whole day. Talk through the dread out loud. You get back the single frog to eat first and a two-minute first step so small you cannot argue with it.
Now / Next / Not Now
Everything feels equally urgent, so you freeze and do none of it. Say the whole list out loud and let it get forced into three buckets: one thing for Now, a couple for Next, and the rest parked under Not Now. A short card you can start from, not a wall you bounce off.
ADHD Brain Dump
Your head is too loud to think and it is all tangled. Say all of it out loud in whatever order it falls out. You get it back sorted into Tasks, Ideas, Worries, and Later, with anything time-sensitive pulled to the top, so your brain can finally put it down.
Questions people ask
Questions people with ADHD ask about Task Breakdown
How do I capture a to-do list by voice so it is actually organized?
Open Contextli, select the Task Breakdown context, and speak your items in any order. The context groups related items, identifies priorities, and produces a task list you can paste into Slack, Notion, or email. You do not need to sort while speaking; say what comes to mind and let the context handle the structure.
What is the best way to capture tasks and ideas that come up during the day?
The habit that works is immediate capture with zero friction. The Task Breakdown context lets you speak a to-do list in 10 to 20 seconds and produces a task list. You paste it into Slack, Notion, or email at the next natural pause. Because capturing is fast, you actually do it instead of telling yourself you will remember.
Can I build a to-do list by voice while doing other things?
Yes. With the Task Breakdown context in Contextli, you can speak a to-do list while cooking, commuting, or doing anything else hands-free. The context formats your spoken list into a task list that is ready when you need it.
How do I avoid losing the things I mean to get to?
Capture them the second they surface. The Task Breakdown context turns a quick spoken note into a task list in seconds, so nothing lives only in your head. You review and act on it later from Slack, Notion, or email, instead of trusting yourself to remember.
How do I add this context to Contextli?
Copy the context on this page, then open Contextli and go to the Contexts page. Click Import, choose From JSON, paste it into the Import from Clipboard window, and click Import Context. It is ready to use in under 30 seconds. If you do not have Contextli yet, you can download it for free first.
Is my voice recording private? Does Contextli send it anywhere?
Your voice recording and the transcription are stored on your device only. Contextli processes your audio locally and does not send your recordings or transcription text to any server. The structured output it produces is text you control, and you decide where it goes.
Can I change what the output looks like?
Yes. Every context in Contextli is a starting point you can edit. Open the context in the app, change the instructions to adjust the structure, tone, or fields, and save. The next time you use it, the output reflects your changes. You are not locked into the default format.
Do I need to install an app to use this context?
Yes. Contextli is a free app. Download it, then copy this context and paste it into the Import from Clipboard window on the Contexts page. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.