I can't finish tasks — the ADHD completion problem
The house is full of 90%-done projects. This is ADHD's second cruel trick — completion is often harder than starting.
Skip the reading. Get unstuck in 2 minutes.
Type any task. Spark shrinks it to a 2-minute step and runs the timer for you. Made for exactly this moment.
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Why this happens
- Dopamine spikes at 'starting', not 'finishing' — the reward runs out early
- The last 10% is often admin — sending, tidying, filing — the boring bits
- A shinier idea appeared, and your brain jumped ship
What to do — right now
- 1Define 'done' before you start
'Finished when I hit send' — not 'when it's perfect'.
- 2The last 10% gets its own timer
Treat 'finish and file' as a separate task with its own 5 minutes.
- 3Public deadline
Tell someone by when. External accountability replaces missing dopamine.
- 4Ship ugly
Sent and imperfect beats perfect and unsent. Every time.
Free tools for this exact moment
FAQ
Should I stop starting new things?+
Rule of thumb: finish one before starting the next big one.
Are lists helping or hurting?+
If your list is a graveyard, cull it. Only what you'll actually do this week.
Does medication help?+
For many ADHDers, yes — especially with completion. Ask a clinician.
Spark does all of this in one tap
Shrinking the task, picking the step, running the timer — all automated. So you skip straight to starting.
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