Free, no sign-up. Steps are generated by AI and may contain mistakes — adjust them to your situation.
Breaking a task down means turning a vague goal ("clean the apartment") into concrete physical actions ("clear the kitchen counter"). It works because vague tasks are hard to start and small ones aren't. This free AI tool splits any task into steps and highlights a first step under 10 minutes. In the Yez3 app, the same breakdown is one tap on any task.
Why does breaking down tasks help you start?
A big task gives your brain nothing to do right now — so it does something else. A small, concrete step has a clear start and finish. Researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, after analyzing nearly 12,000 diary entries from knowledge workers in The Progress Principle (2011), found that making progress in meaningful work — even small wins — was the biggest boost to motivation on a workday. And across 94 studies, Gollwitzer and Sheeran (2006) found that specific if-then plans had a medium-to-large effect on reaching goals.
| Vague task | First concrete step |
|---|---|
| Do taxes | Find last year's tax return in the email |
| Clean the apartment | Clear the kitchen counter |
| Write the report | Write five headings, no text |
| Get in shape | Put running shoes by the door |
| Plan the trip | Open a note and list three possible dates |
How do I break a task into steps myself?
- Write the outcome. What does "done" look like?
- Ask "what's the very first physical action?" Open, find, write, call.
- Keep each step under 30 minutes — the first under 10.
- Start every step with a verb. "Email Sam", not "Sam".
- Do the first step now, or give it a time.
Does task breakdown help with ADHD?
This tool is not medical advice. ADHD is diagnosed and treated by clinicians.
What happens after the breakdown?
AI task breakdown FAQ
Is this task breakdown tool free?
Yes. You can break down tasks for free, without signing up or giving your email. There's a daily limit to keep the tool fast for everyone. You can copy the steps, check them off on the page or break any step down further.
What's a good Goblin Tools alternative?
This free tool does the same core job — splitting a task into steps — and highlights a first step under 10 minutes. If you want the steps to land in a daily plan with reminders and check-ins, the Yez3 app does the breakdown in one tap on any task.
How small should a task be?
Small enough that you'd start it right now without negotiating with yourself. For most people that's under 10 minutes for the first step and under 30 for the rest. If you still avoid it, break it down again.
Can AI break down any task?
It handles most everyday and work tasks well — cleaning, admin, writing, studying, planning trips. For medical, legal or financial decisions, use the steps only to organize your work and get advice from a professional.
What is a "magic to do list"?
It's a nickname for AI to-do tools that split a task into steps automatically. This page is a free one; in Yez3, the same feature works inside your task list with one tap.
- Amabile, T., & Kramer, S. (2011). The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press.
- Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69–119.