5 Steps to Simplify Overwhelming Tasks

Welcome to Authentic Living Coaching
I’m Linda Codlin, Transformational Life Coach.

Welcome, My Friends.

Last week we covered how to increase and make it safe to become curious which is the first step to teach critical thinking to someone who doesn’t know how to start.
This week we will look at ways to break a problem down into smaller pieces.
This process is particularly helpful for training children to think logically.
A quick overview of the 5 Steps to Teach Critical Thinking to a Beginner.

Step 02: Breaking it Down

Define the Big Problem Clearly:
Put the problem into a short, clear sentence.
Ask: “What exactly is the problem?”
Example: “I never have enough time.”

Identify the Main Parts of the Problem:
Split the problem into 2–4 big categories or themes. “”Chunking”” a big problem into it’s main parts.
Ask: “What areas or aspects are involved here?”
Example: Time could break into → work tasks, house chores, personal rest time.”
Common categories and themes to break problems into.

Examples on how to use the ‘chunking’ chart.
Messy bedroom:
People (who uses the room), Tasks (cleaning, sorting), Environment (layout, storage).

Project due:
Time (deadline), Tasks (research, writing, presentation), Resources (books, computer).

Feeling stressed:
Health (sleep, exercise), People (relationships), Time (overcommitments).

Shrink Each Part into Smaller Questions:
Turn each category into smaller, answerable questions. This is where the “critical thinking magic” really happens

Teaching learners to ask smaller, specific questions that turn something overwhelming into something workable.
Ask: “What’s one question I could ask about this part?”
Example: Work tasks: “Which tasks take the most time?”

Prioritize Which Part to Do First:
Now that you have defined the problem clearly and broken it into smaller parts, it is time to make a decision on which part to start with.
This is where a lot of people get stuck—they see the whole problem and freeze.
Choose the part with the biggest impact for the smallest effort, because quick wins build confidence.
How to decide on the highest priority.

1. Impact -Will solving this part make other steps easier?
2. Effort – How much time, energy, or skill does it take?
3. Dependency – Do other steps depend on this one being done first?
   4.Risk -If this part is skipped, will it cause bigger problems later?
4. Quick win potential – Will finishing this part give you momentum and confidence?

Start with tasks that are (low effort + high impact + necessary for next steps).
Here is an example of assembling a dresser with drawers.

Create Simple Actions for the First Part.
This step is all about moving from thinking into doing — in a way that feels manageable, not overwhelming.
Restate your priority part clearly by writing down the exact small piece you chose in Step 4 (Prioritize Which small part to do first.)
Then break that into tiny steps, no more than 3-5 do to to accomplish the part decided to do. To gain clarity ask: “What is the very first thing I would do if I started right now?”
Make sure your tiny steps are simple and can be done in under 10 minutes. If they aren’t, break them down even further.
Plan when and where: give your plan legs by asking, When will I do this? Where will it happen?
Put the first tiny step into your planner. Schedule it. Also put the steps where you will see them: Use sticky notes, phone reminders, or a checklist. This helps remove decision fatigue.
Only do the first step, start it, this gives momentum and motivation to complete this tiny step.
Review how it went after you have done the first tiny step.

Ask yourself, Was this action clear and doable? If yes- Celebrate the win. If no – Simplify the steps even more next time.
In Summary: Choose the part → Break into mini steps → Keep it simple → Decide when/where → Write it down → Take the first step → Review.

The purpose of Breaking it Down: (For a beginning critical thinker)
-State the big problem in one clear sentence.
-List the smaller parts that make up the problem.
-Look for patterns – which parts are similar, connected, or repeating?
-Keep each part simple (one idea or one task only).
The goal: Turn something overwhelming into small, clear pieces you can think about one at a time.

Next week we will investigate the third step (Real Life Examples) of the Critical Thinking Flow Chart for beginners.

Until next week: Break down one goal or activity that you need to do, choose one that is also causing you to feel overwhelmed. Then use the steps given in this post to break it down into achievable tiny steps.
Then feel the satisfaction of getting started on your goal.

oxoxo Linda.

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