Break large tasks into subtasks before estimating and starting work

7. Break large tasks into subtasks before estimating and starting work

Cost: No cost involved. The actual breakdown process takes 5 to 15 minutes.

In plain terms: When estimating how long a task will take, people rarely break it down into individual subtasks and calculate each one separately. Listing all subtasks first and then estimating the total duration helps avoid underestimating the required time. Once broken down, each small step can be tackled right away, which also reduces the likelihood of procrastination.

Benefit: People tend to overlook the need to split multi-component tasks into smaller parts when estimating timelines. For instance, writing a literature review, drafting the discussion section, and organizing references are all distinct tasks. By first listing all relevant subtasks and then estimating the overall time, one can avoid the common planning fallacy of underestimating duration. Moreover, once tasks are broken down, each small step becomes a concrete action that can be started immediately, thereby lowering procrastination rates. Research shows that key predictors of procrastination include a person’s aversion to the task and the tendency to postpone it.

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Kruger, J., & Evans, M. (2004). If you don't want to be late, enumerate: Unpacking reduces the planning fallacy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40(5), 586–598. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2003.11.001>; Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1). <https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65>

Notes: As a general guideline, each subtask should be small enough to be completed during a single focused work session; splitting tasks into overly detailed pieces is itself time-consuming. Additionally, Kruger and Evans’ study was verified only for its overall direction based on the abstract; the exact percentages cited were not cross-checked against the original research text.