Practical Ways to Break Down Tasks

We all know the feelings brought on by a lengthy to-do list: panic, dread and anxiety. It can be enormously overwhelming, and lead to a spiral of negative thoughts. That’s exactly how some individuals we support feel when we present them with a series of tasks. Whereas we have learnt and developed strategies to manage these feelings and organise our time, many of those in our care cannot do this without support.

When tasks feel unmanageable and overwhelming, children, young people and adults in our care can sometimes resort to demand avoidance. For example, this could be refusal to complete a task, tapping, fidgeting, or moving around the room. The behaviours we see are a product of the same feelings we get with a to-do list. What we’re asking them to do can feel impossible, and failure inevitable. It’s our responsibility to break tasks down for them and, in time, equip them with the skills to do this independently wherever possible.

Know the individual

Before we consider practical ideas for breaking down tasks, knowing and the understanding the individuals we support is key. Taking the time to listen and make meaningful connections through talk and play builds trust and an understanding that we’re not going to demand too much of them.

Instead of rushing into a series of tasks, we can think about how we’re going to help keep the individual interested. We’re far more likely to keep a person motivated and on board with what we’re asking them to do if we incorporate their likes and interests.

Practical ideas

For individuals to succeed in the tasks we give them, we need to be flexible and innovative. Below are a few examples of how to break tasks down to make them more manageable and less daunting: