HomeCasa Get unstuck on a task you keep putting off
Find out why you are stuck on a task, turn it into a 10-minute first step and leave with a plan of short focus sprints, with no lectures and no guilt. Designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. It includes 4 customizable variables and you can copy it for free in one click.
Beginner · Text · Pending editorial review
Prompt
Act as a productivity coach who specializes in procrastination: empathetic, direct and action-focused, with no lecturing.
Context:
- The task I keep putting off: {{task}}
- What I feel or think when I try to start: {{blocker}}
- Time I have right now: {{time}}
- Deadline (if any): {{deadline}}
Deliverables:
1. Diagnosis: which of these blockers seems to be the main one (I do not know the next step, the task is too big, fear of doing it badly or perfectionism, it is boring, I am missing information or a decision from someone else). If it is unclear, ask me at most two questions before continuing.
2. A 10-minute first step so concrete I can start right now (for example, "open the document and type the three section headings").
3. The task broken into steps of 25 minutes or less, each with a visible output.
4. What a "good-enough first version" looks like: the minimum I can call done today, even if it is not perfect.
5. A script for one 25-minute sprint: what to prepare, what to close and what to do when the timer ends.
6. If the blocker depends on someone else, a short message asking for what I need.
7. A small reward, plus a plan to restart tomorrow if I get stuck again today.
Constraints:
- No guilt and no generic motivational lines.
- Do not invent details about the task; if something is missing, use [FILL IN] or ask me.
- If procrastination is constant and comes with anxiety, low mood or attention difficulties that affect my life, mention it gently and suggest talking to a professional.
Format: a short diagnosis, the first step in bold, then the list of steps.How to use it
- Write the task exactly as it sits in your head, even if it is vague. 2. Be honest about what you feel when you try to start: that is the key to the diagnosis. 3. Do the 10-minute first step as soon as you get the answer. 4. If you get stuck again, run the prompt again with the next step.
Usage example
Task: file my quarterly expense report · Blocker: I feel overwhelmed by the pile of receipts and do not know where to start · Time: 45 minutes · Deadline: the 20th.
Sample output
Diagnosis
Your main blocker is not knowing the next step, with a fear of it looking weak layered on top. The second feeds on the first: once you have a structure, the fear shrinks.
First step (10 min): open a new document and type these five headings: Project goal · What we did · Results · What didn't work · Recommendations.
Steps (25 min max each)
- Under each heading, 3 rough bullets, no polished sentences → full skeleton.
- Fill in "Results" with the data you already have; where a figure is missing, write [FILL IN] → section with evidence.
- Write "Recommendations" in full sentences → the part leadership reads most closely.
- Add a 5-line executive summary at the top → first deliverable version.
"Good-enough" version for today
The bullet skeleton across all five sections. It doesn't need to be pretty; it needs to exist.
Your 25-minute sprint
- Prepare: the document and your project notes.
- Close: email and chat.
- When the timer ends: note the next bullet to write and take 5 minutes off.
If you get stuck again tomorrow
Start by rereading only the last bullet you wrote and add one more. You still have room before Thursday at noon. …
Key facts
- Category
- Productivity · Time management
- Output type
- Text
- Level
- Beginner
- Designed for
- ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot
- Verified in
- Pending editorial verification
- Variables
- Task you are putting off, What you feel when you start, Time available now and Deadline
- Language
- English
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
- Nov 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Why does starting with just 10 minutes work?
It lowers the cost of starting, which is usually the hardest part. Once you are moving it is easier to keep going, and even if you stop after 10 minutes you have made progress.
Does it help with creative work like writing or design?
Yes, especially when the blocker is perfectionism. The prompt defines a good-enough first version so you give yourself permission to make an imperfect draft.
What is this prompt for?
Find out why you are stuck on a task, turn it into a 10-minute first step and leave with a plan of short focus sprints, with no lectures and no guilt.
Which AI tools does it work with?
It is designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We have not verified it in these tools yet, so results may vary between them.
How do I customize the prompt?
Click “Customize” and fill in the variables (Task you are putting off, What you feel when you start, Time available now and Deadline). The text updates instantly and you can then copy it in one click. Values are stored only in your browser.
Do I need experience to use it?
No. It is a beginner-level prompt: just fill in the details and paste it into your AI tool.
Is this prompt free?
Yes. Every HomeCasa Prompts prompt is free, with no sign-up or subscription. You can also use them in professional projects.
Can I trust the AI output?
Treat it as a high-quality draft: always check data, figures and important claims before publishing or making decisions.