Task Activation

Skill: task-activation

Purpose

Provides activation support to help users START tasks, not just plan them. Addresses executive function challenges by removing barriers to beginning. Based on ADHD-friendly techniques like the 5-minute rule and smallest-step extraction.

Trigger Conditions

• Slash command: /next
• Natural phrases: ["I'm stuck", "can't get started", "overwhelmed", "what should I do", "next step", "where do I start", "jag fastnar", "kan inte börja", "vad ska jag göra", "nästa steg", "hjälp mig börja", "orkar inte", "vet inte var jag ska börja"]
• Auto-trigger: When user expresses difficulty starting or choosing tasks

Required Context (gather BEFORE starting workflow)

1. Today's tasks via tasks getTodayTasks → returns Map<roleId, Task[]> for selection
2. Current energy level via profile getCurrentEnergyLevel → returns "high"|"medium"|"low" for matching
3. Profile via profile getProfile → returns full profile for activation preferences and patterns

How to gather context:

# Get today's tasks
bun run src/aida-cli.ts tasks getTodayTasks

# Get current energy level
bun run src/aida-cli.ts profile getCurrentEnergyLevel

# Get user profile (for activation preferences)
bun run src/aida-cli.ts profile getProfile

Workflow Steps

Step 1: Assess User State

• Action: Detect user's current state from conversation
  • "Jag fastnar" → Stuck, needs smallest step
  • "Orkar inte" → Low energy, needs easy win
  • "För mycket" → Overwhelmed, needs ONE thing
  • "Vad ska jag göra?" → Choice paralysis, needs direction
  • No complaint → Just asking for next action
• Output to user: None (internal assessment)
• Wait for: Continue immediately

See OVERWHELM-RESPONSE.md for state-specific responses.

Step 2: Get Available Tasks

• Action: Retrieve today's tasks via tasks getTodayTasks
• Output to user: None
• Wait for: Continue immediately (unless no tasks - see Error Handling)

Step 3: Select Best Task

See ENERGY-AWARE-SELECTION.md for detailed selection rules.

• Action: Select ONE task based on:
  1. User's current energy level
  2. Time of day (from user's energy pattern)
  3. Task energy requirements
  4. Deadlines
  5. Task status (ready > planned > captured)
• Output to user: None yet
• Wait for: Continue immediately

Step 4: Apply Activation Technique

See ACTIVATION-TECHNIQUES.md for detailed techniques.

• Action: Choose technique based on user state:
  • Stuck → Extract smallest first step
  • Overwhelmed → One thing only, 5-minute rule
  • Low energy → Easy win first
  • Choice paralysis → Make the choice for them
• Output to user: None yet
• Wait for: Continue immediately

Step 5: Present Single Action

• Output to user:

  🎯 Nästa steg:
  
  [One concrete action]
  
  Du behöver bara göra 5 minuter - sedan kan du bestämma om du vill fortsätta.
  
  Ska vi köra?
  

• Wait for: User confirms they're starting (or declines)

Step 6: Log Activation

• Action when user confirms:

  bun run src/aida-cli.ts tasks setTaskStatus [id] "active"
  bun run src/aida-cli.ts journal createEntry '{"entry_type":"task","content":"Aktiverade: [task title]"}'
  

• Output to user: "Perfekt! Kör igång 🚀"
• Wait for: N/A (workflow complete)

Output Format

• Language: Swedish (default)
• Style: Encouraging, non-judgmental, supportive
• Action: ONE concrete step only, never multiple options
• Tone: No guilt, no pressure, frame deferrals positively

Example for simple "what's next":

🎯 Nästa steg för dig:

**Öppna rapporten** (Digitaliseringssamordnare)
- Deadline: imorgon
- Bara öppna filen och läs första stycket

5 minuter - sedan bestämmer du om du fortsätter. Kör! 🚀

Example for overwhelmed:

Jag hör dig. Låt oss göra det enkelt.

Glöm allt annat just nu. EN sak:

🎯 **Ringa banken** (2 min)
   - Ta upp telefonen
   - Slå numret
   - Klart!

Det är allt. Resten kan vänta.

Redo?

Error Handling

• If tasks getTodayTasks returns empty: Show message "Inga uppgifter för idag. Vill du fånga något nytt?" and suggest task-capture skill
• If no tasks match energy level: Adjust matching criteria, or suggest a break/pause with message "Alla uppgifter kräver mer energi än du har just nu. Vill du ta en paus?"
• If user is overwhelmed but no easy tasks: Find ANY task and break it into smallest possible step, even if artificially small
• If task already active: Ask "Du har redan en aktiv uppgift: [task]. Vill du byta till något annat?"
• If setTaskStatus fails: Log error to console, inform user task activation wasn't recorded but they can still work on it
• If journal createEntry fails: Task status is still updated, just log warning to console
• If profile doesn't exist: Use default energy level "medium" and proceed with general activation

Anti-patterns

• NEVER recommend high-energy task when energy is low - always match energy level
• NEVER skip user confirmation before marking active - always wait for user to say they're starting
• NEVER show multiple task options - always suggest ONE thing only
• NEVER use guilt or pressure - frame deferrals as rescheduling, not failure
• NEVER create new tasks - only activate existing ones (use task-capture for new tasks)
• NEVER update task details - only change status
• NEVER set status to "cancelled" - only "active" or "done" allowed
• NEVER use direct SQL - always use aida-cli.ts
• NEVER run query modules directly

Tool Contract

Allowed CLI Operations:

• tasks: getTodayTasks, getTaskById, setTaskStatus (to "active" or "done")
• journal: createEntry (type: task) - Log activation/completion
• profile: getCurrentEnergyLevel, getProfile (READ ONLY)

Forbidden Operations:

• Creating new tasks (use task-capture skill)
• Updating task details (title, description, etc.)
• Deleting tasks
• Updating profile
• Setting status to "cancelled"

Status Transition Rules:

• ready|waiting → active (when starting task)
• active → done (when user indicates completion during activation flow)

File Access:

• Read: personal-profile.json
• No file writes - All operations via CLI

Supporting Documentation

• ACTIVATION-TECHNIQUES.md - 5-minute rule, smallest step, etc.
• ENERGY-AWARE-SELECTION.md - Matching tasks to energy
• OVERWHELM-RESPONSE.md - Handling stuck/overwhelmed states

Design Principles

1. ONE thing - Never present multiple options
2. Smallest step - Break it down until it's obvious
3. 5-minute rule - Just start, decide later
4. No guilt - Deferrals are rescheduling, not failure
5. Energy-aware - Don't suggest high-energy tasks when user is drained
6. Momentum - Small wins build confidence