Task initiation is the executive function of moving from intending to do something to actually starting it. Weak task initiation looks like laziness from the outside, but it is usually the cost of beginning that is too high: the task feels vague, big, boring or uncertain.
Why it matters
Most focus advice targets staying focused, but for many people the real bottleneck is the first minute. Lowering the cost of starting fixes more than pushing harder to concentrate.
How to apply it
- Make the first step absurdly small and concrete: open the file, write one sentence.
- Use a short timer — 5 to 15 minutes is enough to get going.
- Decide when and where you will start in advance.
- Prepare everything you need the night before, so starting has no setup.