This fictional example concerns Maya, an adult who has been postponing a reimbursement form. The task appears on several lists, but the receipts are in different places. Seeing "finish reimbursement" makes Maya want to close the list.
How to use this page
Read the example and notice the changes in conditions. You do not have to use Maya’s methods. Consider which part would fit a task in your own life.
Describe the actual obstacle
Maya identifies three separate jobs: find receipts, open the form, and enter details. The first trial becomes "put two receipts in one folder." Maya chooses five minutes after lunch, when the table is available. Finishing the form is not the goal of this trial.
Try one support
Maya places the folder beside the lunch bag as a cue. On the first day, a work call interrupts lunch and the trial does not happen. Maya moves the cue to the next predictable break rather than adding more alarms.
Review the fit
The next day Maya gathers two receipts but discovers a missing account code. Maya writes one question to ask the office. The task is unfinished, yet the obstacle is clearer. Maya keeps the folder and changes the next action to requesting the code. A different person might need help with reading, access, or workload instead.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
- Which change helped reveal the next obstacle?