50 tasks, infinite choices, zero progress. Here's how Reddit breaks through decision fatigue and starts moving.
Last updated: January 2026. Based on discussions from r/productivity, r/getdisciplined, r/ADHD, r/Anxiety, and r/DecisionMaking.
"I spent 3 hours staring at my to-do list trying to decide what to do first. By the time I picked something, I was too exhausted to do it. The list won."
Planning paralysis is real, common, and devastating. The more options you have, the harder it becomes to start anything. Let's explore what actually helps.
The paradox of choice: more options = more paralysis. A 50-task list has 50 ways to start. Your brain can't process that many comparisons.
"What if I work on Task A and Task B was actually more important? I spend so long deciding that I don't do either. Then both become urgent."
Every decision drains mental energy. By the time you've decided what to eat, wear, and commute - you're depleted. Choosing tasks becomes impossible.
Planning paralysis is especially common with ADHD. The inability to prioritize, combined with time blindness, creates perfect paralysis conditions.
Counterintuitive but effective:
Stop trying to pick the "right" task. Pick ANY task. Random is fine. Here's why:
"I use a random number generator for my to-do list. Whatever number comes up, I do that task. Sounds crazy, but I've 10x'd my productivity since I stopped wasting hours deciding."
Eliminate morning decision fatigue:
Apps that show your day as a timeline reduce paralysis:
Instead of a list of 20 tasks, you see: "9 AM - Email. 10 AM - Project. 11 AM - Meeting."
No decisions needed. Just follow the timeline. Funtasking's visual approach works well for paralysis-prone brains.
| App | Paralysis Factor | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Funtasking | LOW | Visual timeline shows exactly what to do when |
| Structured | LOW | Time blocks reduce choices |
| Apple Reminders | LOW | Simple lists, minimal decisions |
| Todoist | MEDIUM | Good with filters, can get overwhelming without |
| Notion | HIGH | Infinite views = infinite decisions |
When you're stuck right now:
Count down from 5, then start ANY task immediately when you hit 1. Don't think. Just move. The momentum will carry you.
Can't start the project? Open the file. Can't open the file? Turn on the computer. Can't turn on the computer? Stand up. Start impossibly small.
Work alongside someone else (in person or virtually). Their presence reduces the decision burden. Popular in ADHD communities.
Planning paralysis is the inability to start tasks due to being overwhelmed by options or decisions. You have a long to-do list but can't pick where to begin, so you do nothing.
Common causes: too many choices, fear of making the wrong choice, perfectionism, unclear priorities, mental fatigue, and underlying anxiety or ADHD.
Reddit recommends: limit daily tasks to 3, pick any task randomly, use the 2-minute rule, break tasks into tiny steps, and use visual planners that show a clear path through the day.
Apps that limit choices help most: Funtasking's visual timeline shows exactly what to do when. Simple apps like Apple Reminders work too. Avoid complex apps that add more decisions.
Based on 2026 discussions about planning paralysis:
The paralysis is worse than the "wrong" choice. Pick something. Do it. Adjust later. Progress beats perfection.
Funtasking's visual timeline shows your next task. No more staring at endless lists. See what to do, do it.
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