# How Rule 6 Specific Time Estimates Differ from Vague Estimates in i-have-adhd

> Learn how Rule 6 specific time estimates in i-have-adhd boost productivity by replacing vague phrases with concrete durations for reduced cognitive load and automation.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-08-21

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**Rule 6 mandates that every response include a concrete, quantifiable time estimate (e.g., “≈ 15 minutes”) instead of ambiguous phrases such as “a bit” or “some time,” reducing cognitive load and enabling downstream automation.**

The `i-have-adhd` skill architecture enforces ten strict communication rules designed to minimize executive function demands. Rule 6—**Specific Time Estimates**—stands apart from typical vague estimation patterns by encoding a numeric duration requirement directly into the response generation pipeline.

## Architectural Differences: Vague vs. Specific Estimates

Unlike conventional systems that tolerate subjective temporal language, the `i-have-adhd` skill defines a strict binary between acceptable and unacceptable estimates. The differences span cognitive, behavioral, and technical dimensions:

| Aspect | Typical Vague Estimates | Rule 6’s Specific Estimates |
|--------|------------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Cognitive load** | Readers must interpret subjective terms (“a bit”, “later”), which overloads limited working memory. | A precise number (minutes) gives a concrete target, reducing mental effort. |
| **Actionability** | Vague estimates leave the next step ambiguous, often causing procrastination. | Concrete units enable the reader to decide instantly whether the task fits into the current time slot. |
| **Dopamine feedback** | Unclear duration makes it hard to sense progress, diminishing dopamine spikes. | Knowing the exact time needed lets the reader anticipate completion, boosting motivation. |
| **Consistency** | Different users interpret “a bit” differently, leading to inconsistent expectations. | A fixed unit (minutes) is universally interpretable, ensuring uniform expectations across sessions. |
| **Automation** | Hard for downstream tooling (e.g., task timers) to parse. | Easy to extract with simple regex (`\d+\s*minutes?`) for integrations or UI timers. |

## Implementation and Enforcement

### Skill Definition Location

Rule 6 is codified in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) within the **Specific time estimates** section (lines 82-88). This file defines the behavioral contract that all generated responses must satisfy.

### Pre-Send Validation

Before any response is delivered, the skill’s runtime harness executes a **pre-send check** (implemented in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md), lines 29-41) that validates the outgoing message against all ten rules. If the text lacks a numeric time estimate, the generation is flagged and re-prompted until compliance is achieved.

### Detection Logic

The enforcement mechanism uses regex-based validation. The following pseudo-logic illustrates how the skill verifies Rule 6 compliance:

```javascript
function ensureSpecificTime(text) {
  // Regex looks for a number followed by "minute(s)"
  const hasEstimate = /\b\d+\s*minutes?\b/i.test(text);
  return hasEstimate;
}

```

When `ensureSpecificTime` returns `false`, the pipeline regenerates the answer until a sentence containing a concrete minute estimate is present.

### Correct vs. Incorrect Examples

According to the source code documentation, these examples illustrate valid and invalid outputs:

**Correct (Rule 6 satisfied):**
> **About 15 minutes** to add a new endpoint and update the tests.

**Incorrect (Rule 6 violated):**
> This will take **some work** to add a new endpoint and update the tests.

## Summary

- **Rule 6** requires quantifiable minute-based estimates in every response, rejecting ambiguous temporal language.
- The rule is architecturally distinct from vague estimates because it reduces cognitive load, increases actionability, provides dopamine feedback loops, ensures consistency, and enables automation.
- Enforcement occurs in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) through a pre-send validation harness (lines 29-41) that re-generates non-compliant responses.
- The validation function `ensureSpecificTime` uses the regex pattern `\b\d+\s*minutes?\b` to verify compliance before delivery.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What happens if a response does not include a specific time estimate?

If the pre-send check detects a missing numeric estimate, the response generation is flagged as incomplete. The skill automatically re-prompts the underlying model until the output includes a concrete minute value (e.g., “≈ 15 minutes”) that satisfies the regex check in `ensureSpecificTime`.

### Why does Rule 6 use minutes as the standard unit?

Minutes provide a universally interpretable granularity that fits common task durations without requiring mental conversion. The regex pattern `\d+\s*minutes?` explicitly targets this unit to ensure consistency across sessions and to simplify extraction by downstream automation tools like task timers.

### How does Rule 6 specifically help users with ADHD?

The rule eliminates the executive function overhead required to interpret subjective phrases like “a bit” or “later.” By providing a concrete temporal anchor, it reduces working memory load, prevents decision paralysis, and creates anticipatory dopamine spikes that help sustain motivation through task completion.

### Where is Rule 6 defined in the codebase?

Rule 6 is defined in the **Specific time estimates** section of [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) (lines 82-88). The enforcement logic resides in the **Pre-send check** section of the same file (lines 29-41), which validates all outgoing messages against the skill’s ten-rule protocol before delivery.