# 10 ADHD-Friendly Output Rules for AI Assistants: A Complete Guide to the i-have-adhd Skill

> Discover 10 ADHD-friendly output rules for AI assistants from the i-have-adhd skill. Learn how to get actionable, concise AI responses that improve focus and productivity.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-04

---

**The i-have-adhd repository defines 10 concrete output-shaping rules that make AI-generated text easier to consume for readers with ADHD, including leading with the next action, numbering multi-step tasks, and eliminating preambles and pleasantries.**

The **i-have-adhd** skill is an open-source configuration for Claude, Codex, and compatible LLM assistants that restructures AI responses to reduce cognitive load. According to the source code in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), these rules are enforced for the entire session once activated, fundamentally changing how the assistant communicates.

## What Is the i-have-adhd Skill?

The repository at `ayghri/i-have-adhd` packages a **skill definition** that AI assistants load to modify their output behavior. Unlike generic prompting, this is a persistent configuration declared in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) and consumed through standardized agent configurations.

The architecture consists of four core components:

- **Skill definition ([`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md))** – Declares the 10 enforceable rules
- **Agent configurations ([`agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/openai.yaml), [`agents/gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/gemini.toml))** – Bind the skill to specific LLM platforms
- **Plugin manifest ([`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json))** – Enables marketplace discovery and installation
- **Evaluation suite ([`tests/test_run_evals.py`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/tests/test_run_evals.py))** – Validates compliance with the rules

## The 10 ADHD-Friendly Output Rules

These rules are encoded in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and apply to every response once the skill is active.

### 1. Lead with the Next Action

The **first line must be a concrete command** the reader can execute immediately. No introduction, no context-setting—just the action.

### 2. Number Multi-Step Tasks

Use a **compact numbered list** where each item represents a single bounded action. This creates clear stopping points and reduces working memory demands.

### 3. End with One Concrete Next Action

After any explanation, provide **exactly one under-two-minute next step**. This prevents decision paralysis and provides immediate forward momentum.

### 4. Suppress Tangents

**Finish the current issue** before mentioning any other problem. The skill explicitly forbids "by the way" diversions that fragment attention.

### 5. Restate State Every Turn

Explicitly **repeat the current step or status** on each interaction. This compensates for context-switching costs by eliminating the need to scroll back.

### 6. Give Specific Time Estimates

Use **concrete units** (minutes, seconds) instead of vague phrases like "soon" or "a while." Precision reduces anxiety and enables realistic planning.

### 7. Make Completed Work Visible

**Show the result** of the just-finished step before moving on. This provides closure and confirms progress, which supports sustained engagement.

### 8. Matter-of-Fact Tone for Errors

Report errors **plainly, without emotional language**. No apologies, no alarm—just the facts and the correction path.

### 9. Cap Lists at 5 Items

**Split longer lists** into "do now" vs. "later" or "must" vs. "nice-to-have." This respects limited working memory capacity.

### 10. No Preamble, No Recap, No Closing Pleasantries

**Start with the answer and finish when the answer is done.** Eliminate social friction and redundant structural elements.

## Installing and Using the Skill

### Claude Code

```bash

# Install from the marketplace

claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd
claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

Then activate with:

```bash
/i-have-adhd

```

The skill persists until you type `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode`.

### Codex

```bash

# Add and install the plugin

codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

Invoke explicitly with:

```bash
$i-have-adhd

```

Or let Codex trigger it implicitly when task criteria match.

## Example Output Transformation

**Standard AI response:**

> "I'd be happy to help you update your authentication logic. First, let me explain what JSON Web Tokens are and why the latest version matters..."

**Same response with i-have-adhd rules applied:**

> **Run `npm install jsonwebtoken@latest`.**
>
> 1. Open [`src/auth.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/src/auth.ts)
> 2. Replace the `verifyToken` function (lines 42-58) with the snippet below
> 3. Run `npm test -- auth.spec.ts`
>
> **Next:** Verify the test passes (`npm test`) – should take ≤ 2 minutes.

The transformation demonstrates every rule: immediate executable command, numbered bounded steps, concrete time estimate, visible completion state, and zero preamble or closing.

## How the Rules Are Enforced

The skill mechanism works through **persistent system instructions**. When you invoke `/i-have-adhd` or `$i-have-adhd`, the agent loads [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) into its context window as a behavioral constraint that applies to all subsequent turns.

The [`agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/openai.yaml) and [`agents/gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/gemini.toml) files in the repository specify how each platform consumes the skill definition, while [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) provides the metadata required for marketplace indexing.

## Validation and Testing

The repository includes [`tests/test_run_evals.py`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/tests/test_run_evals.py), which runs automated checks that generated outputs comply with the 10 rules. This guards against regression when the skill definition evolves or when underlying model behavior changes.

## Summary

- The **i-have-adhd** skill restructures AI output through 10 enforced rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)
- **Lead with action**, **number steps**, **cap lists at 5**, and **eliminate preambles** are the highest-impact structural changes
- Installation uses standard plugin commands for Claude Code (`/i-have-adhd`) and Codex (`$i-have-adhd`)
- The skill persists until explicitly disabled with `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode`
- Automated tests in [`test_run_evals.py`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/test_run_evals.py) verify compliance across platforms

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I know if the skill is active?

Restate state every turn is rule 5—so the assistant will explicitly confirm. If activated correctly, you will see immediate behavioral changes: first-line commands, numbered steps, and no greetings. If unsure, type `stop adhd mode` and then re-invoke.

### Can I use this with GPT-4 or other OpenAI models?

The repository provides [`agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/openai.yaml) for Claude Code integration. For direct OpenAI API usage, you would need to manually inject the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) content into your system prompt, as OpenAI does not support the same plugin architecture.

### What happens if a response genuinely needs more than 5 list items?

Rule 9 requires splitting into sub-lists. The skill directs the assistant to categorize: "do now" vs. "later," "must" vs. "nice-to-have," or phase-based groupings. Each sub-list remains capped at 5.

### Does this work for non-technical tasks?

Yes. The rules are domain-agnostic. Whether debugging code, planning meals, or organizing a project, the same principles—immediate action, bounded steps, time estimates, and zero fluff—apply universally.