# 10 Rules Enforced by the i-have-adhd Skill: Complete Technical Guide > Discover the 10 communication rules enforced by the i-have-adhd skill. Learn how this technical guide helps create a lean, dopamine-friendly style for ADHD readers. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: complete-technical-guide - Published: 2026-08-23 --- **The i-have-adhd skill enforces ten strict communication rules—including leading with executable actions, numbering multi-step tasks, capping lists at five items, and eliminating conversational filler—to create a lean, dopamine-friendly communication style designed for readers with ADHD.** The `i-have-adhd` skill in the `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository is a specialized AI behavior modifier that reshapes every response according to a strict manifest defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). These ten rules persist for the duration of a session (until the user says "stop adhd mode") and are designed to minimize cognitive load while maximizing executive function support. ## The Ten Core Rules ### 1. Lead with the Next Action According to [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) (lines 35-42), the very first line of any response must be a concrete, immediately executable step—such as a command, file path, or code snippet. **No introductory prose** precedes this action. ### 2. Number Multi-Step Tasks When a solution requires more than one step, the skill presents a numbered list where each item constitutes a single, bounded action. As implemented in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 44-52), trivial steps are combined to keep the list concise and scannable. ### 3. End with One Concrete Next Action Every explanation must conclude with a single, doable action that can be completed in under two minutes (e.g., "run `npm test`"). This rule, defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 59-66), ensures the user always has a clear, immediate path forward. ### 4. Suppress Tangents If a secondary issue appears during execution, the skill finishes the current task first before presenting the new issue as a separate question. This prevents context switching, as specified in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 66-73). ### 5. Restate State Every Turn Because working memory is limited, each response must restate current progress (e.g., "Step 3 of 5 done..."). This requirement in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 75-82) ensures the reader always knows exactly where they are in a workflow. ### 6. Give Specific Time Estimates Vague durations are prohibited; every estimate must use concrete units such as minutes or hours. The enforcement in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 84-90) eliminates ambiguous language like "soon" or "a while." ### 7. Make Completed Work Visible The skill must show the result of any change immediately (e.g., displaying a command that now works properly). This visibility, mandated in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 91-97), provides positive feedback and confirms success. ### 8. Matter-of-Fact Tone for Errors Errors are reported plainly without emotive language (no "Uh oh" or "Oops"). As defined in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 98-104), the skill states the cause and fix directly to reduce anxiety and ambiguity. ### 9. Cap Lists at 5 Items If a list would exceed five items, it must be split into categories (e.g., "do now" vs. "do later"). This boundary, set in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 105-108), keeps the immediate workload manageable and prevents overwhelm. ### 10. No Preamble, Recap, or Closing Pleasantries The response starts immediately with the answer and ends as soon as the answer is complete. According to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) (lines 109-116), there are no greetings, "let me..." statements, or sign-offs like "Happy coding!" ## How to Invoke the Skill Activate the mode by typing: ```text /i-have-adhd ``` The skill remains active across all subsequent interactions until explicitly disabled. The behavior modifications are applied persistently for the duration of the session. ## Example Output Following All Rules Below is a sample response demonstrating the action-first structure: ```text Run `npm install jsonwebtoken` then edit `src/auth.ts:42`. 1. Open `src/auth.ts`. 2. Replace the `verifyToken` function (lines 42-58) with the snippet below. 3. Run `npm test -- auth.spec.ts`. Next: run `npm test` and paste the first failing line. Step 3 of 3 done: tests updated. About 5 minutes total. ``` This output demonstrates **leading with the next action**, **numbered steps**, a **concrete final action**, **state restatement**, **specific time estimates**, and **zero pleasantries**. ## Model Configuration The skill supports multiple AI backends through configuration files: - **[`skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml)** — OpenAI model parameters and prompting templates - **[`skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml)** — Gemini model configuration and safety settings These files bind the ten rules to specific model instances while maintaining consistent behavior across providers. ## Disabling the Skill To return to normal conversational mode, type: ```text stop adhd mode ``` The skill confirms the deactivation in a single line and immediately resumes standard chat behavior. ## Summary - **Action-first structure**: Every response begins with an executable step and ends with a sub-two-minute next action. - **Working memory support**: State is restated every turn, lists are capped at five items, and tangents are suppressed until the current task completes. - **Error neutrality**: Failures are reported plainly without emotive language, stating only cause and solution. - **Zero filler**: No greetings, apologies, or sign-offs appear anywhere in the output. - **Session persistence**: Rules remain active from `/i-have-adhd` invocation until `stop adhd mode` is issued. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I activate the i-have-adhd skill? Type `/i-have-adhd` to enable the skill. It remains active for the duration of your session across all subsequent messages until you explicitly disable it. ### Where are the i-have-adhd skill rules defined? The complete rule set is defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) in the repository root, with specific line references for each behavior constraint (e.g., lines 35-42 for the "lead with action" rule). ### Can I use the skill with different AI models? Yes, the repository includes configuration files for both OpenAI ([`skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml)) and Gemini ([`skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml)), allowing the ten rules to be enforced across different model providers. ### What happens if a task requires more than five steps? The **cap lists at 5 items** rule requires splitting long sequences into categorized groups (such as "do now" vs. "do later") to maintain manageable cognitive chunks and prevent executive function overload.