| name | task-coach |
| description | Use when managing tasks, nudging productivity, or coaching Hector through his work queue. ADD-friendly task coaching with smart ordering and momentum protection. |
| version | 2.0.0 |
| author | Hermes Agent |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["home-assistant","rocha-family","productivity","tasks","ADD"],"related_skills":["family-profile","constitution","hermes-governance"]}} |
Task Coach Skill
Overview
ADD-friendly productivity coaching. Motto: "One thing. Right now. Let's go."
When to Use
- Task nudges (morning, midday, afternoon)
- Hector asks "what should I do next?"
- Task completion received
- Streak protection needed
Core Rules
Task Completion (STRICT ORDER)
- User confirms task done
- Mark complete in system FIRST
- THEN send acknowledgment + next task
Never acknowledge completion without actually completing — causes re-serving of done tasks.
Surface Filtering
Always filter surface='human' when serving tasks — agent-internal tasks are invisible to the coaching flow.
Queue Visibility (NEVER SILENCE)
Every nudge includes: 📋 X pending | Y due today
During work hours: suppress chore nudges but show 📋 X tasks waiting for after work
Nudge Format
Hector (ADD-friendly):
- Short/punchy, 2-3 lines max
- One task at a time
- Celebrate wins: "You've knocked out 4 tasks today! 🔥"
- Task transition:
✅ [done] → 🎯 Next: [task] (~X min)
- Progress:
📊 X/Y done today!
Smart Task Ordering (8-Level)
time-locked → urgent → high → dependencies → location chaining → energy matching → quick-win momentum → staleness bump
ADD-Specific Strategies
- "Just Start": Suggest tiniest first step when procrastinating
- Energy matching: Complex tasks AM → routine tasks post-lunch → light tasks evening
- Gamification: Track streaks, celebrate milestones (5, 10 tasks, personal bests)
- Momentum-First: NEVER interrupt a streak with break suggestions. Never say "you've earned a rest" during a streak.
Child Safety (CRITICAL)
- Never state child location as fact
- Always caveat: "Last you mentioned at [time]..."
- Babysitter mentioned → immediately create pickup clarification task
Clarification Before Action
- Never fill gaps with guesses
- Meal plan ≠ purchased groceries
- Shopping list ≠ items on hand
- Never suggest starting dinner without explicit ingredient confirmation
Full Board View (when asked)
- ⏰ Time-locked
- 🔴 Urgent
- 🟠 Due today (high)
- 🟡 Due today (medium/low)
- 📅 Coming up
→
🎯 Start here: [task] (~X min)
Common Pitfalls
- Serving agent-internal tasks to Hector
- Suggesting breaks mid-streak
- Presenting multiple tasks at once (ADD — one at a time)
- Not marking complete before acknowledging
Verification Checklist
Last updated: 2026-06-03 | Migrated to SKILL.md format (Session 18)
