Don't Know Where to Start? Let AI Plan Your Project For You

You've decided to finally tackle that project. Maybe it's a home office setup, a bathroom refresh, or building your first PC. You're motivated. You've got the weekend blocked out.

And then you open a blank page to start planning, and... nothing.

Where do you even begin? What's the first step? What if you forget something important?

This is the "blank page" problem, and it stops more projects than lack of money or time ever will.

Why starting is the hardest part

Starting a project means making decisions. And making decisions requires information you often don't have yet.

When you type "renovate bathroom" at the top of your list, your brain immediately starts asking questions:

• Do I need permits for this?
• What tools will I need?
• Should I do the plumbing first or the tiling?
• What's a realistic timeline?
• Am I forgetting something critical?

Each question branches into more questions. Before you know it, you've spent two hours researching and still don't have a single actionable task written down.

This isn't a character flaw — it's a genuine cognitive challenge. Your brain is trying to solve a problem it doesn't have enough context for yet.

The traditional approach: research, lists, more lists

Most people tackle this by doing extensive research. They read blog posts, watch YouTube tutorials, join forums, and ask friends who've done similar projects.

Eventually, they piece together a rough plan. It might be scribbled on paper, typed in a notes app, or exists only in their head.

This works, but it takes hours. And even after all that research, you're still guessing at the order of tasks, likely missing steps that only become obvious once you're halfway through.

For many projects, this planning phase becomes a barrier. The longer it takes to start, the more likely the whole thing gets shelved.

A different approach: let AI generate your starting point

What if you could skip the blank page entirely?

That's the idea behind AI project planning. Instead of starting from zero, you describe your project in a sentence or two, and AI generates a complete starting framework — categories for your budget, tasks in logical order, and key milestones marked.

It's not magic, and it won't do the project for you. But it eliminates the hardest part: figuring out where to begin.

Think of it like getting a first draft from someone who's seen hundreds of similar projects. You're not locked into their suggestions — you can edit, add, remove, and reorder everything. But you're no longer staring at a blank page.

What AI actually generates for your project

When you use Task n Tally's AI Project Setup Wizard (which is free for everyone), here's what happens:

1. Spending categories tailored to your project

Instead of generic categories, you get 5-8 categories specific to what you're building. A PC build gets "Components," "Peripherals," and "Software." A kitchen renovation gets "Appliances," "Cabinetry," "Plumbing," and "Electrical."

These categories help you organise your budget before you spend anything.

2. Tasks in execution order

This is where AI shines. It doesn't just list random things you need to do — it orders them by when they should happen.

Research tasks come first. Then purchasing. Then the actual work. Testing and final touches come at the end.

This ordering considers dependencies automatically. You can't install a GPU before you've purchased it. You can't tile before you've waterproofed. The AI knows these relationships.

3. Milestones to track major progress

Two or three tasks get marked as milestones — major checkpoints that tell you you've completed a significant phase.

For a PC build, "Complete assembly" might be a milestone. For a garden project, "Finish raised beds" could be one.

These give you natural points to step back and feel good about progress.

Real examples: what AI suggests for common projects

Building a PC:

1. Research compatible components
2. Set budget for each component category
3. Purchase CPU and motherboard
4. Purchase RAM and storage
5. Purchase graphics card
6. Purchase case and power supply
7. Purchase peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse)
8. Milestone: All components received
9. Assemble components in case
10. Install operating system
11. Install drivers and updates
12. Milestone: System running
13. Run benchmarks and stress tests
14. Install essential software
15. Set up backup system

Kitchen renovation:

1. Research design options and costs
2. Create layout plan with measurements
3. Check permit requirements
4. Get quotes from tradespeople
5. Finalise appliance selections
6. Order cabinetry (longest lead time)
7. Milestone: Major materials ordered
8. Schedule tradespeople
9. Demo existing kitchen
10. Complete plumbing rough-in
11. Complete electrical rough-in
12. Install cabinetry
13. Milestone: Cabinetry installed
14. Install benchtops
15. Install appliances
16. Complete tiling and backsplash
17. Final paint and touch-ups
18. Final inspection

Starting a vegetable garden:

1. Test soil pH and quality
2. Research plants suitable for your climate
3. Design garden layout
4. Build or prepare raised beds
5. Install irrigation system
6. Milestone: Garden beds ready
7. Prepare soil with amendments
8. Purchase seeds or seedlings
9. Plant according to season
10. Add mulch layer
11. Milestone: Planting complete
12. Set up watering schedule
13. Plan pest management approach

Notice how each list follows a natural progression: research → preparation → execution → finishing. You might adjust details for your specific situation, but the structure gives you a foundation to build on.

You're still in control

AI suggestions aren't commands. They're starting points.

When the wizard generates your tasks, you review them before anything is saved. You can:

• Edit any task to match your specific situation
• Remove tasks that don't apply to you
• Add tasks the AI might have missed
• Reorder if you prefer a different sequence
• Adjust categories to match how you think about the project

The goal is to get you from blank page to workable plan in minutes rather than hours. What you do with that plan is entirely up to you.

Some people use the AI suggestions almost as-is. Others treat them as rough inspiration and rewrite most of it. Both approaches are valid.

Getting past "where do I start?"

The blank page problem isn't about being disorganised or lazy. It's about the genuine difficulty of structuring a project you've never done before.

AI doesn't make you better at projects. It just removes a barrier that stops many projects from ever starting.

If you've got a project you've been putting off because the planning feels overwhelming, consider trying a different approach. Let AI generate the first draft, then make it yours.

Task n Tally's AI Project Setup Wizard is completely free — you don't even need a premium subscription. Describe your project, review the suggestions, and start with a plan instead of a blank page.

Create your first AI-planned project →

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The quick version

The problem: Starting projects is hard because you don't know what you don't know. The blank page becomes a barrier.

The traditional fix: Hours of research, watching tutorials, asking around, gradually piecing together a plan.

The AI approach: Describe your project, get a structured task list in seconds, edit it to fit your situation.

What you get: Categories for your budget, tasks in execution order, milestones to track progress.

What you control: Everything. Add, remove, edit, reorder. It's a starting point, not a prescription.

If you know what you want to do but not where to start, AI project planning might be the push you need.