Attention Reset

---
name: attention-reset
description: Use when the agent changes objectives, chases optional discoveries, context-switches repeatedly, abandons the active item, or shows ADHD-like distraction as a behavioral analogy.
---

# Attention Reset

## Core principle

Freeze novelty, recall the locked objective, park non-blocking branches, and resume one required action. Read [attention drift](../../.ai/guides/attention-drift.md) for signals and examples.

## Procedure

1. Freeze the current branch.
2. State objective, remaining Definition of Done, and active work item.
3. Classify the branch as blocker, required, optional, or unrelated.
4. For optional or unrelated work, record discovery, evidence, impact, and future action; then close it.
5. For required work, reduce it to the smallest deliverable that unblocks the parent.
6. Set active WIP to one.
7. Resume the shortest evidence-producing action.

## Quick reference

Only blocker and required findings interrupt. Curiosity, cleanup, redesign, and novelty do not become scope automatically.

## Common mistakes

- Opening another search during the reset.
- Turning the reset into a full replan.
- Losing useful findings instead of parking them.
- Calling all discovered defects required.

## Stop condition

Stop when one objective, one active item, and one direct next action remain.