The Dopamine Game

Topic: The Dopamine Game 
Type: 30-minute refinement session
Liberating Structure: Min Specs

Nowadays, I use Trello to track my work-related tasks. Christiaan Verwijs and I share a board where columns represent the state of work — ending with the ‘Done’ column.

I even create tasks for small 30-minute actions because it helps me focus, and I love moving tasks to Done! Every time, my brain throws a small celebration. 🥳

Here’s a fun fact… I also move tasks I decide NOT to do straight to the Done column!

At first, this might sound strange. But think about it:

• These tasks take zero time to complete.
• They free up unexpected time for more valuable work.

It’s a win-win! 😃

I used to archive tasks I discarded, which felt tedious and unsatisfying. Then I realized that tricking my brain into considering them ‘done’ was actually valuable. It’s true — deciding not to do something saves time, money, and effort.

How to apply this with your team?

In many teams, refinement sessions often focus on what needs to be done. But just as important — if not more — is deciding what doesn’t need to be done. Teams often carry work forward simply because it’s already on the list, not because it’s still relevant.

That’s where this method comes in. Instead of treating discarded tasks as failures or loose ends, flip the script: Celebrate them as conscious decisions that free up time and energy for what truly matters.

By explicitly moving these tasks to Done, you acknowledge the effort of evaluating them. You recognize that not everything deserves your attention, and that’s a sign of a high-performing team. It’s a shift from mindless task completion to strategic focus — and that’s worth celebrating.

The best part? It feels just as good as completing work — sometimes even better! Instead of guilt over abandoned tasks, your team gets a dopamine rush from knowing they’re making space for real impact.

Want to try this dopamine-boosting trick at scale? Here’s a simple process:

1️⃣ Rally your team for a 30-minute refinement session
2️⃣ Clarify the purpose for the upcoming period 
3️⃣ Use the Liberating Structure “Min Specs” to define what truly matters
4️⃣ Move all tasks that don’t contribute to the purpose straight to Done
5️⃣ Celebrate every ‘completed’ item! 
6️⃣ Enjoy the extra time you saved — maybe even throw a team party! 💃

What about Story Points?

I hear you: “Hey! This messes up our Story Points calculation!”

My answer:

• “An excellent reason to finally stop using them.” 😉
• “A good way to see who actually reads your Story Point reports.”
• “If NOT doing something is a valid way of completing it, then it’s not cheating. It’s all about perspective!”

Bring on the dopamine! 😎
(Me, moving ‘Write post on dopamine’ to Done now! ✅) 😄