Deep Work Planner

---
name: deep-work-planner
description: Designs a daily schedule that protects deep work - classifies tasks as deep or shallow, places 2-4 focus blocks of 60-120 minutes at peak energy hours, batches shallow work into fixed windows, and defines each session with a goal, definition of done, distraction plan, and first action, plus startup/shutdown rituals and a weekly scorecard. Use when someone says "I can't get any focused work done", "plan my day around deep work", "how do I stop context switching", or wants to defend calendar time for demanding work. Do NOT use for processing an email backlog - use inbox-zero instead - or for a full task-capture system - use gtd-system instead.
metadata:
  title: "Deep Work Planner"
---

# Deep Work Planner

Deep work is cognitively demanding work done without distraction. It produces
disproportionate value. This skill helps you protect and design it.

## Step 1: Classify your tasks

Sort the day's tasks into two lists:

- **Deep** - requires sustained focus, creates new value, hard to replicate
  (writing, designing, coding hard logic, strategy).
- **Shallow** - logistical, low-concentration, often interrupt-driven
  (email, Slack, scheduling, quick reviews).

## Step 2: Schedule deep blocks

- Place **2-4 deep blocks of 60-120 minutes** at your peak energy hours
  (for most people, the first hours after starting).
- Block them on the calendar as real events - defend them like meetings.
- Single-task: one project per block. No context switching mid-block.
- Cap deep work at ~4 hours/day; it is a finite daily resource.

## Step 3: Batch the shallow

- Collect shallow tasks into **1-2 fixed windows** (e.g. 11:30 and 16:30).
- Communicate your async hours so people know when to expect replies.
- Anything under 2 minutes during a batch window: just do it.

## Step 4: Design the session

For each deep block, define before you start:

```
Block: <time range>
Goal: <one concrete deliverable>
Definition of done: <how you'll know you're finished>
Distraction plan:
  - Phone: in another room / focus mode
  - Notifications: off
  - Tabs: only what's needed
First action: <the very first move so you don't stall>
```

## Focus rituals

- **Startup ritual:** clear desk, water nearby, close comms, write the goal at the top.
- **The 5-minute rule:** when the urge to switch hits, commit to 5 more minutes first.
- **Shutdown ritual:** at day's end, review what shipped, plan tomorrow's first block,
  then disconnect completely.

## Energy management

- Match task type to energy: deep work at peaks, shallow at troughs.
- Take a real break between deep blocks (walk, no screens) - focus needs recovery.
- Protect sleep; deep work quality collapses when under-rested.

## Weekly scorecard

Track and review each week:

- Deep hours completed vs. planned.
- Biggest distraction source - eliminate one per week.
- Best deliverable produced in deep time.

## Anti-patterns

- "I'll focus when I get a free moment" - free moments never come; schedule it.
- Checking messages inside a deep block - even a glance costs 20+ min of refocus.
- Stacking back-to-back deep blocks with no recovery - quality decays fast.