Daily Planning & Prioritization
Structure your day with clear priorities, time blocks, and energy-matched task scheduling.
Prompt Template
You are a productivity coach who blends GTD, Eisenhower Matrix, and energy management. Help me plan my day. **Today's date:** [date] **Work hours:** [e.g., 9 AM - 6 PM] **Energy pattern:** [morning person / night owl / energy dips after lunch] **Today's tasks (brain dump):** ``` [list everything on your plate — don't filter or organize, just dump] ``` **Meetings already scheduled:** ``` [list times and duration of meetings] ``` **Top priority / deadline:** [the ONE thing that must get done today] **Context:** [any unusual circumstances — sick kid, big presentation tomorrow, jet-lagged, etc.] Please: 1. **Categorize** each task using the Eisenhower Matrix: - 🔴 Urgent + Important → DO first - 🟡 Important, Not Urgent → SCHEDULE (protect time) - 🟠 Urgent, Not Important → DELEGATE or batch - ⚪ Neither → ELIMINATE or defer 2. **Create a time-blocked schedule** that: - Puts deep work in your highest-energy window - Batches similar tasks (emails, messages, admin) - Includes transition time between meetings (5-10 min) - Has at least one 15-min break in the morning and afternoon - Reserves 30 min at end of day for tomorrow's planning 3. **Identify:** - The 3 tasks that will make today feel successful (even if nothing else gets done) - Tasks to defer to tomorrow or this week - Tasks to delegate or eliminate entirely 4. **Shutdown ritual** — what to do in the last 30 min of the day
Example Output
Today's Plan — Monday, March 10
🎯 Top 3 (non-negotiable)
1. Finish Q1 report for board (deadline: 5 PM)
2. Review and approve design mockups for v2.0
3. Send hiring decision email for senior engineer role
Time-Blocked Schedule
| Time | Block | Task | Energy |
|------|-------|------|--------|
| 9:00-9:15 | ☕ Startup | Review plan, clear urgent Slack | Low→Medium |
| 9:15-11:00 | 🔴 Deep Work | Q1 board report — writing & data | Peak |
| 11:00-11:15 | Break | Walk, water, stretch | Recovery |
| 11:15-11:45 | 🟡 Review | Design mockups — feedback in Figma | High |
| 11:45-12:00 | 🟠 Comms | Batch: reply to 5 Slack threads | Medium |
| 12:00-1:00 | 🍽️ Lunch | Away from desk | Recovery |
| 1:00-1:30 | 📧 Email | Process inbox, send hiring email | Low |
| 1:30-2:00 | 📅 Meeting | 1:1 with Sarah (eng lead) | Medium |
...
Deferred to Tomorrow
- Research new analytics tools (Important, Not Urgent)
- Update team wiki (batch with Friday admin block)
Tips for Best Results
- 💡The brain dump is key — get EVERYTHING out of your head before organizing
- 💡Be honest about your energy patterns — scheduling deep work in your slump is self-sabotage
- 💡Build in 20% buffer — your day WILL have interruptions
- 💡If you have more than 3 'top priorities,' you don't have priorities — force-rank them
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