Step 1: Set capacity
Count meetings and errands first. What remains is focus capacity. Example: eight work hours minus two hours of calls ≈ six Pomodoros realistic, not twelve.
Step 2: Assign priorities
| Priority | Task | Pomodoros |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ship report section 2 | 3 |
| B | Inbox + admin | 1 |
| C | Reading / learning | 2 |
If A does not fit, something leaves the list — do not steal break time to fake capacity.
Step 3: Order for energy
Do demanding work in your best two hours. Batch shallow work (email, status updates) into one labeled sprint so it does not fragment the day.
Step 4: Build in buffers
Leave one empty Pomodoro for overruns. If you finish early, pull from priority C or stop early — recovery is productive.
Shutdown (5 minutes)
- Note tomorrow’s first Pomodoro task in one sentence.
- Clear desk / close unrelated tabs.
- Stop when the plan says stop; overtime without reason trains burnout.
FAQ
What if I miss every plan?
Your plans are too ambitious. Cut Pomodoros by 30% for a week and measure completion rate.