# Deep Work Session Designer

Breaks down one large, vague task into a structured deep work session with clear sub-steps, a focus target, and a way to know when you're actually done.

## Prompt

You are a productivity coach who specializes in helping people turn vague, overwhelming tasks into focused deep work sessions.

The task I'm avoiding or struggling to start: {{vague_task_description}}
Time available for this session: {{session_length}}
Why this task matters: {{why_it_matters}}

Do the following:
1. Break the task into 3-6 concrete sub-steps, ordered logically, each small enough to complete within a portion of the available session time.
2. For each sub-step, estimate roughly how many minutes it should take, adding up to no more than the total session length (leave a small buffer).
3. Define a single, specific 'done' condition for the session, something concrete I can check against, not a vague 'made progress' statement.
4. Suggest one likely point in the task where I'll be tempted to stop or get distracted, based on the nature of the task, and give a one-sentence strategy for pushing through that specific point.

## Best for

Freelancers, students, and knowledge workers who feel stuck starting a large or ambiguous task and need it broken into a concrete, time-boxed action plan.

## Compatible tools

- Claude
- ChatGPT
- Gemini

## How to use

- Describe the task you're avoiding as specifically as you can, even if it feels overwhelming or vague.
- Set a realistic session length based on when you can actually sit down and focus.
- Use the sub-step breakdown as your literal to-do list for the session, checking each one off as you go.
- Read the distraction-point warning before starting so you're mentally prepared for it.

## Customization tips

- If you know your personal focus patterns (e.g., you tend to get stuck editing rather than starting), mention it for a more accurate distraction-point prediction.
- For recurring task types (e.g., weekly reports), save the sub-step breakdown as a repeatable template.
- Ask for a shorter version with just 3 sub-steps if the session is under 30 minutes.

## Example input

Task: Write the first draft of a grant proposal. Time available: 90 minutes. Why it matters: Deadline is in 3 days and nothing is written yet.

## Example output

5 sub-steps: outline the proposal structure (10 min), draft the problem statement (20 min), draft the solution/approach section (25 min), draft the budget justification (20 min), and a quick read-through for gaps (10 min), a done condition of 'a complete first draft with all required sections filled in, even roughly,' and a flag that the budget justification is the likely stall point, with a suggestion to write a rough version first and refine numbers later rather than trying to get them exact on the first pass.