A deep work timer embedded in your daily plan
today's focus sessions act as a deep work timer — start from a named block, track duration, and log whether the session moved your most important work forward.
What deep work requires from a timer
A deep work timer isn't just a countdown. It's a context-setting tool. The best deep work sessions start with a clear task statement, a committed duration, and a defined standard for what 'done' looks like. most timer apps give you only the countdown — no context, no outcome linkage, no post-session reflection. today's focus session system is a timer with context: you label the task, start from within a named time block, link the session to your daily outcome if relevant, and mark the session's usefulness when it ends. This creates the full loop that pure timer apps skip.
Protecting deep work time with blocks
The prerequisite for deep work sessions isn't a timer — it's protected time. If your calendar has no 90-minute windows free from meetings and interruptions, no timer in the world will give you deep work. today's calendar sync makes the available deep work windows visible: the gaps between meetings are where your deep work blocks go. The combination of calendar-aware blocking and in-block focus sessions means you're working within a plan that reflects reality rather than aspirationally filling a fresh grid. Protected time plus deliberate sessions is the complete deep work infrastructure.
Session length and deep work quality
Deep work quality degrades predictably with session length beyond a cognitive threshold. Most researchers and practitioners converge on 90–120 minutes as the upper bound for a single deep work session before rest becomes necessary (aligned with ultradian rhythm research by Peretz Lavie and others). today doesn't enforce session length — it records what you actually do. Over time, your session data reveals your personal deep work window: the duration range where your sessions consistently log as helpful. That data is more reliable than any prescribed framework because it's calibrated to your specific cognitive patterns and work type.
The difference between timer apps and deep work infrastructure
Forest, Be Focused, and similar timer apps solve the in-session motivation problem. today solves the broader infrastructure problem: what to work on, when to work on it, and whether the sessions are producing meaningful output. A timer app tells you 'you worked for 45 minutes.' today tells you 'you worked for 45 minutes on the feature spec, it was linked to your outcome, you logged it as helpful, and your outcome was completed by 2pm.' The difference between those two readings is the difference between activity tracking and productivity insight.
Frequently asked questions
Related
- FeatureFocus Session Tracker — todaytoday's focus session tracker logs what you work on, how long you focus, and whether it connects to your daily outcome. Honest data, no judgment.
- FeatureTime Blocking App — todaytoday is a calm time blocking app for knowledge workers. Sketch your day in blocks, log focus sessions, and close the loop each evening.
- FeatureDaily Outcome Setting — todaytoday's daily outcome is your most important result for the day. Every focus session can link to it, every commitment can serve it. One outcome. Full commitment.
- FeatureMindful Productivity App — todaytoday is a mindful productivity app for knowledge workers who want to do their best work without burning out. Calm interface, intentional planning, honest reflection.