Focus Dashboard — Full Guide

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What It Does

The Focus Dashboard combines three essential tools into one screen — a Pomodoro timer, a Markdown scratchpad, and an Eisenhower prioritisation matrix. No tab-switching. No context loss. Everything you need for a focused work session on one page.

The Three Panels

1. Pomodoro Timer (Left)

Same 25/5 minute focus/break cycle as the standalone Pomodoro Timer, built right into the dashboard. Start, pause, and reset with keyboard shortcuts. The session counter tracks how many blocks you've completed today.

2. Markdown Scratchpad (Center)

A minimal notes area for capturing thoughts mid-focus. When a random idea pops up during deep work — "buy milk," "reply to John," "what about that other approach?" — drop it here instead of breaking focus. Supports basic Markdown formatting. Data persists in your browser.

3. Eisenhower Matrix (Right)

Four quadrants to sort your tasks:

• Urgent + Important — Do now (crisis, deadlines)
• Important, Not Urgent — Schedule (strategy, growth, deep work)
• Urgent, Not Important — Delegate or quick-handle
• Not Urgent, Not Important — Eliminate or backlog

Drag tasks between quadrants as priorities shift.

How to Use It

1. Open the Focus Dashboard
2. First, scan the Eisenhower Matrix. Move any urgent tasks to the top-left quadrant. Identify what truly deserves your next Pomodoro.
3. Start the Pomodoro timer. Commit to your chosen task.
4. If a distraction pops up during the session, write it in the scratchpad — don't act on it. The scratchpad is a holding zone, not a to-do list.
5. During your 5-minute break, review the scratchpad. Move items to the Eisenhower Matrix if they're actionable.

Tips for Best Results

• Start every session with the matrix. Spend 60 seconds sorting before you hit start. The timer is about execution, not planning.
• Trust the scratchpad. The hardest part of deep work is resisting the pull of a distracting thought. Writing it down is enough — your brain releases it knowing it's captured.
• One Pomodoro minimum. Even if you only do one block, that's one block more than zero. Some days the dashboard is a full work session. Some days it's 25 minutes. Both count.
• Weekend review. At the end of each week, scan the scratchpad for recurring themes. If the same task keeps appearing, it needs to be scheduled — not just noted.

What Problem It Solves

Context switching is the biggest productivity killer. Every tab switch costs 20+ minutes to regain deep focus. The Focus Dashboard keeps your timer, your notes, and your priorities in one view — so you never leave the page until your session is done.

Related Tools

• Pomodoro Timer — Standalone timer if you don't need the full dashboard
• Habit Tracker — Track how many focus sessions you complete each day
• Decision Matrix — Use when the Eisenhower quadrants are unclear and you need weighted comparison