How to Estimate Task Duration (and Why It Fixes Your Whole Plan)
Most todo lists ignore time entirely, which is exactly why they overcommit you. Adding a rough duration to every task — 15, 30, 60, 90 minutes — gives your plan a reality check. You can finally see what fits in today. The trick is to estimate fast and not agonize: rough numbers are good enough because what you're checking is fit, not perfection.
Why durations matter more than you think
Without durations, you commit to 12 tasks for a 3-hour day. With durations, you immediately see only 4 fit. The math does the saying-no for you.
The fast estimation method
Use four buckets: 15, 30, 60, 90 minutes. Pick the closest one in under five seconds per task. Resist the urge to be precise — precision isn't the point, fit is.
The 1.5x rule for new task types
When you've never done something before, multiply your guess by 1.5. Almost everything new takes longer than you expect.
What this unlocks
Once tasks have durations, your daily list can be auto-sized to your real focus capacity. You stop committing to days that were never possible. The plan starts being honest with you.
Skip the manual math.
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