# A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv0ieik30063jw06g3kqv75s
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 28 steps across 3 layers
- Persona: You, Your team, Your manager
- Technology / systems: Email and chat, Calendar

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Meetings and stand-ups** (A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump; critical): Meetings with no agenda and no decisions
- **Triage email and chat** (A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump; painful): Email triage eats the first hour of the day
- **Hit the energy crash?** (A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump; annoying): The 3 p.m. crash

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump

Lanes:
- You: person / role (id `me`)
- Your team: person / role (id `team`)
- Email and chat: technology / system (id `inbox`)
- Calendar: technology / system (id `cal`)
- Your manager: person / role (id `boss`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Arrive, coffee, sit down** [start; You; id `w1`]
   - then Triage email and chat
2. **Triage email and chat** [task; Email and chat; id `w2`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (painful): Email triage eats the first hour of the day
   - then Anything urgent?
3. **Anything urgent?** [decision; You; id `w3`]
   - if "Yes" go to Deal with it first; if "No" go to Check the day's meetings
4. **Deal with it first** [task; You; id `w4`]
   - then Check the day's meetings
5. **Check the day's meetings** [task; Calendar; id `w5`]
   - then Pick the one thing that must get done today
6. **Pick the one thing that must get done today** [task; You; id `w6`]
   - then A focus block
7. **A focus block** [subprocess; You; id `w7`], opens the detail layer "A focus block"
   - then Meetings and stand-ups
8. **Meetings and stand-ups** [subprocess; Your team; id `w8`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (critical): Meetings with no agenda and no decisions, opens the detail layer "A meeting that earns its time"
   - then Lunch away from the screen?
9. **Lunch away from the screen?** [decision; You; id `w9`]
   - if "Yes" go to Afternoon work; if "No" go to Eat at your desk. Again.
10. **Afternoon work** [task; You; id `w10`]
   - then Hit the energy crash?
11. **Hit the energy crash?** [decision; You; id `w11`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (annoying): The 3 p.m. crash
   - if "Yes" go to Walk, drink water, do one small easy task; if "No" go to Did you finish the one thing?
12. **Walk, drink water, do one small easy task** [task; You; id `w12`]
   - then Did you finish the one thing?
13. **Did you finish the one thing?** [decision; You; id `w13`]
   - if "Yes" go to A quick update on progress; if "No" go to Decide: stay late, or move it and say so
14. **A quick update on progress** [task; Your manager; id `w14`]
   - then Close the laptop and pick tomorrow's one thing
15. **Close the laptop and pick tomorrow's one thing** [end; You; id `w15`]
16. **Decide: stay late, or move it and say so** [task; You; id `w13a`]
   - then A quick update on progress
17. **Eat at your desk. Again.** [task; You; id `w9a`]
   - then Afternoon work

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_me["You"]
    n_w1(["Arrive, coffee, sit down"])
    n_w3{"Anything urgent?"}
    n_w4["Deal with it first"]
    n_w6["Pick the one thing that must get done today"]
    n_w7[["A focus block"]]
    n_w9{"Lunch away from the screen?"}
    n_w9a["Eat at your desk. Again."]
    n_w10["Afternoon work"]
    n_w11{"Hit the energy crash?"}
    n_w12["Walk, drink water, do one small easy task"]
    n_w13{"Did you finish the one thing?"}
    n_w13a["Decide: stay late, or move it and say so"]
    n_w15(["Close the laptop and pick tomorrow's one thing"])
  end
  subgraph l_team["Your team"]
    n_w8[["Meetings and stand-ups"]]
  end
  subgraph l_inbox["Email and chat"]
    n_w2["Triage email and chat"]
  end
  subgraph l_cal["Calendar"]
    n_w5["Check the day's meetings"]
  end
  subgraph l_boss["Your manager"]
    n_w14["A quick update on progress"]
  end
  n_w1 --> n_w2
  n_w2 --> n_w3
  n_w3 -->|"Yes"| n_w4
  n_w3 -->|"No"| n_w5
  n_w4 --> n_w5
  n_w5 --> n_w6
  n_w6 --> n_w7
  n_w7 --> n_w8
  n_w8 --> n_w9
  n_w9 -->|"Yes"| n_w10
  n_w9 -->|"No"| n_w9a
  n_w9a --> n_w10
  n_w10 --> n_w11
  n_w11 -->|"Yes"| n_w12
  n_w11 -->|"No"| n_w13
  n_w12 --> n_w13
  n_w13 -->|"Yes"| n_w14
  n_w13 -->|"No"| n_w13a
  n_w13a --> n_w14
  n_w14 --> n_w15
```

### A meeting that earns its time (detail of step "Meetings and stand-ups")

Lanes:
- You: person / role (id `me`)
- Your team: person / role (id `team`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **The meeting starts** [start; Your team; id `m1`]
   - then Is there an agenda?
2. **Is there an agenda?** [decision; Your team; id `m2`]
   - if "Yes" go to Discuss and decide; if "No" go to Ask: what decision are we making?
3. **Discuss and decide** [task; Your team; id `m3`]
   - then Action items with owners and dates
4. **Action items with owners and dates** [task; Your team; id `m5`]
   - then Send the notes within the hour
5. **Send the notes within the hour** [end; You; id `m6`]
6. **Ask: what decision are we making?** [task; You; id `m4`]
   - then Discuss and decide

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_me["You"]
    n_m4["Ask: what decision are we making?"]
    n_m6(["Send the notes within the hour"])
  end
  subgraph l_team["Your team"]
    n_m1(["The meeting starts"])
    n_m2{"Is there an agenda?"}
    n_m3["Discuss and decide"]
    n_m5["Action items with owners and dates"]
  end
  n_m1 --> n_m2
  n_m2 -->|"Yes"| n_m3
  n_m2 -->|"No"| n_m4
  n_m4 --> n_m3
  n_m3 --> n_m5
  n_m5 --> n_m6
```

### A focus block (detail of step "A focus block")

Lanes:
- You: person / role (id `me`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Silence notifications** [start; You; id `f1`]
   - then Set a 50-minute timer
2. **Set a 50-minute timer** [task; You; id `f2`]
   - then Distracted?
3. **Distracted?** [decision; You; id `f3`]
   - if "Yes" go to Write the distraction down and go back to work; if "No" go to Break: stand up and stretch
4. **Write the distraction down and go back to work** [task; You; id `f4`]
   - then Distracted?
5. **Break: stand up and stretch** [end; You; id `f5`]

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_me["You"]
    n_f1(["Silence notifications"])
    n_f2["Set a 50-minute timer"]
    n_f3{"Distracted?"}
    n_f4["Write the distraction down and go back to work"]
    n_f5(["Break: stand up and stretch"])
  end
  n_f1 --> n_f2
  n_f2 --> n_f3
  n_f3 -->|"Yes"| n_f4
  n_f3 -->|"No"| n_f5
  n_f4 --> n_f3
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump",
  "maps": {
    "m_meet": {
      "id": "m_meet",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "me",
          "name": "You",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "team",
          "name": "Your team",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "m1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "team",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "m2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "The meeting starts"
        },
        {
          "id": "m2",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "team",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "m3",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "m4",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is there an agenda?"
        },
        {
          "id": "m4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "m3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Ask: what decision are we making?"
        },
        {
          "id": "m3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "team",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "m5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Discuss and decide"
        },
        {
          "id": "m5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "team",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "m6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Action items with owners and dates"
        },
        {
          "id": "m6",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Send the notes within the hour"
        }
      ],
      "title": "A meeting that earns its time",
      "parent": {
        "map": "m_root",
        "step": "w8"
      }
    },
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "me",
          "name": "You",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "team",
          "name": "Your team",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "inbox",
          "name": "Email and chat",
          "type": "system"
        },
        {
          "id": "cal",
          "name": "Calendar",
          "type": "system"
        },
        {
          "id": "boss",
          "name": "Your manager",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "w1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Arrive, coffee, sit down"
        },
        {
          "id": "w2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "inbox",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w3"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Email triage eats the first hour of the day",
            "level": 2
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Triage email and chat"
        },
        {
          "id": "w3",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w4",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "w5",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Anything urgent?"
        },
        {
          "id": "w4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Deal with it first"
        },
        {
          "id": "w5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "cal",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Check the day's meetings"
        },
        {
          "id": "w6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Pick the one thing that must get done today"
        },
        {
          "id": "w7",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w8"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "child": "m_focus",
          "label": "A focus block"
        },
        {
          "id": "w8",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "team",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w9"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Meetings with no agenda and no decisions",
            "level": 3
          },
          "uses": [],
          "child": "m_meet",
          "label": "Meetings and stand-ups"
        },
        {
          "id": "w9",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w10",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "w9a",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Lunch away from the screen?"
        },
        {
          "id": "w9a",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Eat at your desk. Again."
        },
        {
          "id": "w10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Afternoon work"
        },
        {
          "id": "w11",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w12",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "w13",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "The 3 p.m. crash",
            "level": 1
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Hit the energy crash?"
        },
        {
          "id": "w12",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w13"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Walk, drink water, do one small easy task"
        },
        {
          "id": "w13",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w14",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "w13a",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Did you finish the one thing?"
        },
        {
          "id": "w13a",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w14"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Decide: stay late, or move it and say so"
        },
        {
          "id": "w14",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "boss",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "w15"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "A quick update on progress"
        },
        {
          "id": "w15",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Close the laptop and pick tomorrow's one thing"
        }
      ],
      "title": "A day of work: focus, meetings and the 3 p.m. slump",
      "parent": null
    },
    "m_focus": {
      "id": "m_focus",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "me",
          "name": "You",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "f1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "f2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Silence notifications"
        },
        {
          "id": "f2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "f3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Set a 50-minute timer"
        },
        {
          "id": "f3",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "f4",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "f5",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Distracted?"
        },
        {
          "id": "f4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "f3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Write the distraction down and go back to work"
        },
        {
          "id": "f5",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "me",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Break: stand up and stretch"
        }
      ],
      "title": "A focus block",
      "parent": {
        "map": "m_root",
        "step": "w7"
      }
    }
  }
}
```