Five prompts. Copy them, adapt them to your work, and use them as the basis for your pre-session runway.
Each one addresses a specific friction point in the deep work entry process.
Prompt 1: Context Loading (Gate 1)
Use this at the start of every session to load your working memory before you touch the document.
I'm starting a [X]-minute deep work session on [project/task].
Here is my current context:
[paste: last draft, notes, task description, or relevant emails]
Give me:
1. Two sentences on where I am in this work right now.
2. The single most important thing to do in this session.
3. Three things I need to hold in mind to do it well.
4. One risk or complication to watch for.
Keep the output under 150 words.Why it works: Complex tasks require loading a mental model before you can make progress on them. This prompt produces a condensed brief that collapses 15–20 minutes of manual re-reading into 2 minutes of reading.
Prompt 2: Interruption Triage (Gate 2)
Use this when you have several pending items that might surface as distractions during the session.
I'm going offline for [X] minutes.
These open loops might pull my attention during the session:
[list them—be specific]
For each one, tell me:
- A 30-second action I can take right now to create closure, OR
- A short message I can send to hand it off, OR
- Whether it can genuinely wait until after.Why it works: Attention residue is generated by unfinished tasks as well as completed ones that linger. Triage creates cognitive closure on items you are actively monitoring, which frees attention for the session.
Prompt 3: Exit-Point Definition (Gate 3)
Use this before every session to define what success looks like.
My session goal is: [describe the task or project area]
I have [X] minutes.
Define a specific, observable exit point for this session.
Requirements:
- Ambitious but achievable in the time I have
- Observable: I can say "done" or "not done" definitively
- Narrower than my full project goal
Not "make progress"—name the actual deliverable.Why it works: Clear goals are a prerequisite for flow states (Csikszentmihalyi). A defined exit point also prevents sessions from drifting or extending indefinitely, which protects cognitive resources for subsequent days.
Prompt 4: Mid-Session Recovery
Use this only if you are interrupted during a session and need to re-orient quickly.
I was interrupted [X] minutes into a session on [task].
Before the interruption, I was working on [specific thing].
I have [remaining time] left.
In three sentences: re-orient me to where I was
and give me the single best thing to work on
for the remaining time.Why it works: After an interruption, re-orientation takes 5–15 minutes unaided. This prompt compresses it. The key is using it quickly rather than letting the interruption expand into a longer break.
Prompt 5: Session Handoff (Post-Session)
Use this at the end of every session to create your Gate 1 input for next time.
My session on [project] is ending.
I completed: [brief description of what you produced]
I stopped at: [where exactly you left off]
The next step is: [best guess at the most important next action]
Write a three-sentence handoff note I can paste
into my next context-loading prompt.
Write it as if briefing a version of me who has
completely forgotten this session.Why it works: Cold starts—sessions where you have no handoff from the previous session—cost the most ramp time. A handoff note makes Gate 1 faster and more accurate next time.
The Sequence in Use
Before a session: run Prompts 1, 2 (if needed), and 3. Close AI. Work.
If interrupted: run Prompt 4 once. Close AI. Return to work.
At session end: run Prompt 5. Save the output somewhere you can find it.
Total AI time per session: 5–8 minutes. Total uninterrupted session time: whatever you have blocked.
Start Right Now
Copy Prompt 3 and run it before your next session. Define what done looks like before you start. That single prompt will show you the value of the others.
Related:
- The Complete Guide to Deep Work with AI Assistance
- The Complete Guide to Deep Work Scheduling with AI
- The Complete Guide to Time Blocking with AI
Tags: AI prompts, deep work, focus, quick win, productivity
Frequently Asked Questions
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When should I use these prompts?
Prompts 1–3 are used immediately before a session (the runway). Prompt 4 is for mid-session recovery if you get interrupted. Prompt 5 is used at the end of every session to prepare the next Gate 1 input. Together they cover the full deep work session lifecycle.
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Do I need to use all five prompts every session?
Not necessarily. Prompts 1, 3, and 5 are the core set—context loading, exit point, and handoff. Prompt 2 (interruption triage) is most useful when you have several open loops. Prompt 4 (recovery) is for use only when an interruption actually occurs.