https://github.com/tiberriver256/outlookpomodoro

https://github.com/tiberriver256/outlookpomodoro

Last synced: 4 months ago
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• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/tiberriver256/outlookpomodoro
• Owner: Tiberriver256
• License: mit
• Created: 2021-06-19T19:39:51.000Z (over 4 years ago)
• Default Branch: main
• Last Pushed: 2021-06-19T20:24:27.000Z (over 4 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-02-14T06:56:55.001Z (8 months ago)
• Language: PowerShell
• Size: 165 KB
• Stars: 2
• Watchers: 3
• Forks: 1
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • License: LICENSE

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README

          
# OutlookPomodoro

## Introduction

This is a personal productivity tool I developed to help myself stay on track of tasks. It requires that you be using a Windows computer with Outlook installed.

Original inspiration was from https://github.com/janegilring/PSProductivityTools and [The Pomodoro Technique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique)

## Features

* Work is tracked in Outlook which means

  * Work is synced across machines

  * Work and work history is easily reportable via Excel/PowerBI

  * Emails can quickly be turned into [work items](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-task-from-a-message-40deff88-941a-4fc0-aba1-7d929d947795)

* An optional 'ding' every configurable number of minutes to give your brain a hit of dopamine for staying on task

* Track interruptions (internal/external) and automatically follow-up on them at the end of each work interval (you will be prompted to forget them or add an Outlook note for later).

* Track estimated vs actual pomodori to complete a task (this can be used to generate a personal velocity metric, if you're into the solo Scrum methodology)

## Installation

This module is not currently set up on the PowerShell Gallery. You will need to [install it manually](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/developer/module/installing-a-powershell-module?view=powershell-7.1).

## Requirements

* PowerShell 5 or later

* Microsoft Outlook

## Usage

1. Add a task in Outlook

![Image of a task in Outlook](./assets/2021-06-19-16-04-15.png)

2. Start Working on your tasks

```pwsh

# Get some tasks from Outlook

[array]$Tasks = Get-OutlookTasks -Folder "[MyEmailAddress]\Tasks\" -State Open

# Start working on them

do {

   Start-PomodoroWork -Task $Tasks[0] -Minutes 25 -DingMinutes 1

   [array]$Tasks = Get-OutlookTasks -Folder "[MyEmailAddress]\Tasks\" -State Open

} while ($Tasks.count -gt 0)

```

3. You will be prompted to estimate how many pomodori it will take to complete the task

![Image of being prompted to estimate how many pomodori to complete the task](./assets/2021-06-19-16-06-05.png)

4. Work on the task!

![Image of the console showing work progress on the task](./assets/2021-06-19-16-07-22.png)

5. Keep track of work in Outlook

The module will add new custom columns to the task object in Outlook for tracking your estimates/interruptions/etc.

You can view these within Outlook by:

  a) Right click on the columns Outlook

  b) Select **Columns...**

  c) Select in the drop-down menu **User-defined fields in folder**

  d) Add the following fields: **CompletedPomodori, EstimatedPomodori, ExternalInterruptions, InternalInterruptions**.

Your tasks should now look like this in Outlook:

![Image of extra columns in Outlook Tasks folder](./assets/2021-06-19-16-13-05.png)

If you don't want to estimate pomodori in PowerShell you can now use this view to provide estimates and Outlook will no longer prompt you.