Skip to content
Samvise.Help

Time Windows

Define when different types of tasks can be scheduled

Time Windows

Time windows define when you want to work on different types of tasks. They're one of the most powerful features in Samvise, allowing you to separate work from personal time, create focused blocks, and match tasks to your energy levels throughout the day.

What Are Time Windows?

A time window is a named time period with weekly scheduling slots. Tasks assigned to a window can only be scheduled during that window's active times.

Example:

  • Work window: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Personal window: Monday-Friday, 6 PM - 10 PM, plus weekends
  • Deep Focus window: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 11 AM

Tasks in the "Work" time window will never be scheduled at 8 PM, even if you have free time—they respect their time window.

Creating a Time Window

Via Settings

  1. Go to Settings > Time Windows
  2. Click "+ New Time Window"
  3. Enter window name
  4. Choose a color
  5. Set weekly slots (see below)
  6. Click "Create"

Setting Weekly Slots

For each day of the week, define when this window is active:

Single Block Per Day

  • Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Check boxes for other weekdays to duplicate

Multiple Blocks Per Day

  • Monday Morning: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Monday Afternoon: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Use "+ Add Block" to create multiple slots

Day Off

  • Uncheck the day to make the window inactive
  • Tasks won't be scheduled on inactive days

Via Chat

The chat assistant can create time windows for you:

  • "Create a work time window for weekdays 9 to 5"
  • "Add a personal time window for evenings and weekends"
  • "Set up deep focus window for weekday mornings 9 to 11"

Common Time Window Setups

Work and Personal Split

Work

  • Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • For: Work projects, meetings, client work

Personal

  • Monday-Friday: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
  • For: Personal tasks, errands, hobbies

Deep Focus vs. Shallow Work

Deep Focus

  • Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • For: Complex coding, writing, strategic thinking

Meetings & Collaboration

  • Monday-Friday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • For: Meetings, emails, quick tasks

Admin

  • Monday-Friday: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • For: Expenses, email cleanup, planning

Client-Based Windows

Client A

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • For: All Client A work

Client B

  • Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • For: All Client B work

Internal

  • Daily: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • For: Your company's work

Energy-Based Windows

Peak Energy

  • Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • For: high-priority tasks, creative work, problem-solving

Mid Energy

  • Monday-Friday: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • For: Regular work, meetings, execution

Low Energy

  • Monday-Friday: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • For: Admin, email, easy tasks

Default Time Window

Every account needs a default time window:

Purpose

  • New tasks are assigned to the default window automatically
  • Fallback when no specific window is chosen
  • Usually your primary working time

Setting Default

  1. Go to Settings > Time Windows
  2. Find the window you want as default
  3. Click "Set as Default"
  4. Star icon appears next to the window name

Tips

  • Most people use "Work" or "General" as default
  • Choose the window where most tasks belong
  • You can always reassign tasks to different windows

Assigning Tasks to Windows

During Task Creation

  1. Create a new task
  2. In the "Time Window" field, select from dropdown
  3. Default window is pre-selected
  4. Change if needed

Editing Existing Tasks

  1. Open task details
  2. Click current time window
  3. Select new window from dropdown
  4. Task will be rescheduled if needed

Bulk Assignment

  1. Select multiple tasks (checkboxes)
  2. Click "Change Time Window"
  3. Select target window
  4. All tasks are reassigned and rescheduled

Via Chat

  • "Move all design tasks to Deep Focus window"
  • "Assign this task to Personal window"
  • "Change client tasks to the Client A window"

Managing Time Windows

Editing Windows

Change Name or Color

  1. Settings > Time Windows
  2. Click "Edit" on the window
  3. Update details
  4. Click "Save"

Modify Time Slots

  1. Edit the window
  2. Adjust start/end times for each day
  3. Add or remove blocks
  4. Save changes

All tasks remain assigned, but may be rescheduled to fit new times.

Pausing Windows

Pause a window to temporarily take it out of scheduling — its tasks stay assigned, but no new blocks are placed in it until you unpause. Useful for vacations or projects on hold.

Deleting Windows

Deleting a window moves its tasks to your default window, and their blocks are rescheduled there. The default window itself can't be deleted — set a different default first.

Time Windows and Scheduling

How Windows Control Scheduling

  • Tasks can only be scheduled during their window's active slots
  • Crossing windows requires manual scheduling
  • AI respects window boundaries absolutely

Example:

  • Task "Write report" is in "Work" window (M-F, 9-5)
  • You have free time Saturday morning
  • The scheduler won't place it Saturday (outside window)
  • Must manually schedule or change to "Personal" window

Overlapping Windows

Windows can overlap in time:

Example:

  • "Work": M-F, 9 AM - 5 PM
  • "Deep Focus": M-F, 9 AM - 11 AM (subset of Work)

How it works:

  • "Work" tasks can be scheduled 9-5
  • "Deep Focus" tasks can ONLY be scheduled 9-11
  • Both can compete for 9-11 slots
  • "Deep Focus" tasks won't fill "Work" tasks' afternoon slots

Use case: Protect morning time for focused work.

Buffer Time

You can add a buffer between consecutive blocks in Settings > Scheduling:

  • Off (default): blocks can be back-to-back
  • 5-15 minutes: short break between tasks
  • Up to 60 minutes: longer transitions, context switching

Buffers prevent over-scheduling and allow breathing room.

Best Practices

Start with 1-2 Windows

Don't create too many windows initially:

  • Most people start with "Work" and "Personal"
  • Add more as you identify needs
  • Too many windows = decision paralysis

Match Your Reality

Windows should reflect actual work patterns:

  • When are you actually available?
  • When do you have energy for different work types?
  • When are you typically free from interruptions?

Use Descriptive Names

Clear names help you and the AI:

  • Good: "Deep Focus", "Client Work", "Meetings"
  • Poor: "Window 1", "Stuff", "Things"

Consider Energy Levels

Create windows based on your energy:

  • Morning = high energy = complex tasks
  • Afternoon = moderate energy = meetings, execution
  • Evening = low energy = admin, planning

Don't Over-Segment

Too many narrow windows reduces scheduling flexibility:

  • "Work 9-10", "Work 10-11", "Work 11-12" is too granular
  • "Work 9-5" with task priorities is usually better

Review and Adjust

Your windows will evolve:

  • What works changes over time
  • Seasons affect availability
  • Projects change your schedule
  • Adjust windows quarterly

Troubleshooting

Tasks not being scheduled

Check if:

  • Time window slots are too narrow
  • Too many tasks for available window time
  • Window times don't align with calendar availability

Solution: Expand window hours or reduce task load.

Tasks scheduled at wrong times

Verify:

  • Task is assigned to correct window
  • Window times are configured correctly
  • Your timezone is set properly

Want to schedule across windows

Options:

  • Manually schedule the task (overrides window)
  • Change task to different window
  • Create overlapping windows for flexibility

Next Steps

Learn about: