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Leave on time

Work backwards from arrival, with room for travel, preparation and a buffer.

See a worked example and instructions

Get ready in this order

Enter your timing and preparation steps to build a timeline.

Times use your device’s current time zone. Travel is your estimate. The timeline shows planned timing, not task completion. It cannot notify you after you close the page.

How do I work backwards from an arrival time?

Subtract your early-arrival buffer and travel estimate from the arrival time to find when to leave. Then subtract the total preparation time to find when to start getting ready. The tool arranges your estimates into a timeline.

How to use it

  1. Enter your arrival date and time and your own travel estimate.
  2. Choose a buffer for this trip and list preparation steps in order with their durations.
  3. Build the timeline to see when to prepare and leave. Edit it when the plan changes.

Worked example

Arrive at 09:00, with a 30-minute journey and a 10-minute early-arrival buffer.

Preparation: 15 minutes to wash and dress, then 5 minutes to collect keys and belongings.

Result: Start preparing at 08:00, leave at 08:20 and arrive at 08:50 with a buffer.

These numbers illustrate the calculation; they are not a universal timing recommendation. Travel is your estimate, without live traffic data. Times use your device time zone. There are no notifications after you close the page. Plans crossing midnight show the corresponding dates.

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