25-minute focus session for studying with birds at dawn, if you are new to this

1 Before you start

• Put your phone in another room, or in a drawer you cannot reach without standing up.
• Choose one question to answer in this block, rather than a whole subject to cover.
• Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".
• Promise yourself you will not check anything until the timer ends, including "just quickly".
• Have a piece of paper beside you for the thoughts that will try to interrupt.

2 While the timer runs

• Notice the moment your hand moves toward your phone. That moment is the whole skill.
• If your attention keeps sliding, shorten the next block rather than abandoning this one.
• When you catch yourself re-reading the same sentence, stop and write down what you were looking for.
• If you are stuck, say the problem out loud. It changes what you can see.

3 When it ends

• Write one line about where to start next time. Future you will be grateful.
• Leave the desk tidier than you found it. Two minutes now saves ten later.
• Decide whether the next block is the same task or a different one. Do not drift into it.

4What to put on

birds at dawn — Bright but not sharp. Better for early sessions than for late ones.