25-minute focus session for thesis writing with birds at dawn, when you are not in the mood

1 Before you start

• Turn off notifications for the next block, not just to silent.
• Decide what you will do if you get stuck: write the problem out, then move on.
• Close the door, or put headphones on, whichever signals "working" to the people around you.
• Let go of the version of this task you imagined doing perfectly.
• Decide now what you will do when the timer ends. Otherwise the decision will eat the first five minutes.

2 While the timer runs

• If you feel restless, change your posture rather than your task.
• When you catch yourself re-reading the same sentence, stop and write down what you were looking for.
• If you are bored, the boredom is usually the last thing before something clicks.
• If you feel the urge to check something, write it on the paper beside you and keep going. Deal with the list afterwards.

3 When it ends

• Decide whether the next block is the same task or a different one. Do not drift into it.
• Have a drink of water before you check anything.
• Note what you actually got done, not what you meant to get done.

4What to put on

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