Focus session · practising an instrument · 50 min
50-minute focus block for practising an instrument — a fireplace, if you are doing this in the middle of the day
A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to drill the hard bars.
50:00
Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.
You don't have to empty your mind. Nobody has ever managed that, including the people who wrote the instructions. Midday is an underrated time for this. Follow the instructions and let the rest look after itself.
1 Before you start
- Set the timer where you can see it, or where you can deliberately not see it.
- Remember that motivation usually arrives after starting, not before.
- Have a piece of paper beside you for the thoughts that will try to interrupt.
- Lower the bar until starting feels almost silly, then start.
- Make sure your chair is at a height where your feet are flat on the floor.
2 While the timer runs
- It is fine to stare at the wall for a minute. That is often where the answer is.
- If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
- When you finish a piece, pause for three seconds before starting the next. It keeps the pace honest.
- The first urge to stop usually arrives early. Sit through it once and the second one is quieter.
3 When it ends
- Do not immediately open the thing you were avoiding. Give the block a proper end.
- Have a drink of water before you check anything.
- Write one line about where to start next time. Future you will be grateful.
4What to put on
a fireplace — Crackles and a low roar underneath. Warm, irregular, and undemanding.
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