Focus session · problem solving · 25 min
A 25-minute block for problem solving, with white noise, when you cannot concentrate on anything else
A single 25-minute block for problem solving — before looking anything up.
25:00
Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.
Notice whether you're leaning forward. Most people are, slightly, all day. When concentration is gone, work with what is left. This is a short one, so let's use the time properly.
1 Before you start
- Clear the surface in front of you down to the thing you are working on.
- If your mind is already racing, write down the three loudest thoughts before you begin.
- Close every tab that is not needed for this one task. Not minimised — closed.
- Decide in advance that a bad sentence is still progress.
- Make sure your chair is at a height where your feet are flat on the floor.
2 While the timer runs
- When you get an idea for something else, park it. Do not follow it.
- If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
- When the timer feels too long, look at it less. The clock is not the task.
- When you catch yourself re-reading the same sentence, stop and write down what you were looking for.
3 When it ends
- Look out of a window for thirty seconds. Your eyes have been at one distance for a while.
- Stand up and move for at least two minutes. The break is part of the method, not a reward.
- Take the break away from the screen, even if it is just the other side of the room.
4What to put on
white noise — Flat across all frequencies and very effective at covering speech. Some people find it harsh after an hour; keep the volume low.
This page is a tool, not a course. Nothing is tracked, nothing is saved, and nobody is told whether you finished.