A 50-minute block for applications and forms, with a fireplace, when you feel fine and want to stay that way

1 Before you start

• Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".
• Let go of the version of this task you imagined doing perfectly.
• Write down the one thing you are going to do, in a single sentence, before you start.
• If your mind is already racing, write down the three loudest thoughts before you begin.
• Make sure your chair is at a height where your feet are flat on the floor.

2 While the timer runs

• When you catch yourself re-reading the same sentence, stop and write down what you were looking for.
• If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
• If the task suddenly feels impossible, make it smaller rather than stopping. One paragraph. One function. One row.
• If a thought will not leave, give it one line on the page and return to the task.

3 When it ends

• Note what you actually got done, not what you meant to get done.
• Roll your shoulders and your neck before the next block.
• 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.