A 50-minute block for reading, with a fan or air conditioner, when you are somewhere noisy

1 Before you start

• Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".
• Decide that today's session does not have to be good. It has to happen.
• Close every tab that is not needed for this one task. Not minimised — closed.
• Give yourself permission to stop when the timer ends, even mid-sentence.
• Put your phone in another room, or in a drawer you cannot reach without standing up.

2 While the timer runs

• If you are stuck, say the problem out loud. It changes what you can see.
• It is fine to stare at the wall for a minute. That is often where the answer is.
• Notice the moment your hand moves toward your phone. That moment is the whole skill.
• Notice whether you are working or performing work. They look similar from the outside.

3 When it ends

• Leave the file open if you are coming back. Closing it makes restarting harder.
• Have a drink of water before you check anything.
• Resist the urge to review the work straight away. Come back to it later with fresh eyes.

4What to put on

a fan or air conditioner — A constant mechanical hum with no variation. The lack of change is the point — nothing in it asks for your attention.