Focus session · practising an instrument · 90 min
A 90-minute block for practising an instrument, with rain on a window, when you have woken up too early
A single 90-minute block for practising an instrument — slowly, with the metronome.
90:00
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. Waking too early is a specific kind of frustrating. This helps with the frustration. We'll be efficient and then you can get on with your day.
1 Before you start
- Set the timer where you can see it, or where you can deliberately not see it.
- Tell yourself the goal is time spent, not output produced.
- Turn off notifications for the next block, not just to silent.
- Remember that motivation usually arrives after starting, not before.
- Put your phone in another room, or in a drawer you cannot reach without standing up.
2 While the timer runs
- If nothing is working, write badly on purpose for two minutes.
- It is fine to stare at the wall for a minute. That is often where the answer is.
- If you feel the urge to check something, write it on the paper beside you and keep going. Deal with the list afterwards.
- When you finish a piece, pause for three seconds before starting the next. It keeps the pace honest.
3 When it ends
- Note what you actually got done, not what you meant to get done.
- Resist the urge to review the work straight away. Come back to it later with fresh eyes.
- Have a drink of water before you check anything.
4What to put on
rain on a window — Steady rain is broadband noise with a slow natural rhythm. It masks speech and keyboard clatter without being interesting enough to listen to.
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