Focus session · thesis writing · 90 min
A 90-minute block for thesis writing, with a fireplace, when nothing else has worked today
A single 90-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
90:00
Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.
There is nothing to get right here. Nothing is being scored. Nothing else has worked today. That is not a reason to skip this. We'll be efficient and then you can get on with your day.
1 Before you start
- Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".
- Give yourself permission to stop when the timer ends, even mid-sentence.
- Have a piece of paper beside you for the thoughts that will try to interrupt.
- Decide what you will do if you get stuck: write the problem out, then move on.
- Get water now, so you do not have to get up in fifteen minutes.
2 While the timer runs
- If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
- If nothing is working, write badly on purpose for two minutes.
- If a thought will not leave, give it one line on the page and return to the task.
- Notice whether you are working or performing work. They look similar from the outside.
3 When it ends
- Have a drink of water before you check anything.
- Do not immediately open the thing you were avoiding. Give the block a proper end.
- Stand up and move for at least two minutes. The break is part of the method, not a reward.
4What to put on
a fireplace — Crackles and a low roar underneath. Warm, irregular, and undemanding.
This page is a tool, not a course. Nothing is tracked, nothing is saved, and nobody is told whether you finished.