Deep work timer: 50 minutes of planning (rain on a window), when you need something unremarkable

1 Before you start

• Turn off notifications for the next block, not just to silent.
• Tell yourself the goal is time spent, not output produced.
• Go to the toilet first. It sounds trivial until you are mid-sentence.
• Remind yourself that you are allowed to produce something mediocre in the first pass.
• Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".

2 While the timer runs

• If you start tidying your desk, that is avoidance. Sit back down.
• If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
• Notice the moment your hand moves toward your phone. That moment is the whole skill.
• If you feel restless, change your posture rather than your task.

3 When it ends

• Leave the desk tidier than you found it. Two minutes now saves ten later.
• Write one line about where to start next time. Future you will be grateful.
• 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.