Deep work timer: 90 minutes of applications and forms (plain quiet), when you have just finished work

1 Before you start

• Close the door, or put headphones on, whichever signals "working" to the people around you.
• Give yourself permission to stop when the timer ends, even mid-sentence.
• Take one slow breath before you press start, so the session has a beginning.
• Plan to leave the last two minutes for writing down where to pick up next time.
• Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".

2 While the timer runs

• If your attention keeps sliding, shorten the next block rather than abandoning this one.
• If you feel the urge to check something, write it on the paper beside you and keep going. Deal with the list afterwards.
• If the task suddenly feels impossible, make it smaller rather than stopping. One paragraph. One function. One row.
• If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.

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.
• Write one line about where to start next time. Future you will be grateful.

4What to put on

plain quiet — No added sound at all. If you have a quiet room, that is usually better than any recording of one.