Focus session · design work · 90 min
Focus session for design work: 90 minutes, a train carriage, when you are at home and cannot settle
90 minutes of design work, with a train carriage and a note on what to do when you drift.
90:00
Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.
Let your eyes soften. Not closed, just less busy. Being at home and unable to settle is a very specific problem. This works better when you don't overthink it.
1 Before you start
- Dim the screen slightly. Bright screens make long sessions harder than they need to be.
- Lower the bar until starting feels almost silly, then start.
- Clear the surface in front of you down to the thing you are working on.
- Expect to want to stop at about the eight-minute mark. That is normal and it passes.
- Take one slow breath before you press start, so the session has a beginning.
2 While the timer runs
- Notice whether you are working or performing work. They look similar from the outside.
- If you are stuck, say the problem out loud. It changes what you can see.
- If you start tidying your desk, that is avoidance. Sit back down.
- When the timer feels too long, look at it less. The clock is not the task.
3 When it ends
- Have a drink of water before you check anything.
- If it went badly, note one thing that worked anyway. There is usually one.
- Resist the urge to review the work straight away. Come back to it later with fresh eyes.
4What to put on
a train carriage — Rhythmic, low, and slightly rumbly. Many people find the motion-and-noise combination easier to work to than silence.
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