Focus session · research · 25 min
Focus session for research: 25 minutes, white noise, when you are somewhere noisy
25 minutes of research, with white noise and a note on what to do when you drift.
25:00
Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.
Unclench your jaw. You were probably holding it without noticing. Noise is fine. You are not trying to hear anything subtle. This is a short one, so let's use the time properly.
1 Before you start
- Take one slow breath before you press start, so the session has a beginning.
- Decide what you will do if you get stuck: write the problem out, then move on.
- Decide now what you will do when the timer ends. Otherwise the decision will eat the first five minutes.
- Choose one question to answer in this block, rather than a whole subject to cover.
- 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 start tidying your desk, that is avoidance. Sit back down.
- If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.
- If you are stuck, say the problem out loud. It changes what you can see.
3 When it ends
- Decide whether the next block is the same task or a different one. Do not drift into it.
- Leave the desk tidier than you found it. Two minutes now saves ten later.
- Roll your shoulders and your neck before the next block.
4What to put on
white noise — Flat across all frequencies and very effective at covering speech. Some people find it harsh after an hour; keep the volume low.
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