Focus sessions
A timer, a short prep list, and a note on what to do when you drift. 582 blocks for writing, coding, studying and the rest of the work that needs an hour.
Deep work timer: 45 minutes of writing
One block of writing with vinyl crackle underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for reading — a fireplace, when you feel restless rather than tired
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to read properly.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for coding, with forest at dusk, when you are cold and want to be warm
A single 45-minute block for coding — one function at a time, not the whole system.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for exam revision with brown noise, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
25 minutes on exam revision — recall rather than re-reading. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →50-minute focus session for editing with plain quiet, when you have tried everything else
50 minutes on editing — the boring pass that makes it readable. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →90-minute decluttering session with vinyl crackle
Sit down, press start, and move things out for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for coding with a library, when you want to finish something
45 minutes on coding — one function at a time, not the whole system. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of exam revision
One block of exam revision with forest at dusk underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for brainstorming — a library, when you need something unremarkable
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to generate options.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for research — plain quiet, after a difficult conversation
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to follow one thread.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for applications and forms — forest at dusk, when you are somewhere noisy
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to get through the questions.
Start the block →45-minute studying session with rain on a window and a timer, when you are not sure this will work
Sit down, press start, and take in the material for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute drawing session with a train carriage and a timer, when you are not in the mood
Sit down, press start, and fill the page for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →90-minute reading session with vinyl crackle
Sit down, press start, and read properly for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for thesis writing, with white noise, when you feel restless rather than tired
A single 45-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for design work, with distant thunder, when nothing else has worked today
A single 50-minute block for design work — rough versions first.
Start the block →50-minute focus session for portfolio work with vinyl crackle, on a low-energy afternoon
50 minutes on portfolio work — the last ten percent. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for exam revision — a library, when the day has been loud
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to test yourself.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for data work — distant traffic, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to work through the numbers.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for editing — forest at dusk, if you have five quiet minutes
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to cut and tighten.
Start the block →25-minute planning session with plain quiet and a timer, when you want to be left alone
Sit down, press start, and decide what happens when for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →90-minute language practice session with birds at dawn and a timer, when your attention is scattered
Sit down, press start, and practise out loud for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for studying, with white noise, when you have been meaning to start
A single 45-minute block for studying — reading and notes, not highlighting.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for reading with rain on a window, when you are on your own
25 minutes on reading — pages rather than paragraphs. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for thesis writing with a train carriage, if you are fitting this around other people
45 minutes on thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute focus session for design work with vinyl crackle, when you have more time than usual
50 minutes on design work — rough versions first. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for problem solving — a fireplace, when you only have a few minutes
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to stay with the difficulty.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for coding — distant traffic, when you want something simple
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to work through the problem.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for practising an instrument — a fan or air conditioner, when you want to finish something
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to drill the hard bars.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for planning, with brown noise, when you are somewhere noisy
A single 45-minute block for planning — on paper, so you can see it.
Start the block →A 90-minute block for language practice, with plain quiet, when you are waiting for something
A single 90-minute block for language practice — repetition rather than novelty.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for studying with a train carriage, when the weather has kept you inside
45 minutes on studying — reading and notes, not highlighting. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for admin and email — vinyl crackle, if you have done this a hundred times
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to clear the queue.
Start the block →25-minute exam revision session with distant traffic and a timer, when you have woken up too early
Sit down, press start, and test yourself for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for research, with a library, when you have tried everything else
A single 50-minute block for research — with a note file open beside you.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for planning with forest at dusk, when you are too tired to try hard
45 minutes on planning — on paper, so you can see it. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute focus session for writing with birds at dawn, when you are not sure this will work
50 minutes on writing — the first draft, not the good version. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for thesis writing — birds at dawn, when you are on your own
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to add to the pile.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for design work — white noise, if you are fitting this around other people
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to make decisions.
Start the block →25-minute problem solving session with vinyl crackle and a timer, when you are cold and want to be warm
Sit down, press start, and stay with the difficulty for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →90-minute practising an instrument session with distant thunder and a timer, when you want something simple
Sit down, press start, and drill the hard bars for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for brainstorming with a fan or air conditioner, before you go back to something hard
45 minutes on brainstorming — quantity before quality. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for language practice — forest at dusk, before something difficult
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to practise out loud.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for drawing — brown noise, when the weather has kept you inside
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to fill the page.
Start the block →50-minute admin and email session with white noise and a timer, if you are tired of apps
Sit down, press start, and clear the queue for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →90-minute portfolio work session with a stream and a timer, if you have done this a hundred times
Sit down, press start, and finish the pieces for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for problem solving, with rain on a window, when you have already had a long week
A single 45-minute block for problem solving — before looking anything up.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for coding, with a fireplace, on a low-energy afternoon
A single 50-minute block for coding — one function at a time, not the whole system.
Start the block →A 90-minute block for practising an instrument
A single 90-minute block for practising an instrument — slowly, with the metronome.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for applications and forms — a fan or air conditioner, after a long day
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to get through the questions.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for planning — a washing machine, when you are waiting for something
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to decide what happens when.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for writing — brown noise, when you are too tired to try hard
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to get words down.
Start the block →25-minute reading session with birds at dawn and a timer, when you feel restless rather than tired
Sit down, press start, and read properly for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →50-minute thesis writing session with brown noise and a timer, when nothing else has worked today
Sit down, press start, and add to the pile for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for problem solving with white noise, when you have been on screens all day
45 minutes on problem solving — before looking anything up. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute focus session for coding with distant thunder, when you have woken up too early
50 minutes on coding — one function at a time, not the whole system. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for editing — a fan or air conditioner, when you have tried everything else
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to cut and tighten.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for research — café murmur, before you go back to something hard
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to follow one thread.
Start the block →25-minute language practice session with a washing machine and a timer, when you have been meaning to start
Sit down, press start, and practise out loud for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →50-minute studying session with brown noise and a timer, before something difficult
Sit down, press start, and take in the material for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Nothing is tracked here. Close the tab whenever you like — the timer is the only thing that knows.