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