Focus Windows

Choose one task that deserves your full attention. Keep it specific enough that you know what you’re working on when the window starts.

If the task feels too large, define the piece you can make progress on in the next 25 to 30 minutes.

Not sure where to start? Check your list from 3-I Your Week.

Silence notifications, close anything unrelated to the task, and remove the easy ways your attention could get pulled elsewhere.

If people around you may interrupt, use a visible signal or status indicator to show that you’re in a Focus Window and when you’ll be available again.

Set a timer and give the task your full attention until the window ends.

Don’t check email, messages, or another task just because it comes to mind. If something pulls your attention away, make a quick tally mark and return to the work.

The tally isn’t a score. It’s a way to notice what keeps breaking your concentration.

When the timer ends, take a 5 to 10 minute break.

Move, get water, look away from the screen, or do something that actually gives your attention a reset. Don’t turn the break into another stream of stimulation by immediately scrolling or checking messages.

Start another Focus Window if the task still needs attention.

After four cycles, take a longer 20 to 30 minute break before continuing.

If a task consistently takes more than five to seven Focus Windows, break it into smaller pieces. If it takes less than one, combine it with another small task.