Five Minute Focus

How to concentrate on your work?

Answer: bite-size increments!

I’ve had a lot of difficulties concentrating lately. I reckon this is from several factors: the hot summer is not conducive to my productivity, different projects vying for my attention, the frustrating ways of the 21st Century, a medicine I’m prescribed and the general overwhelming ennui that attacks a person sometimes.

When researching ways to help with concentration, I found the normal suggestions like put your phone away, CBT, meditate, journal. I’ve tried some of these and no takers. In the past, I’ve attempted accomplishing work using the Pomodoro Technique, which I really do fully recommend it. But even that has become too much at the moment.

However, I’ve been trying what I’ve titled Five Minute Focus.

I set five minutes on my Fitbit and concentrate solely on one thing. I’ve started with reading. Has it been about two thousand years since I finished a book for pleasure? Yes, sadly. But in five minute bursts, I give myself the space to only read. I try not to let my mind wander and if I feel it drifting, I pull myself back into focus. At the end of the five minutes, I can address what allowed my mind to wander and then dive back in for a further five minutes. Rinse and repeat.

In a way, it’s like building your muscles back up. Hopefully, I can return to my trusted Pomodoro Technique but for now, I’ll stick with Five Minute Focus.