I’m working on a big project right now. And it’s something that requires me to be in creative mode, which I love.
But it’s not just, boom, instant focus and creativity on demand… to do my best work, I’ve gotta be in the right zone.
Here’s how I get there.
Naveen Khurana
Thanks for sharing this Jeff. Very uplifting and worth developing this habit.
Dionna Griffin
Excellent tip combination of timer with the binaural beats.
Focus music does wonders!
Thank you.
Albert
my creative focused attention comes from motivation
so I can be motivated by you, for example showing us around your lovely home 🙂
Would love to see how you live, that’s a big motivation! I’m sure for a lot of people too.
Abdourahman
Thank you very much for sharing I have problem on focus.
Mark
I have been using this method for years both in my career and my side businesses. I like to get up at 5:00, get through my morning rituals, than do a 45 minute/15 minute cadence. By the time 9:00 o’clock comes, I have produced more in those three “sprints” then most people do in a day. It becomes an addictive habit that is life forming, stress free and incredibly productive.
Dave
This is excellent. I’m working on solidifying my morning ritual and this is exactly what I needed to figure out the transition to work mode.
Virginia Mabitsela
Wow. This sounds good and thank you for sharing this.
Tiiu Mayer
I seem to recall that 50 minutes is the ‘average’ attention span for humans after which a break enhances further creativity, work, attention. As I cruise the morning email, news, etc. I just know that is not the best way to be spending my time. Your video inspires me to think about at least trying to do it your way, even if only for one session on one day. Like resisting croissants for breakfst and having yoatmeal and fruit…. you just know its better…..and a little harder to do.
Amy J Buttiglieri
I read Miracle Morning and now I look forward to my routine (hydrate, journal, silence, and affirmations, especially). I love Jeff’s morning Pomodoro idea. Going to try that one!
Mercedes Pelaez
This sounds nice Jeff; many thanks for sharing this.
Barbara
Hi Jeff very interesting. What is OCD for a non-native speaker? Thanks
Jeff Walker
@Barbara: OCD = Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But I’m sure that I didn’t use the term in its proper clinical sense.
SHIRLEY ST MICHAEL
This is awesome! I feel life takes me away from what I need to focus on. This is great advice Jeff. Thank you!
Amy J Buttiglieri
I love Pomodoro sessions. For me, first thing in the morning is definitely the time to do them. I find once my family is up, forget it! I’m constantly interrupted (and I don’t have young children!) 🙂
Michelle Libby
I’ve been very productive in the past using this method. I did 25 minute blocks.
Louis
Thank you. Excellent reminder that I needed to hear.
Tom Mabie
Great Stuff! We all need to develop a pattern, a routine or ritual for focused creative time, especially if we have add tendencies. Thanks, Jeff!
Suzanne Bush Black
Thanks Jeff – This message is perfect for us course creators. On the Binoral beats – is there a special selection for focus – so many are for sleep and that’s the last thing I need in a creative session. Thanks so much.
Jeff Walker
@Suzanne: yes, there are some that are specifically for focus.
Sandra Bryant
Excellent topic to share! Thank you!
Diane Napier
Loved your video!
It inspires me to try that but harder to organize myself better!
Thank you for sharing!
Diane
Jonathan Rose
Thanks for the recommendation. Really inspiring and it motivates me to focus on one task can’t block everything out. I could see that helping a lot.
Peter Sergeant
Wow! Have you been watching me?
I feel the same when I am on a project, almost driven.
Your work is always appreciated,
Thank You
Peter
Ajoy Basu
Terrific Jeff, looks quite interesting. You have that penchant to be on “Discovery Channel” – striving to unravel something new, which is what makes following you that much more fascinating!! You are of a breed which will not rest on its laurels. Keep going!
Kathy Sparrow
I have my morning rituals before I sit down to write. Now I’m going to up the game and use this technique! My guess is that I’m going to get a lot more done and be far less distracted.
Antonio
What a practical topic. I’m trying to move away from working a lot to being more productive. I’m going to start using my kitchen timer. Luckily my workday is on the farm so I naturally get the sounds of the plants and the animals…can’t wait to bring a stream back to my land. Thanks for the nudge Jeff
Jeff Meister
The 50/10 focus sessions seem to work the best, and I’ve tried all the variations. Thanks for sharing that just two of these in a day make for a big win. The last time I tried this approach I was trying to pack too many into a day… I think you’ve empowered me with the missing link. I know I can do two in a day. Love this!
Jeff Walker
@Jeff: 50/10 works for me as well, but I know that different people have different sweet spots. The length of the interval isn’t critical, it’s find the interval that works for you.
Casey Demchak
Thanks for this, Jeff. I have a similar routine I call “mad scientist mode” where I lock in for hour-long jam sessions with no distractions. And you’re right, if you can get three or more of these sessions in in a day – it’s a great day. Happy Holidays – Casey.
Maren
I have found the the time chunking with timers and all to be when I am my most productive as well. I do not use headphones (but will check out binaural
beats soon), but I do move out of my office to my “creative desk”…aka the center island of the kitchen. It’s the craziest thing…that is where I am my most creative & can really knock out high level work. (Provided the house is empty). I choose to do “office work” in my office and keep the kitchen island for what it is best at these days!! Thanks for introducing me to the binaural beats.
Wayne Evans
Great program.
Keep up your inspiration.
W D Evans
Cymber Quinn
Yes, yes, yes.
My morning routine is
* Get up, get dressed, walk the dogs and feed them. (that will change when I have a backyard again).
* Clean, straighten, tidy the apartment.
* Make fantastic coffee.
* Sit and review my life goals, year goals, quarter goals, daily goals.
* Make today’s todo list.
This takes about 1-2 hours depending on how cold it is outside, and where I am in a planning/launch cycle.
My evening routine is light yoga and stretching before bed.
And now I will add setting up my computer so that it opens exactly to what I want to work on. That is a stroke of brilliance. Thanks!
Katy Goshtasbi
Thanks for the post. I agree. The night before, I make a list of my tasks for the coming day. That way, I don’t think about the next day during my evening with my family.
I do my best to not start the day checking email. I set time aside to create, too. I don’t time it, though. I will now!
Chaz
My morning routine starts in the previous night, when I set an alarm to go to sleep. Excellent advice Jeff. I’ll start in a smaller scale like 25:5 work/rest and see how it goes. Thanks heaps.
Tammy Hudgeon
I’m about to go offline and off grid for 10-12 days, I do this 2 – 3 times a year. I don’t have a cell phone at all, anytime! When I leave my home or studio I am offline and out of touch. It can be slightly inconvenient to not have a cell phone sometimes, but mostly it’s good for me. I don’t have any notifications turned on, Even with this I still do the OCD thing when I am at work on my biz.
Thanks for the reminder and the awareness.
Michael Maidens
“I am happy those days” Yep I 1000% agree! Those days are what I live for…
Great routines to get there more often!
Thanks Jeff 🙂
Robin Dudley Howes
Thanks for this interesting method of getting massive amounts of work done, I’ve never heard of it. I am curious, do you do this every day or just when you need to work on a project?
Thanks again, you’re awesome!
Tammy
Love this! Thanks for sharing. It’s a great reminder of how being intentional can work.
Laurie-Ann Murabito
I’ve gotten away from using focus or neurological music to stay in the zone. Thank you for the reminder. Going to give this another try.
Terry Roach
Thanks for the idea. I will try it. AWESOME!
Drew Griffin
I struggle with procrastination and distractions. Love this simple approach to productivity. 50 minutes of Productivity and a 10 minute break a few times a day doesn’t seem like a big stretch. Thanks Jeff! I’ll give it a shot!
Genaldo Vargas
Thanks for sharing Jeff!
Good tips that I have to start soon. At home, comfortable with the cat, dog and all these trees to walk under, I procrastinate …. I can only produce when I go to the office, about 20 minutes from here and lock myself up for at least 4 hours … there there’s no distraction and I can get things going. You gave me some ideas …. Pomodoro there I go
Peggy Riordan
Really like this process and will begin doing it as my brain flies through so many things all day long. It is difficult for me to focus in on one thing for any length of time. Hopefully, this will help train my brain to slow down. Thank you for sharing.
Alok Verma
Hey Jeff,
Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing “Focus Hack”
I guess this is what I needed for a week to come.
Guess what, I am reading “Launch” again after 3 years because I am working on launching my group coaching program now.
Warm Regards
Theo Noailles
Thanks for suming up the pomodoro technique. Heard about that one but had no ideia what was it about.
I did something similar to that while living in California studying fitness (personal training certification 1997)..I played sonatas for piano for 45Mins and rest/walk/zipped water in 15mins and then once more 45 mins. I could do those blocks up to 4 times a day. I used that for studying. It was fantastic. There were no social media em 1997… LOL.
Tomer Arwas
Great video Jeff!
I’ve been using the pomedero technique for years now and i can verify that it’s the most effective way to get things done. Whether creative or just tasks that need to be done. Time boxing them and closing off all distractions is essential!
Caite
Thank Jesus for such a great video
April James
I love the Pomodoro technique. I began using it this summer after Ann Wilson spoke about it in one of her trainings. I do three 25 mins/5 mins pomodori with a 30 min break after. I get a lot done and, if it’s a computer-oriented task (like email clearing) it keeps my body from getting tight and tense.