Focus System Reflection

Introduction

This page is a series of reflections and research on my focus system.

Reflection On Research

Procrastination

Dealing with the emotional wall. [1]

The X Second Rule [2]

Counter Productivity/Slow Productivity

How to keep focus system from causing burnout?

The case for less productivity [3]

Considering limiting the amount of focus per day.

Reflections On The Focus System

2025-03-26:

I've been using this system for about a month now. So far it has dramatically improved my ability to transition into a state of focus.

I've noticed that I can focus for up to an hour at a time now, and that I can focus for more sessions on days where I can control what I am working on, and am working on somthing that I am passionate about.

I find that writing down what the next steps are for a task or project has really helped me transition back into that mind state and get back into focus.

I haven't been using every single step or tip from the list. I'm not sure why somedays a tip helps, and other days a tip doesn't.

Getting enough sleep makes a huge difference in my ability to focus. As well as eating healthly, and getting enough exercise.

I still have nights where I don't want to focus on anything, or find myself needing to 'turn off' my brain.

I had a few days where I focused for many hours, and then the next day or two was struggling to keep up with normal things.

2024-03-04:

The transition step is quite nice for getting me ready to get focused. I think that I under appreciated having a few minutes to just think about what I was going to do and why I was sitting down to do it in the long view.

One of the downsides of the using the pomodoro technique is that I don't know how to keep track of a 'Focus' high score anymore. I was just doing the length of time focusing without distraction, but the Pomodoro changes that view a little bit.

I am considering changing the high-score to a method that keeps track of the number of pomodoros completed in a day. That will probably be a more useful gage of focus in the long run.

After completing 4 Pomodoros I moved my time up to 30 minutes. However, around the 28 minute mark I was getting tired and loosing focus, so I kind of just sat and watched the timer. I appreciate that I can just stare blankly for a few moments if needed. The boredom of staring at the work allows me to think about what I'm doing and requires me to only work on the task ahead.

After this 30 minute session, I had to do a 20 minute session due to external constraints.

I find that I am spending more time editing or doing clean up than I would normally when the time is wrapping up for a Pomodoro just to fill up the time that remains. Which has been nice and slowly increasing the quality of my work.

2024-03-03:

So far the system has been pretty helpful with getting into a state of focus. The problem that I've been running into is that I am often still in a state of focus once the break timer goes off.

I am also finding that I am just starting to get relaxed once I end my break, and have a progressively more difficult time transitioning back into focus. The minute of breathing and transition time seem to help address this. I'll focus more on that and see if I notice any changes.

Adding the 1 minute of breathing and transition time to the break feels like it might need its own section.

I feel discouraged from starting a focus session when I know that my laundry timer will go off in a few minutes, which will interrupt it.

I didn't allocate from little time, stuff for handling distractions, writing reflections, etc.

Testing Different Apps

2024-03-04:

I appreciate that I can see my past focus times, and have them charted within the app. That is a big benefit. It does not keep track of the 'break' time, which is understandable, yet disappointing.

Using the app has helped me protect that time until the timer is finished. Having the tree at stake, even if it is virtual, has encoraged me to stay seated and finish the pomodoro in 2 instances where I was studying with friends and we debated moving to a different location.

2024-03-03:

I'll use each of these apps for 1 week and write down my thoughts and impressions based on using each of them. Eventually I will settle on 1 app to use for my focus all of the time, but I haven't decided yet.

Forest

The first snag that I ran into was having to add my music into my always allowed apps, so that I could listen to my focus music while in the app.

I also don't like that there isn't a horizontal screen mode, as I would really like a bigger timer.

I like that it locks me out of my phone in order to start the focus timer.

I don't like that there isn't a way to do a 'break' timer.Which means that I can only use Forest for when I am doing my Focused Burst.

I found the break timer, but it doesn't seem to notify me when the break is up, so I don't know when to start getting back into it.

Footnotes:

  1. "Why you procrastinate even when it feels bad," TED-Ed, Oct. 27, 2022. [Video]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWTNMzK9vG4.

  2. "The Unfair Advantage Of The 60 Second Procrastination Rule," Ken's Room, Aug. 27, 2023. [Video]. Available: https://youtu.be/uvjJEQBGbJQ.

  3. "Productivity Rips You Apart," Horses, Jul. 31, 2023. [Video]. Available: https://youtu.be/VQK64SrYkzs.

  4. J. McCabe, How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It), 1st ed. New York: Rodale Books, 2024.

  5. R. Chatterjee, "Beat stress with science: 4 key techniques for stress relief," in ZOE Science & Nutrition. [Podcast]. Spotify. Available: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EPaXzlPX0mgV3dwB6R6jf?si=tUgfItcATsSIV8nrMto5_g.