Focus tricks for when you can't concentrate

nakodu · 2026-10-26T20:10:43.254424+00:00

- Phone in another room. Not face down on the desk. Out of reach. Studies keep finding that even a silent phone nearby pulls at your attention. - 25 minutes on, 5 off (the Pomodoro technique). Set a timer. Starting is easier when there's an end in sight. - Write down distractions on a piece of paper instead of acting on them. "Check the bank", "reply to Sam". Deal with the list later. - One tab, one task. Close everything that isn't the thing you're doing. - Decide the very next step, not the whole project. "Open the document and write the heading" is easy to start. - Same place, same time. Your brain learns that this chair at 9 means work.

Phone in another room. Not face down on the desk. Out of reach. Studies keep finding that even a silent phone nearby pulls at your attention.
25 minutes on, 5 off (the Pomodoro technique). Set a timer. Starting is easier when there's an end in sight.
Write down distractions on a piece of paper instead of acting on them. "Check the bank", "reply to Sam". Deal with the list later.
One tab, one task. Close everything that isn't the thing you're doing.
Decide the very next step, not the whole project. "Open the document and write the heading" is easy to start.
Same place, same time. Your brain learns that this chair at 9 means work.

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