Chapter 3 of 66 min
Focus sprints
Attention is a limited resource. Working in defined sprints with a single goal and no interruptions produces more and better work than long, fragmented hours.
Key ideas
- One sprint, one clearly defined outcome.
- Remove interruptions before you start.
- Twenty-five to fifty minutes suits most people.
Step by step
- 1
Write the single outcome for the sprint.
- 2
Silence notifications and close unrelated tabs.
- 3
Work until the timer ends, noting distractions on paper.
- 4
Take a short break and review progress.
Example
A consultant runs three fifty-minute sprints each morning with notifications off. She finishes reports in half the time they used to take.
Your drill
Run two focus sprints today with a written outcome for each and count your distractions.
Common mistakes
- Starting a sprint without a defined outcome.
- Checking messages 'just once' during the sprint.
Check yourself
What should you do with distractions during a sprint?
Show the answer
Write them down to handle later and return to the task.
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