I only have 5 minutes to write this. But, I wanted to share something.

Focus is my enemy. We battle daily. Every time I think I’ve won, someone tells me that they wish I was better at being focused.

I hate Focus. Focus is for fools. I don’t understand its importance. I hate that its something I have trouble doing. Fuck focus in its stoopid head. I can’t write lists. GTD means nothing to me. I can’t use to-do lists, no matter how awesome they are designed.

But, I finally hacked focus. Ive won.

Here’s how I did it.

1) Using Merlin Mann’s (10+2)*5 hack (Figured if sprints could work in product development, then it can work in my battle with Focus.)

2) Downloaded Concentrate – set up some solid actions around: writing, email, and other fun and exciting activities. (Its funny that music is included in all of my activities)

3) Downloaded Howler Pro – and looped two timers (one for 10min and another for 5min) and run them

BOOM goes the Focus.

Now I challenge myself to do 10min sprints with high degrees of focus. Will I skip breaks? Probably if I get into something fun, but so far, the forced need to take 5 min has been awesome.

Hope it helps.

Oh, and check this article out on structured procrastination. When you have 5 min.