-We should replace soft deadlines (deadlines that aren't externally imposed on us) with a commitment to work on a particular project for a given length of time. One trick I've found useful is the idea of a timed focus container. When I do a timed focus container I start by choosing what will be focused on during the container. Once the task is chosen I set a timer at my work-space and then focus on that task with my full attention for the remainder of the time on the timer. I've had the best luck with using 10 minutes but a session as small as 5 minutes or as large as 25 minutes can be useful. The work selected at the beginning of the container is the only thing I work on and I do my best to make sure there are no interruptions (whether internal or external) until the container is complete. When the work is done I wrap up wherever I landed and then take a quick break (about 5 minutes) before starting the next container. The next container can continue with the same task, or I can select another task. But the idea is simple: I only focus on the thing in front of me for the allotted time. When my mind tries to wander or I get the temptation to "just check this one thing" I pause for a moment and see if it is indeed important. Most of the time it isn't important and I can make a quick note to check in on that after the container.
+We should replace soft deadlines (deadlines that aren't externally imposed on us) with a commitment to work on a particular project for a given length of time. One trick I've found useful is the idea of a "timed focus container". When I do a timed focus container I start by choosing what will be focused on during the container. Once the task is chosen I set a timer at my work-space and then focus on that task with my full attention for the remainder of the time on the timer. I've had the best luck with using 10 minutes but a session as small as 5 minutes or as large as 30 minutes can be useful. The work selected at the beginning of the container is the only thing I work on, and I do my best to make sure there are no interruptions (whether internal or external) until the container is complete. When the work is done I wrap up the task with whatever I've completed, note whatever the next actions are for that task on my next actions list, and then take a quick break (usually around 5 minutes) before starting the next container. The next container can be a continuation of the same task, or I can select another task, but the idea is simple: I only focus on the task in front of me for the allotted time. When my mind tries to wander or I get the temptation to "just check this one thing" I pause for a moment and determine if it is indeed important. Most of the time it isn't important and I can make a quick note to check on it whenever I finish the container.