My one trick for focusing every day
Oh, hi friends!!
You know I love a big, full-scale plan of attack for projects.
But sometimes small changes are important, too. Little tricks.
Here’s one that I use every day:
When I decide what I’m working on next, it’s simple: I open a new window in Chrome.
Not a new tab. I’m convinced my productivity plummets 12% for every tab that’s open.
But a new window dedicated to your task gives you a playground. In that window I can open tabs with a relevant purpose: my notes, my draft, maybe the song I’m working on.
That’s it!
It's freeing.
Your email is hiding elsewhere. Your calendar is out of view. All those longform pieces you want to read are taking a nap.
It’s just you and an open window.
Enjoy the view.
I loved Natalie’s book Writing Down the Bones years ago — perhaps it’s time for a reread! Her point about absurdity resonates — how can you inject a tiny bit of absurdity into your work life today?
For three minutes and three seconds of pure listening joy, here’s “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King.
I was reminded how much I love this song last night when the playwright — and new Pulitzer Prize winner!! — Michael R. Jackson opened his online class at Playwrights Horizons by covering it. He said he wanted to “cleanse the air.” Mission accomplished.
PS — If you'd like some low-pressure accountability in the morning, please join me and my brother Eric for the 10:11 Club — every weekday at 10:11am ET, we're starting our day together and working toward one goal until noon. Join us anytime with #1011club on Instagram or hit reply and share what you'll be working on!
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara