Run this between meetings and sprints. It’s the fastest way to re-enter focus without burning willpower — five steps, about five minutes, same order every time so it becomes automatic.
- Clear the surface (60s): Everything not part of the next task goes off the desk — mugs, mail, the phone. A clear desk is a clear queue.
- Reset posture (30s): Feet flat, hips back in the chair, monitor top at eye level. Roll your shoulders back and drop them.
- Sweep notifications (60s): Close the inbox and chat, silence the phone, and enable Do Not Disturb / Focus. Quit any app that pings.
- Refill and hydrate (60s): Top up your water and take a few slow breaths while you’re up. Dehydration reads as fatigue.
- Set the intent and timer (60s): Name the one thing you’re doing this block, write it on a sticky, and start a timer (see the Deep Work Timer Routines). One task, one timer, go.
When to run it: after every meeting, whenever you catch yourself drifting, and once first thing before your hardest block of the day.
