Balancing Focus and Downtime

Like so many things in life, focus is one side of a seesaw and on the other side is downtime. Just like good work requires good rest, good focus requires good downtime. We cannot maintain a high level of focus for long periods of time. Creating a cycle of focus and downtime – within each work session, day, week, and year – is the best way to be efficient. Here are some ideas for building downtime into your schedule so that you can focus adequately when you need to.

The Pomodoro Technique

This time management tool supports intense periods of focused work by scheduling in small breaks to refresh ourselves. The idea is to set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted focus, followed by 5 minutes of downtime to do whatever you like. Repeat this cycle or ‘Pomodoro’ 4 times and then take a longer 30-minute break before starting the next cycle of 4 ‘Pomodoros’. You will be amazed at how much more productive you can be in the time available using this method to support focus.

Check out this short video (3 mins) explaining how to use The Pomodoro Technique:

Free Days for Rejuvenation

The concept of rejuvenation days was first championed by an organization called The Strategic Coach. Called “free days”, the idea is to ensure healthy blocks of time away from hectic, stressful work schedules and the result is increased productivity, clarity and calm when you return. Setting aside dedicated downtime for rejuvenation helps recharge you to work in a focused way on your return.