I understand that you may not be able to implement today’s challenge into your work or school life, but wherever applicable, I wish for you to try following your impulses to take a break.

As you go about your daily activities, whenever you begin to notice yourself becoming distracted, unfocused, bored, overwhelmed, or burnt out by the task at hand, I want you to put it down immediately – even if you’re right in the middle of something. At that point, I want you to set a ten-minute timer on your phone. During those ten minutes, do whatever you feel driven to do at that moment. Whether you wish to scroll through your phone, play a quick mobile game, stretch, sit on the couch, zone out, play with your dog, or make a snack… Whatever you feel you must – or desire – to do at that exact moment, do it. 

When the timer sounds, stop your break and immediately return to the task you began before the ten-minute break.

Do this as often as necessary today. As you journey through this practice, I want you to notice a few things:

How well are you able to maintain the discipline of returning to your task when the timer starts?

Do you notice that the breaks you require become fewer, increase, or remain consistent through the day?

Does this practice help you to remain on task when you might otherwise fail?

Do you have an easy or a difficult time recognizing when you’re bored, overwhelmed, or burnt out, and do you have an easy or a difficult time setting the task at hand down for a moment to take a break?

At the day’s end, think about your routine, and compare it to the experience you had today. Think about where you benefit from this practice, and where you are burdened because of it. Consider whether you may need to make modifications to your routine to encourage more efficiency throughout your days and weeks. Wonder whether there are other methods you can use that may be more beneficial for you.

Set a ten-minute timer… See what happens.

Pigs Fly Here.

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While you’re here, why don’t you stay a while and take a look around? Perhaps you would like to read a deeper post about my life, or maybe you’d like to dive into a more complicated subject that will inspire you to ponder, or just maybe – you fancy a fictional read. Whatever your poison, I’m sure you’ll find something for you here, there’s lots to explore!