How to Work with INTENSE Focus - 3 Steps Most People Skip

Focus is like gold - you have to dig for it.
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⌚ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Get Clarity and Direction
03:45 - Use Both Modes of Thinking
05:23 - How to Get Into the Flow State
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[@Thomasfrank]

🧐 This was going to be our "Ultimate Guide to Focus" but the first draft was WAY too long - so we're making a series! Next video drops in just a few days. Hope you find this one helpful! Seriously - do whatever you can to just get some momentum, and you'll find focus coming much more reliably. (I have to remind myself of this often) 🦙 Start improving your problem-solving skills with Brilliant (and support the channel): www.brilliant.org/thomasfrank 💪 Check out my Notion templates for task management, habit tracking, and more: thomasjfrank.com/templates/ 🖊 Quote of the week: “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.” - Serena Williams

[@kennethjoseph9309]

Been watching your videos since 2018. My college professors showed us the first video on Crash Course study skills and I got to say man. You've helped me out a bunch with tips, advice, and tricks to how to do it properly. Good video.

[@lisettegarcia]

Goldminers don't know it intuitively. They learned it from arduous experience.

[@zavioxx8670]

You don't look in good condition in this video, whatever you are going through right now pull through I believe in you.😊 I know I may be just imagining, if I am, I'm sorry.

[@Gameboob]

@@zavioxx8670 LOL he looks fine to me.

[@davidvenegas2684]

I missed your productivity videos, good to see you are making more of them!

[@TheDhammaHub]

Nothing beats a flow state level of concentration where body & mind seems to act on their own

[@iRiShKnIcKs2011]

Tldr: 1. Create clear and specific tasks 2. Allow the mind to rest/take breaks from intense study periods 3. Pomodoro Technique to initiate flow state or take breaks dependent upon your own judgement.

[@mello4392]

Dankie

[@whifling]

Secret to intense focus? An impending deadline :(

[@RehabWithRaeRae]

4. Adderall lol

[@Roshan3L]

pomodoro sucks it breaks flow

[@suzisaintjames]

I don't set the timer anymore. Because I use time blocking, I mark my start time, tell myself that I only have to work for 15 minutes (one block on my timeline) and start working. Then I work. If my focus leaves my work, I look at the timeline... Usually I go back to work and am thrilled that I've worked 4 or 5 blocks instead of just one. 💖🌞🌵😷

[@vishvasivakumar4583]

Hey Thomas, hope you read this. To be COMPLETELY frank, I haven't been impressed by your videos for a while. There was a significant jump in the video and audio quality but I felt that the content and the essence of your videos no longer aligned to what brought me here in the first place. But this one was very well structured and the jokes really connected, but most importantly I loved the content- obviously, since I'm writing a paragraph lol. I really got into your vid so much that it kinda felt like the flow state you talked about. Super hyped to know that there's a series coming up on this topic and absolutely look forward to it. Wishing you the best!

[@kamariweaver1536]

1. The 5 minute prep Take 5 minutes to think about your task. Your activity should be clear in your head and broken down into easy to manage small steps 2. Diffuse mode thinking Step back. Let ideas bounce around. Go for a 20min walk, or do something that gives your mind a break 3. The pomodoro technique You should know this by now mate

[@Thomasfrank]

But on #3 specifically - don't take the break at 25 minutes if you don't feel you need it. It's not about actually working for 25 minutes, it's about tricking your brain into *thinking* you only have to work 25 minutes.

[@YeniCorrea]

That third one was a college flashback hahaha

[@CHEFPKR]

The work day breakdown is what we were taught in Culinary School, but we just called them Action plans. From when you pulled out your knives and cutting board to the moment you plate up. It was broken down minute by minute to help you visualize your day

[@danielq888]

I enjoy the part when you pull out knifes and start butchering people

[@vl6619]

We know we all needed this right now 😂

[@DemetriPanici]

I always love seeing Martin in your vids

[@DemetriPanici]

*"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear*

[@najrenchelf2751]

I... could have sworn that was a Thomas Frank quote... what the heck?!? XD

[@DietChugg]

@@najrenchelf2751 I'm fairly sure Thomas quoted that line from James Clear once before.

[@johnnyede]

I was thoroughly amazed about how researched this video is. I actually started the hour glass technique in the shower but ended up doing in it several parts of my life like finals and weekend task!

[@Thomasfrank]

How do you use it in the shower?

[@ericm1373]

​@@Thomasfrank the secret is to swap the sand for bath salts.

[@Oscar1427]

Found my boy Johnny in the right place 🤙

[@aminad9337]

It's incredible how i have been doing these steps without even realizing especially step 2 ! I would always do a "smth" to reduce my brain resistance to focus on one task (aka diffuse mode). Napping and walking have always been the best ways ! Sometimes it will be social media but that drains a lot of my energy and results in headache

[@heleen5771]

Got me to actually start and do some meaningful work on something I’ve been procrastinating on - thanks Thomas!

[@PenandPaperScience]

I think the desire to deliver quality work, whatever work you do, is a large driver to being able to focus deeply on the task that gets you there.

[@jamesin9555]

I definitely agree with these steps as it helps me start any task. I always tell myself, just 15 minutes, just 15 minutes, and then 2 hours seem to go by! Nice job explaining it though!

[@ajsomebody1342]

Taking 15-minute "naps" (zero distractions, zero input) is honestly a lifesaver for creativity and motivation.

[@neucoas]

Congratulations Thomas! I’m a seasoned node developer with years of experience and I learned 2 or 3 tips and tricks I didn’t know about just by watching your video

[@sameerbhoye6111]

Thanks Thomas. This was so helpful, especially the part about writing the exact details of the task

[@katerinakol5558]

Can't wait to watch!!

[@MyLittleMagneton]

Using an hourglass is genius! You can't "pause" it ...when you turn it, you're committed to start, which is the hardest bit.

[@sultanfalqie]

Priceless tips. Thanks Thomas.

[@johanalopez7105]

Thank you so much. Needed this

[@FinancialFreedomMadeSimple]

I appreciate the sand time suggestion Thomas, another brilliant video.

[@CazSity]

loved it, thank you so much

[@dorchy12]

I like it. Thank you. I like the prep, context and direction for purpose

[@a0nmusic]

Great content! Thanks for sharing

[@quickscopedmofo]

I really appreciate the sand timer suggestion... I used this app to set a 25 minute timer, and it "tracked" your productivity. If it suspected that you were getting off task, it would "knock" on the door. Long story short, it didn't last. It was far more disruptive than anything. The first time that I used it, the disruption was so massive that it reset my focus. I had to start over again. What I've resorted to is just turning off the tone on my phones timer so that it doesn't disrupt me--however the sand timer quickly landed in my amazon cart. That adds so much value to my desktop for two reasons, seeing a gentle reminder sends the message that I actually do want to start working, and I hate constantly associating my phones timer with work. Thanks!

[@lorrainedzeka]

.....Most gold sits much deeper than the surface....you're such a story teller and this makes your videos even more fun to watch. You even got a shovel. Hahahahahah. Get truly clear on the actions you need to take. Thanks for this prompt.

[@Thomasfrank]

Thank you! I'm always more excited to publish videos when they have good stories or analogies

[@gregorian323]

This is something I needed to hear. Thank you

[@jjfecik]

Awesome breakdown! Thanks dude! 🙏

[@jpcpamies]

Thanks my man. This is just what I needed!!

[@keit.2257]

New video! Yay!

[@gregtorre6513]

Great video, Thank you very much

[@mrrishiraj88]

👍👍 Great content always! Thanks a lot!

[@djmeyer5563]

You're the best Thomasness!!!

[@luckcoplin7421]

I cant explain it but the fact that you literally just held a shovel for half the video is all the motivation i need

[@MDExplainsx86]

Wonderful video 💙 Thank you

[@RealJamieBarclay]

Great advice, but If you're a chronic procrastinator, it's important that you don't try and jump straight into optimising for focus without first getting the basics. In school we all learn how to find the best answer to the question, but what school doesn't teach us is that sometimes we should be asking different questions. Instead of asking yourself how you can get more done or how to be more focused, perhaps you should be asking yourself why you procrastinate so much? Perhaps you'll discover you're in the wrong line of work, or maybe you have a secret fear of judgment. I'm personally of the belief that 90% of the time the questions we ask ourselves are the wrong questions, and it's just a matter of making them less wrong over time. Again, this video has some really solid tips, this is just going out to the people who seem to always self sabotage and procrastinate, because I was in that position once, and I know I would always come to videos like this thinking it would be a miracle cure.

[@goofynewfypup]

Yes, the worst thing you can tell a procrastinator is to go take a nap! 😂

[@arquimedesmaia7238]

Great content!

[@omarbsalama]

This video came just in time!!!

[@orlandogonzalez638]

I absolutely love that quote about only writing when inspired

[@last0moon]

This video was educational and informative thank you so much

[@JayGregorio]

This is GOLD 💛

[@DoctorAzmain]

Another brilliant vid Tom! Breaking things down into chewable chunks and then prioritising is so key! I sometimes get “lost in the process” in a bad way (i.e. not the flow state!) because I haven’t set out my goals properly and I realise… I need to step back and make a plan for myself!

[@drinaciofernandes]

these videos were helpful during my Medical college and for all the exams that came with it. just want to drop by and say thank you .

[@cubingforlife8256]

Was just watching another one of your videos!

[@sparklingwater4808]

I broke my focus to watch you tell me how to focus

[@DeeznutztheOG]

ME RN

[@georgewhite553]

I have been trying the Pomodoro technique since I saw your video "The most ambitious Study With Me crossover" and it has been working for me. But I've noticed that it works better in a certain type of tasks, for example writing a script. For tasks that I don't have the prep done it doesn't work that well so I guess I'm missing the prep part. Thanks for the video!

[@jaimetan]

This is great! And I find it's very similar to approaching a meditation practice. Show up daily to "mine that gold", the first 5 or 10 minutes may be distracted/ bouncing all over the place, but then you "get in the zone", focused, and sometimes you open into pure Presence or "Being", sometimes you don't... but that's the practice. And actually - having a meditation practice has helped me focus a lot more in other parts of life (like working in an open office but still being able to remain focused/ undistracted by what's happening around me). Great video topic, thanks!

[@muzammermalik2668]

thanks man :)

[@Jade-uy5vv]

Love you Thomas Frank! 😘♥️

[@neoavatar639]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I really needed this at this hour. I am a writer and suddenly the problem with the focus has hit me so hard that I'm about to lose a good opportunity. I have taken a break for a couple of days to resolve it. I will try these techniques and let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

[@MsKRAZOR]

Your analogies are golden - excuse the pun! You are always on point! Thanks for sharing your great knowledge.

[@cocoariche]

Awesome gold miner analogy! I’ll be trying out the sand timer for my Pomodoro sessions. Ironically, I’ve always found my phone and watch to be too distracting

[@tejveersingh4044]

YOUR VIDEO MAKES EVERYONE'S DAY BETTER BTW THANKS FOE THE IN formation

[@hayleyhawkins]

Love your shirt!

[@DemetriPanici]

I have a feeling #3 is the pomodoro technique

[@AlexJ1]

I like his hourglass spin on it!

[@Thomasfrank]

Haha yep - you can't really write this video without it. But there's a little twist on it 😉

[@francescakyanda9182]

I need VNAs for most of my long term readings, papers and projects, never thought about a five minute prep before, I’ll try it!

[@NinateenAngel]

I too use pomodoro the way you do 🥰 I feel motivated when I start it and I don't wait for 25' ding or 55'! I just start and stop when I feel like taking a break ! Thank you man ☺️

[@Nanospaggle]

This video could not have come sooner

[@StandingOva]

I love the thumbnail!!

[@happysnm8860]

That thumbnail was just amazing

[@fairyqueen9281]

The hourglass technique sounds really interesting. I have the same problem with the pomodoro: I never feel like taking a break when timer is over. I have to find a balance though, because most of the times I will just keep going... until burnout 😅

[@sacdaabdurhman]

“Everything in life is easier when you don’t concern yourself with what other people are doing” Hope you have a good Monday 💜

[@MysticHannah]

Love the thumbnail

[@eaderamas3097]

I received this in my gmail, thank you!

[@1337treeckolol]

*Supports you through the youtube algorithm*

[@kitsurubami]

Nothing I didn't already know, but I really enjoyed the gold mining analogy.

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

6:47 I think the biggest curse about this technique is that i know that i'm lying about that time since i have a lot of work to do so i implicitly know that a continuation is garanteed so i push for later. I think the biggest feeder of procrastination is simply vagueness; when you don't know what the hell you should do next, it's not simply that task is big and/or difficult - heck, we can spend the entire day without doing the dishes! Even if it's a big it's not beyong you capabilities - becomes really hard to start. What you need it's a simple list that breaksdown the activity into steps - at this part, thinking like a game comes in handy. Really strategically think what you do to beat this fast and effectivelly like you were playing a video game. I genuinely think that the biggest causer of procrastination is simply because we do not exercise our ability to breakdown problems, face the challenges of those problems and learn to overcome it. Thoughtfully playing video games - like Hitman or Spelunky, games that force you to dominate the mechanics, be creative and have brutal stakes if you fail - are PERFECT for this. Stardew Valley can teach you alot about positive feedback loops and how going after short term accomplishments that are related to a big goal not only gives you a big hit of dopamine for creating and accomplishing something right now as well as simultaneously making progress towards other desire thing, aside from the fact that going through this mini goals makes you learn and sharpen your skills, teaching how to deal with your big dream farm. And the sharper the skills and your "farmer sense" the faster the progress, that's why a veteran player (or speedrunner) can breeze through the beginning while a newbie can take ages. And i didn't even mentioning the Exponential Growth that happens! Where a little bit of crop and tool, make you a little bit of money, so you can by a little bit more and better crops and tools, as well as optimizers like sprinkles (that allow to automate the watering of plant), and suddenly your crops, money and farm are exploding with growth. Making progress faster and faster. That's something that i rewlly which those of the Micro Steps gang had enphacized more, **It's not about simply doing LESS consistently, It's about GETTING BETTER over time**. You start small, then optmize and automate, then increase the production, rense and repeat. You need to constantly ask how you could be doing things better.

[@robertjames6178]

I've been living on diffused mode 👍

[@a_r_m_a_a_n588]

The thumbnail is actually intense focus.

[@greymatters1603]

I saw some Martin's vibes's animation here! Shut out, Martin! We miss you!

[@lucien5112]

1:20 IT BE THE BLENDER GURU

[@mischake]

For me, actually getting started on the task, say, jogging, I have to remove all notions of what I should achieve. "Just start" and then stick with it.

[@maeldirzol8381]

That Hollow Knight sticker though, I see you are a man of culture... I really want Silksong T_T

[@ajandmardalizad5981]

I use the hourglass as well. I think another advantage of it is you can not pause it, When it's started you must do the job.

[@AmiNaedia]

Heeey Thomaaas!

[@waterbottlexd1298]

Thank you Thomas! I have been watching you for years now. It's amazing to look at your growth. And you have helped me a lot.

[@punishedvenomsnake716]

Ultra Instinct 😎

[@crazyboy1741]

Nice refrence to Bruce allmighty!

[@sirsnakeson3599]

1. prep time 2. relax time 3. focus time

[@pollafattah7062]

I am watching this as a procastnation of my work ;)

[@islamsalikhanov]

Thank you for the video, Thomas! But don't you think that the pomodoro timer and the "flow" state contradict each other? To get into the flow state you need time to "plunge" into it and then you need to spend a couple of hours in it. However, it seems like Pomodoro just breaks this flow state every 25 mins!?!

[@Vp5hh]

At this point, I can smell a brilliant ad 20 Secs Before its occurrence.

[@tonyhawk123]

I've been using an oversized hourglass on my desk for a few years and I do find it helps. Didn't realise its called the pomodoro technique. Am i actually doing this to best effect given i have a fixed 1 hour timer and thats it? The examples for the pomodoro technique (in this video and on a couple of websites i just looked up) state shorter time periods. Thanks. Incidentally I agree with the bit about walking to stimulate ideas. I mostly did it to help with stress and found the diffuse thinking part a happy byproduct. I know Darwin did his best diffuse thinking by walking laps around his big garden and used pebbles to keep track of the laps.

[@jhonnyttjord998]

I love you.

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

great list, but shocked that one of these wasn't to turn off notifications given how disruptive they are to focus

[@Thomasfrank]

That's the next video haha

[@blackpolygon9306]

around 08:00 sounds like you are not actually using Pomodoro, but the two minute rule ... with very long minutes^^

[@SaraMakesArt]

I think I'm going to try going for a walk or other mindless activity before I start a work session and see if it helps.

[@louisek.574]

Thumbs up for the thumbnail :D

[@CatalleyaStorm]

The captions aren’t available. :(

[@Thomasfrank]

I've ordered them - they should be up in a few hours!

[@CatalleyaStorm]

@@Thomasfrank ah, maybe I usually am not this early. I just assumed you have captions ready before it’s public. I’ll be back when it’s ready.

[@edu1113]

Anyone ever told you, you look like Alisson Becker?. the keeper for Brazil

[@Sam10X]

All you have to do is mine Thomas Frank videos to find the gold 😜

[@farzanehhhf1333]

I don't have so much difficulty getting started and staying focused on the first session. The biggest problem is that I can't come back to work and refocus after taking a break. It feels like I lose my willpower energy too quickly. I keep watching different videos related to the focus issues in hopes of finding a solution. So far, I haven't found any.

[@KyleJones_TN]

“TLA” 🤣😜👏

[@letechnicaljames]

Deep Focus. An important commodity in a highly digital age.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

once i incorporated 3-10 minutes nap into my work day i became a lot more productive!

[@suzansalah1642]

Obsidian vs roam video

[@NathalieLazo]

Dear lovely person that's reading this, we may not know each other but I wish you all the best in life! ✨ I believe in you! Love - Nat ❤️

[@borisoffdenis]

This 3 points can be merged into 2: 1) Make yourself to start working. 2) Don't forget to stop it.