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Ask HN
Ask HN: How do you struggle with/optimize for deep,sustained focus?
With digital distractions everywhere, and nowadays the need to have all these context switches between tabs, messages, emails, papers, prompting LLMs, literally anything, I feel like the ability to maintain deep focus on a high priority task is harder than ever. For those struggling with this, what are the main stressors for you and how do you deal with it to maximize productivity in your work sessions?
I use an app I built called Black Screen (https://blackscreen1.com/). I usually start from setting it up to make my screens black every 30 minutes. I decrease the interval when I feel tired. Sometimes it's down to 10-15 minute intervals when I feel exhausted and can't focus. Breaking up my work sessions into intervals helps me a lot. I decrease the interval down to time period I feel I can hold my focus with no distractions.
  • swah
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  • 1 day ago
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In terms of tools, there is (recently) Raycast Focus which is a very lightweight implementation of the idea of removing distracting apps and sites. For me the issue is internal - if I'm having a distracted day, its very hard to turn it into a focused day.

And a focused day (wake up, have something to eat, focus on tasks) must be handled with care... it very easily becomes a distracted day.

have you used Raycast Focus? if so what were your experiences with it? From my experiences, just setting some timer and blocking some apps are a superficial way to try to force yourself to focus and aren't super productive. On days you know you must focus/get some crucial piece of work done, what does your setup and process look like?