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My Focus "Framework" (PUKE)

My made up system for categorizing and executing work.

Single Pass#

The first type of work just requires action to be done.

This can be:

  • House Chores
  • Busy Work
  • Exercise
  • Driving

This can be done anywhere and at any time with just about any distractions. If you can take a phone call and do these tasks, it is certainly single pass.

Double Pass#

Work that requires thinking before performing it.

  1. Thought
  2. Action

This can be:

  • Single-shot learning (Prerequisite knowledge provided / understood).
  • Single-shot tasks (Complete and solve in one sitting).
  • Documenting
  • New recipes
  • Troubleshooting

For me to work on these problems, I need the following:

  • 5 minutes of low distraction focus time.

While that doesn't sound hard to achieve, it is surprisingly difficult if you can't reasonably guarantee 5 minutes of focus time (such as being in a middle-space where others often want to talk or need input).

These tasks can usually be picked up again after a distraction. However, enough distraction makes these tasks slow and inefficient to perform, which makes them susceptible for batching out when you could be doing triple pass work.

Triple Pass#

Work that requires considering previous work specifically related to the work, then thinking about it before performing.

  1. Recall Previous Structured Work
  2. Think
  3. Action

This can be:

  • Highly Structural Education (Math, Chemistry, Programming).
  • Complex project work.
  • Complex reading.
  • Final draft of public work.

For me to work on these problems, I need the following:

  • 12 minute no distraction sessions back-to-back (at least 2x).
  • 1 minute breaks to check contacts between each stretch.
  • Able to use headphones without worrying about others between each stretch.

If the above conditions aren't met, this type of work cannot be (easily) achieved.

Waking up before everyone is how I do this work.

Handling Triple Pass / Double Pass and Mental Anguish#

I'd feel guilty for doing focus work when other things needed to be done.

These things can be "lower quality" focus work, such as scheduling appointments, googling repairs for household issues, submitting tax paperwork, cleaning out a storage unit, etc...

I found the following to help with these feelings:

  1. Do what I can ASAP, schedule the rest.
  2. Having set times in the AM and PM to do this work.
  3. Waiting to check my phone until right before work.
  4. Realizing focus work is R&D, which generates value to everyone around me.

Too Much Triple Pass Work.#

I try to "Flatten" 3-pass work into 2-pass work, and 2-pass work into 1-pass work if possible.

Really considering and breaking down work (as well as completing it ASAP) helps with this.

I keep a tight to-do list (single file on phone) that contains only the highest level work:

todo.md
# 3-Pass
<>

# 2-Pass
<>

# 1-Pass
<>

# Mandatory
<>

## Mandatory (Upcoming)
<>

# Quick Notes
<>

I only have one or two things for each heading (I like to bounce around, but not be overwhelmed).

I throw ideas and deprioritized n-pass objects into a file called todo-ideas.md
I try to keep this file empty, as more pressing / valuable things reveal themselves through work.

Wrap-Up#

I've asked ChatGPT to find some smarter name for what I'm sure I'm copying from someone smarter than me, but they don't have an exact match.

A relative is Cal Newport's Deep Work (a book I've read a few times), which has some good recommendations for time protection and distraction management (although doesn't elaborate much on times or jobs where you are forced to be distracted all the time, which has been my life for a while).

Another is the Cognitive Load Theory, which seems like 80's edu-psychobabble for:

"Distractions distract, which is bad for things that need focus".

Perhaps that's unfair, it seems like explorations into making things more understandable.

Until next time.