Hey there, welcome to The Efficiency Lab: Proven Productivity Hacks. I'm Hazel, and today I want to talk directly to you about something I know we're all wrestling with right now - that overwhelming feeling of having too much to do and not enough time.

Let's be real. As we're moving through mid-2025, the pace of work and life feels like a high-speed train that never stops. I get it. Just this morning, I looked at my task list and felt that familiar flutter of anxiety creeping up my spine. But here's the thing - productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters most with laser-like focus.

Today, I'm going to share a productivity hack that's transformed how I approach my work: The 90-Minute Focus Block method. Imagine your brain as a powerful engine that needs strategic refueling. Most people try to run continuously, but our cognitive energy doesn't work that way.

Here's how it works. Choose your most important task - the one that moves the needle on your goals. Set a timer for 90 minutes. During this time, you're going to create what I call a "productivity force field" around yourself. No emails. No notifications. No interruptions.

Think of this like deep-sea diving. You're going beneath the surface of constant distraction into a zone of pure concentration. Your brain will thank you. Research shows that 90-minute cycles align perfectly with our natural ultradian rhythms - those biological cycles of high and low energy.

But wait - there are some critical supporting strategies. First, prepare your environment. Clear your workspace. Have water nearby. Silence your phone. Create a space that screams "focus" to your brain.

Second, bookend your focus block. Before you start, spend five minutes outlining exactly what you'll accomplish. After the 90 minutes, take a 20-minute recovery period. Move your body. Stretch. Hydrate. Let your brain reset.

Pro tip: Most people think multitasking is productive. It's not. It's like trying to cook five dishes simultaneously and burning everything. Single-tasking is your secret weapon.

I want you to try this today. Right now. Pick that one task you've been avoiding. Set your timer. Dive deep. Trust the process.

Remember, productivity isn't about being perfect. It's about being intentional. Small, consistent actions create massive transformations.

Before we wrap up, I have a challenge for you. Implement the 90-Minute Focus Block just once this week. Track how it feels. Notice the difference in your energy and output.

You've got this. Your most productive self is waiting.

Until next time, this is Hazel from The Efficiency Lab. Stay focused, stay intentional.