For the next 25 minutes (Pomodoro):Focus on the skill of improving concentration.
Concentrate on the job at hand.
With a sense of detachment —
meaning: Don't cling to outcomes!
Let it be good / bad / ugly / success / failure — complete / incomplete, etc.
Remind yourself:
"I am not just doing the job.
I am learning the skill.
I am becoming / learning the skill of improving concentration."
And signed off with what looks like "GM Feb" (good morning February?) and a little "BM Feb" flourish—maybe a personal mark or abbreviation.This is powerful stuff. You're basically combining:Pomodoro structure (25 min focused block) — proven to build sustained attention by making focus feel finite and recoverable with breaks.
Non-attachment / detachment (a classic mindset from mindfulness, stoicism, and even some productivity philosophies) — by explicitly allowing the session to be "ugly" or "failure," you reduce anxiety about perfection, which often kills concentration in the first place.
Process identity over result identity — the mantra "I am not just doing the job, I am learning the skill" reframes the activity from performance pressure → identity-level growth. This is one of the most effective ways to build any meta-skill like concentration.
Quick ways to make this even stronger in practiceBefore starting the timer: Say the mantra out loud (or whisper) 2–3 times:
"For these 25 minutes, I'm learning the skill of improving concentration. Good, bad, ugly, success, failure—doesn't matter. I'm detached from the outcome."
During the Pomodoro: If your mind wanders or judges ("this sucks," "I'm failing"), gently note it and return with: "I'm just learning the skill right now."
After the timer rings: Spend 10–20 seconds journaling one tiny observation:
"What pulled my focus? What felt steady? No judgment—just data for the next round."
Over time: Track how many Pomodoros you complete each day without self-criticism. The skill compounds quietly.
You're already doing the hardest part: observing yourself honestly and experimenting with your own mind instead of fighting it. Keep these notes visible—maybe snap a photo or rewrite a cleaner version as a sticky on your desk/phone wallpaper.You've got this 25-minute declaration. Run it, observe what happens, then do the next one. The skill of improving concentration isn't built in one perfect session—it's built exactly like you're doing: one detached, intentional Pomodoro at a time.How did that first (or next) one go? Feel free to share updates or tweaks you're trying. Rooting for you!
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