Harvard Business Review Guides Ultimate Boxed Set (16 Books)

Chapter 18

Power Through Your Day in 90-Minute Cycles

by Tony Schwartz

For nearly a decade, I’ve begun my workdays by focusing for 90 minutes, uninterrupted, on the task I decide the night before is the most important to tackle the following day. After 90 minutes, I take a break. When my break is up, I begin the cycle again.

To make this possible, I turn off my e-mail while I’m working, close unnecessary windows on my computer, and let the phone go to voice mail.

I typically get more work done and feel more satisfied than I do for any comparable period of time the rest of the day. It can be tough on some days to fully focus for 90 minutes, but I always have a clear stopping time, which makes it easier.

I launched this practice because my energy, ...