A day in the life : Day 445

This week, I ran into a focus problem that caught me off guard. I wasn’t distracted in an obvious way — no constant scrolling or interruptions — but I still struggled to start tasks. I’d sit down, stare at the screen, and delay for no clear reason. Around the same time, I noticed a trend gaining attention again: “body doubling.” The idea is simple — working alongside someone else, even silently, to stay accountable.

I didn’t overthink it. I chose a quiet shared space for one afternoon and worked there instead of at home. No discussions, no collaboration — just people doing their own work. At first, it felt awkward. I was more aware of my posture, my typing, even how often I took breaks. But after a while, something shifted. I started working without negotiating with myself every five minutes.

There was one downside. I underestimated how tiring it is to stay mentally “on” in a shared environment. By evening, I felt drained in a different way. I pushed through one extra task and ended up making a small mistake that I had to fix the next day. That reminded me not to treat focus like an endless resource.

The weather’s been warmer lately, and that affects energy more than I expect. I’ve been eating lighter lunches and avoiding heavy food during the day. That helped me stay alert in the shared space without feeling sluggish. Small seasonal changes matter more when your routine shifts.

By the end of the week, I didn’t decide to work this way every day. But I did notice something important: my problem wasn’t motivation, it was isolation. Working around others made starting easier, even without interaction.

This trend isn’t about productivity hacks or forcing discipline. It’s about changing context. Sometimes focus doesn’t come from trying harder — it comes from not being alone with your thoughts all day.