Productivity & Focus Glossary
Clear definitions for the terms that show up in productivity research, focus technique guides, and time management books.
Pomodoro Technique A time management method using 25-minute focus intervals with short breaks. Deep Work Distraction-free, cognitively demanding work that produces high-value output. Time Blocking Scheduling every hour of the workday in advance to protect focus time. Flow State A state of complete absorption in a challenging task, characterized by effortless focus. Focus Timer A countdown timer used to structure focused work intervals with defined breaks. Cognitive Load The total amount of mental effort being used in working memory at any given time. Context Switching The mental cost of moving between different tasks or types of work. Time Blindness Difficulty perceiving the passage of time accurately, common in ADHD. 90-Minute Rule Working in 90-minute blocks aligned with the brain's natural ultradian rhythms. Focus Block A scheduled, uninterrupted period of time dedicated to a single task. Productivity Tracking Measuring and recording focused work time to identify patterns and improve output. 52/17 Rule A focus technique: 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of complete rest. Task Batching Grouping similar tasks together to reduce context switching overhead. Monotasking Focusing on one task at a time, as opposed to multitasking. Attention Residue Cognitive residue from a previous task that lingers after switching to a new task.