I Tried The 5-5-5-3 Method To Achieve Pure Focus At Work

I’ll be the first to admit my concentration levels aren’t great. In my twenties, I was pretty good at getting my head down and boshing out a project, free from distraction.

But nowadays, with the ping of social media notifications, WhatsApp messages, emails, Slack updates, news alerts, to-do list reminders, not to mention the 20+ tabs I have open and need to flit between on a daily basis (and all the parenting mental load tabs running in the background: who needs picking up at what time tonight? What shall I make for dinner? Whose birthday party do I need to buy gifts for ahead of this weekend?), I am in a state of constant distraction.

It can be pretty exhausting.

Sometimes it feels like I can barely get one thing done – a task, an article, a bunch of emails fired out – without becoming distracted by about 13 other things that need to be done. And then the first task becomes this monster hill to climb.

Like most people, I’m not immune to the odd mid-afternoon slump, either. If I’ve had a disrupted night’s sleep – which happens a lot with kids under five – I often find this period is when my productivity nose-dives off a cliff.

So, I was intrigued to hear about the 5-5-5-3 method from career coach, Jo Irving. It’s a mindful productivity hack for getting things done, which involves:

• Five minutes of planning, where you set your intention and clearly define the task at hand.
• Five minutes of preparation including tidying your workspace, removing distractions, and gathering any tools or materials you need.
• Five minutes to reset your nervous system through mindful breathing or stillness.
• 30 minutes focused on your work. The idea is that by the time you start working, you’re fully prepared mentally, emotionally, and practically, which makes you knuckle down and crack on.

“Clients often tell me it helps them transition more easily into deep work, especially on days when they feel scattered or overwhelmed,” Irving said.

“The breathing component is particularly useful for calming the mind, while the preparation phase eliminates the common excuse of ‘I’m not ready yet’.

“By respecting the mental runway you need before engaging with a task, the method reduces procrastination and enhances focus.”

I was intrigued as to whether this intentional method could help me free myself from distraction overload and help me shift into a better state of focus.

I hit a bit of an afternoon slump around 2.30pm, so I decided to go for a quick walk and then returned to my computer to focus on writing.

First things first, I planned what I was going to write and made sure I had all the necessary information to hand. Then I cleared my desk of clutter (empty water bottles, plates, cups, random bits of paperwork), popped my phone in the other room, turned off notifications on Slack, and sat down to write.

To begin with I sat and focused on my breathing for a few minutes. My brain tried to distract me throughout – the buzz of a notification on my phone in the other room, the lure of a tab on my laptop, but I chose to ignore each distraction and continued with my breathing, focusing on a plant on a bookshelf nearby. It was actually very calming. (I had this music on in the background which probably contributed to the relaxed vibe.)

After around three minutes, I felt ready to start. I clocked the time on my laptop and began to type.

I have to admit, the intentional start to this period of focus did seem to help me stay on track. I am forever getting distracted by about 25 open tabs on my laptop, but I maintained focus on the one tab I was using and continued to write.

Irving noted the method works “particularly well for people who struggle with distractions or have difficulty getting started”. Hi, hello. “Rather than forcing yourself into work mode, this technique creates a natural, structured entry point into deep concentration,” she explained.

“It’s especially effective for those who feel mentally fragmented throughout the day or overwhelmed by a long to do list. That said, like any tool, consistency is key. It’s most powerful when used regularly, not just as a one off.”

The only thing I’d say is that I didn’t feel like I needed to take a whole five minutes for planning, another five minutes for preparing my workspace (it took barely 60 seconds) and a whole five minutes for breathing.

I think depending on what your job is or how fast-paced it is, you could probably tweak these timings to suit.

The career coach agreed that for people working in reactive environments where immediate responses are required, carving out 15 minutes before each task might feel impractical.

“Similarly, if you’re constantly context switching or working in a high interruption role, the method may need some adjusting,” she added.

“But in coaching terms, I’d say that’s not a flaw in the technique, it’s just about tailoring it to your real world circumstances.”

Irving summarised the approach as being “ideal for anyone trying to reclaim their focus in a world full of distractions”.

I certainly found it refreshing – and almost freeing – to not be pulled in a hundred different directions at once. I also managed to finish my article in one go, without flicking between tabs, which rarely happens nowadays. (Sometimes I can end up straddling about five different demands and projects as a result, and I wonder why I haven’t got everything I’d hoped to get done completed at the end of the day.)

Irving ended: “If you’re someone who tends to dive into tasks without much thought or ends the day wondering where your time went, this approach can be a game changer.”

After giving it a go, I’d say it’s certainly worth a shot!