Minute With Mallon: Focus When You Can’t!

Oct 7

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

I was working with a client recently who—we’re pretty certain—has ADHD. But like many adults with ADHD, he doesn’t have the hyperactive energy most people associate with it. Instead, he deals with constant mental drifting, procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed by tasks. Sound familiar?

That’s exactly where he was—frustrated and anxious because he couldn’t stay focused or follow through.

So we spent an hour digging into it, and I shared a few tools that might help. I’m passing them along in case they help you or someone you know:

Tool #1: The Daily Anchor Plan (3x3 Focus Grid)

• Choose 3 high-impact tasks for the day (MITs: Most Important Tasks)

• Write them down, in priority order

• Do them first—before checking email or putting out fires

Tool #2: Time-Boxing with Pre-Decided Priorities

• Use a calendar or app (like Sunsama, TimeBloc, or Clockify) to block a 90-minute focus session

• Treat it like a meeting with yourself

• Suggested block: 8:30–10:00 AM

Tool #3: Pomodoro Stacking

• 25 minutes focused work, then a 5-minute break

• Repeat 3 times = 90 minutes total

• This builds in rhythm, energy, and breaks to reset focus

Tool #4: My Favorite: Rhythm Method

• Set two alarms every hour: one on the hour, one at :48

• At the top of the hour, sit down and work

• At :48, get up and walk away from your desk—stretch, breathe, reset

• Repeat every hour throughout the day

I’ve used this method for years, and it’s a game-changer for energy and clarity

Which One Would You Try First?

If you were going to try just one of these tools this week, which would it be? Hit reply—I’d love to hear what you choose.

Know Someone Who Needs This?

Feel free to forward this to someone who's struggling with focus. It might be just what they need today.

Hope it helps!! 💪🏻

Something to Ponder:

Acquiring things will rarely bring you deep satisfaction. But acquiring experiences will.

Kevin Kelly

Something I Learned:

I'm reading a book called Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnigan It's a Pulitzer Prize winner and is about a boy back in the 1960's whose parents moved from California to Oahu, Hawaii and his venture into professional surfing. I've had the opportunity to visit where he lived a couple of times, so the story's really pulling me in.

Here's an interesting part about how the big waves that they surf are formed:

"Ever wonder how perfect, surfable waves make their way to shore? It starts with a storm at sea, where powerful winds create disorganized waves. Over time, those waves combine into “wave trains” that travel thousands of miles across the ocean. These wave trains form what surfers call a swell. As the swell moves through the open water, it becomes more organized and powerful, with consistent intervals between waves—like energy marching toward shore.

As these waves approach land, they begin to feel the sea floor, slowing their base and causing the wave to rise and steepen. When the wave becomes unstable, it breaks—ideally not all at once (which “closes out”), but gradually and in one direction, which surfers call a “peel.” When everything aligns—bottom shape, wind, swell angle—you get that beautiful, rideable moment. A wave with a catchable takeoff point, a clean face, and a graceful break. Nature’s perfect timing." 🌊

It made me think:

Creative ideas often start like ocean swells. They don’t show up clean, polished, and fully formed.

They begin way out there—just a mix of thoughts, conversations, inputs, and inspiration bumping into each other. But give them some space. Let them move, settle, and take shape. And over time, those scattered waves start to align—and suddenly you’re standing in front of a clean, rideable idea.

The key?

Don’t rush it. Let it build.

And when the moment comes—paddle in and ride it. 🏄🏻‍♂️