Alright, so I decided to finally check out what this ‘sean kealey’ stuff was all about. Been seeing the name around, usually connected to getting things done or some kind of work approach. Always a bit skeptical about these new gurus popping up, but hey, gotta try things, right? Can’t knock it ’til you try it.
Getting Started
So, first thing I did was basically try to understand the core idea. Didn’t want to get bogged down in long articles or videos, just the gist. Seemed like it was about really zeroing in on one thing at a time, cutting out the noise. Okay, sounds simple enough, but we all know simple isn’t easy.
I cleared off my workspace. Like, actually cleared it, not just pushed piles around. Found my old notebook and a pen that actually works. Decided I’d dedicate a solid block of time, maybe an hour and a half, to that project proposal I’ve been dreading. No email notifications, phone on silent and face down across the room. The whole nine yards.
The Actual Attempt
I sat down. Took a deep breath. Opened the document. For the first, maybe, twenty minutes? It felt good. Like my brain was actually engaging with the task. I started outlining the main sections, pulling up some old data points. It felt productive.
Then, inevitably, the itch started. You know the one. Did I get that email reply yet? What’s happening on that Slack channel? Is it lunchtime? My mind just started drifting. It’s wild how trained we are for distraction. I had to physically pull my attention back to the document. Like, literally refocus my eyes and reread the last sentence I wrote. This happened maybe three or four times.
This focus thing is tough. It’s not just about turning off notifications; it’s about battling your own internal noise generator. I remembered trying something similar years back, maybe it was some ‘deep work’ trend then. Same struggle. It’s like building a muscle, I guess. You don’t just wake up strong.
Looking Back on It
So, did I finish the proposal in that block? Nope. Not even close. But, and this is the interesting part, the part I did get done felt solid. More thought-through than when I usually chip away at things between meetings and emails. The quality felt different.
I managed about an hour before I really hit a wall and needed a break. Stepped away, got some water. Looking back at the notebook, I had scribbled down a few decent ideas that probably wouldn’t have surfaced if I was multitasking.
Will I stick with this ‘sean kealey’ method, whatever it’s properly called? Hard to say definitively. It’s demanding. Maybe not for every task, every day. But for those big, important things that need real brainpower? Yeah, I can see myself carving out time and trying this again. It’s like any tool – useless if it stays in the box, and potentially powerful if you learn how and when to use it properly. Definitely beats just letting the day happen to you, which is what I usually end up doing.
