When was the last time you checked your email or phone? Even if it wasn’t urgent.

For most of us, this has become an almost automatic habit, although I don’t wish to generalize. Some people excel at focusing, while others actively work on improving their concentration.

Recently, I discovered a fantastic tool that’s a game changer for anyone willing to train their focus. It came in handy just as my desk work was increasing, and I found it harder to maintain concentration. It’s a common issue—our brains tend to escape from challenging tasks into a more relaxed environment we call distraction.

Here’s the tool: If you look at the bottom right corner of your laptop’s taskbar, next to the clock, you’ll see a small bell icon. When you click it, a menu will appear (depending on your device), often showing a calendar. Below the calendar, you’ll find an option labeled “Focus” along with a time setting. You can adjust this time to your liking, starting with, say, 5 minutes for your initial “conditioning phase.” During this time, your laptop will mute all notifications, and it’s up to you to focus solely on the task at hand for that duration.

Start small—aim for 30 minutes to an hour of focused work a day by using 5-minute intervals, perhaps repeating it six times. Test it out and see how it works for you.

If it doesn’t work right away, keep trying. If it does, you can increase your focus time the next day, maybe aiming for 10-minute intervals. For longer focus sessions, the tool even offers built-in 5-minute breaks.

Don’t miss out on this simple yet effective virtual “conditioning coach.” And feel free to let me know how it’s working for you!