How to Stop Attention Drift with One Simple Mid-Block Question

You sit down to work with good intentions, but fifteen minutes later, you're scrolling through your phone with no memory of how you got there. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Attention drift is a common challenge, especially for neurodivergent minds, but one simple mid-block reminder can help you catch yourself before the entire work session slips away.

Set a Work Block

The foundation of this technique is working in focused chunks that match your natural attention span. Rather than committing to hours of continuous work, break your tasks into manageable blocks—perhaps twenty or thirty minutes to start.

Set a clear intention for each block. What specific task will you complete? Having this defined purpose gives your reminder question something concrete to measure against. Write it down if that helps, or simply state it aloud before you begin.

Most importantly, schedule your mid-block check before you start. If you're working for thirty minutes, set a reminder for the fifteen-minute mark. This checkpoint sits right in the middle, perfectly positioned to catch drift before it takes over.

Notice the Drift

Here's the uncomfortable truth: attention doesn't vanish in one dramatic moment. It slides away gradually whilst you're mid-task, often without you realising it's happening.

One minute you're writing an email, the next you're checking social media, researching something tangentially related, or reorganising your desk. The drift is so subtle that you often don't notice until half your block has disappeared into the void.

This slow leak of focus is precisely what makes the mid-block check so powerful. It catches the drift early, before your momentum is completely lost. Rather than discovering at the end of your session that you accomplished nothing, you get a chance to course-correct whilst there's still time left.

Ask the Question

The core of this technique is beautifully simple: when your mid-block reminder fires, pause and ask yourself one question: 'Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing?'

That's it. One question. Two possible answers:

• If yes, brilliant—acknowledge your focus and keep going with renewed awareness
• If no, gently redirect yourself back to the task you set at the start of your block

This isn't about scolding yourself for drifting. It's a friendly nudge, a chance to notice sooner and refocus faster. The question takes mere seconds to answer, but it can save the rest of your block from being lost to distraction.

The phrasing matters too. 'Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing?' is specific enough to trigger honest self-assessment but neutral enough to avoid triggering shame or frustration.

Refocus

When you notice you've drifted, the path back is straightforward: acknowledge where your attention went, then return to the specific step you were working on before the drift began.

There's no need for frustration or lengthy self-criticism. Simply close the distracting tab, put your phone face down, and resume. Think of it as the shortest meeting you'll ever attend: one question, one answer, back to work.

Used consistently, this mid-block check becomes automatic. Your work blocks feel steadier, you finish more of what you start, and you do it all without adding extra effort or complexity to your day. The habit of checking in transforms scattered sessions into productive ones.

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