Cajun Koi’s FOCUS Formula in Ahmni
Cajun Koi recommends a FOCUS Formula for staying focused while studying. In Ahmni, you can use Focus Sessions to set goals, use a checklist to optimize your environment, write down distractions, and set focus timers. Let’s dive in!
FOCUS Formula
Cajun Koi’s FOCUS formula can be summarized as:
Familiar: Use a consistent focus ritual
Objectives: Set clear goals
Capture: Write down internal distractions
Urgency: Use a pomodoro timer to create time pressure
Surroundings: Prevent and deal with distractions
Familiar
Before studying, Cajun Koi recommends going through the same actions every time. Specifically they describe a pre-study focus checklist, and a pre-study focus ritual.
In Ahmni, you can customize your pre-study focus checklist. In the below example we wear noise-cancelling headphones, turn on do-not-disturb, and then perform our focus ritual. Focus rituals can be deep breathing or anything else that you can consistently do to set your focus.
Objectives
Cajun Koi recommends setting specific goals before you study. This helps you stay on track and maintain motivation.
In Ahmni’s pre-study focus checklist you can add a checklist item for writing down goals. An example goal might be “Mindmap the nervous system”.
Capture
Writing down distractions is good for two main reasons:
Prevent those distractions in the future
Offload internal distractions that you don’t want to forget
External distractions like noisy siblings, phone notifications, and an empty water bottle are often preventable. If you get distracted, write it down, and then after that study session come up with a way to prevent it. Usually this involves modifying your pre-study checklist, for example adding “Put do-not-disturb-sign on door” or “Fill up water bottle”.
Internal distractions like remembering you need to text your friend back are hard to prevent, but writing them down for later will let you focus on studies instead.
In Ahmni, after starting a focus session, you can write down distractions. In the example below the distractions were “loud noises outside” and “got hungry”. Next time we can make sure to wear headphones, and eat beforehand if it is lunchtime.
Urgency
Cajun Koi recommends using a Pomodoro timer to keep yourself on track. You can learn more about the Pomodoro and Flowmodoro methods in our article: Pomodoro vs Flowmodoro.
In Ahmni, you can choose between Pomodoro and Flowmodoro and set a specific time. If you choose Pomodoro, a small timer will even appear in your infinite canvas while studying.
Surroundings
Cajun Koi recommends removing distractions and preventing any other interruptions. While this might sound easy, it can take time. The best way to decide exactly what to do is to continuously write down what distracts you and then add a preventive measure to your pre-study focus checklist.
In Ahmni you would use the distraction sheet to write down distractions and then come up with ways to prevent those distractions and add them to the pre-study focus checklist.
Go Further
FOCUS is a great first step toward creating and maintaining focus. With Ahmni, we can go further.
Ahmni also has a post-study checklist that helps you rate your energy, record your thoughts, and calculate how long to rest.
Additionally, Ahmni lets you look back at old focus sessions to see how long you focused and what distractions you wrote down. These can be seen below.
