Try doing things in 10 minute segments with a lot of intensity. It works for writing (I am going to write this article in 10 minutes).
It works in fitness. Crossfit training isn’t necessarily in 10 minute increments but you can structure a complete workout around 2×10 minutes, if you would like. After stretching, you can go full intensity for 10 minutes. Think about a boxing match. Those guys are getting a great workout and a match can’t be more than 20 minutes or so. Each round is 2 minutes tops. Boxing for 2 minutes is a lot of work! You’ll be in great shape in no time if you really box for 20 minutes a day! I don’t recommend actually punching anyone, though!
What else? I’ve started to do it while I practice music. Instead of one hour, I just focus for 10 minutes then take a 15 or 20 minute break. During those 10 minutes I devote my entire attention to music and what I am playing. Of course it would be better to focus for an hour straight but frankly I am not able to at the moment. 10 minutes works very well for me! I pick a song and play it straight for ten minutes. After a few minutes, I start to feel the creative juices flowing.
Really 10 minutes is an arbitrary amount of time. How long can you focus completely? 5 minutes is fine. Concentrate intensely on something for 5 minutes. At the end, take a break and congratulate yourself. If you lose track of time and end up focusing for another 5 minutes, that’s great, otherwise no worries, just make sure you focused for the time you set. In the future, you can raise it by a little. Remember you want to have sustained intensity throughout the entire time you picked!
Well, i just finished proofreading this article and it has taken 12 minutes plus I am going to find a picture which will be a few more minutes (another 10 really – thanks http://www.sxc.hu/profile/styf22)! I guess I went over but not by much! Hope this helps and good luck!