Sonia, a 35-year-old lawyer, shares her method for organising his working day: “I use the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a 5-minute break, and a 15-minute break every two hours. The most important thing isn’t the time spent working, but the output achieved.”
For his part, Valentin, 37, who works in human resources, relies on ambient sound to stay focused: “Background music really helps me concentrate when I need to be very focused. But no lyrics! Otherwise, for tasks that require less concentration, I like listening to podcasts. I set myself a task and make sure I finish it before the podcast ends.”
Sylvie, 50, a board director, relies on motivation and small victories: “I start with a task I enjoy, then tackle the ones I can complete quickly, and tick them off my to-do list. It’s motivating to have finished. Sometimes I listen to upbeat music when the tasks are simple; it gives me more energy and motivation to carry on. That way, I’m less likely to put off the more difficult tasks.”
In marketing, Julien, aged 40, prioritises discipline and periods of intense concentration: “On my work computer, I ban myself from any distractions (social media, YouTube, etc.). Otherwise, I usually start my days very early because I find I’m more focused in the morning.”
“I start with the hardest task, without opening my emails. Once I’ve got started, the rest seems easier. And I allow myself proper breaks, away from screens, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Otherwise, I break my tasks down into 20-minute micro-tasks. Every small step forward motivates me to carry on,” shares Camille, aged 36, who works in communications and has opted for a strategic and step-by-step approach.
“When I feel myself losing focus because I’m thinking about doing other things, I take five minutes to do those other things. Then I stop and get back to it,” explains Louis, 32, a consultant, who therefore relies on short, controlled breaks.
Tom, 32, who works in fintech, strictly structures his work blocks: “I set aside 90-minute slots in my diary and treat them as appointments with myself. My phone is on flight mode, and Slack is closed. It might seem strict, but I finish my work more quickly and feel less exhausted at the end of the day.”
Angela, 43, who works in the financial sector, tailors his routine to his energy levels: “I try to organise my day according to how much energy I have, but it’s a bit hit and miss. Otherwise, I tackle the most demanding tasks in the morning and, at the end of the day, I do less demanding tasks like replying to emails.”
Finally, Laura, 28, a consultant, prefers a clear, distraction-free environment: “Noise-cancelling headphones have made all the difference. I don’t always listen to music, but simply to the silence. It shows others that I’m focused – and myself too. I also stick to a concise to-do list: three priorities at most. And I keep my mornings free. No meetings before 10 am if I can help it.”
This article was written for the May 2026 issue of Paperjam magazine, published on 29 April. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.
