I spent years as a lifeguard, with practically no breaks as I didn't stop for the seasons. Being in an indoor pool helps with that. While it was only three years of my life, it was my first job and I was young. Meaning those 3 years felt like a really long time to me, and are ingrained into my mind.

There was something that was told to me at the very start of my working life journey, and I never forgot it. That somewhat secret concept from lifeguarding has imprinted onto other areas of my life since then too.

The Idea of Focus

Our brains can only maintain a simple focus for so long, and while it can be trained. Not everyone's neurochemistry is the same, and thus training can be complicated. Due to the individualistic nature of it.

However one thing we are share is that certain tricks can help us keep focusing for longer. Perhaps this is where Pomodoro comes in?

The thing we need to worry about today is that when you are staring at a pool of water for an extended period of time. Your focus will wane, even if there are people in the water...

Changing Zones = Interleaving Focus

The trick I've alluded to is simply changing your focus. While you can only focus on one thing at a time for a certain amount of time. You CAN however focus on a very similar thing after changing your situation.

Think like choosing standing mode on your desk as opposed to sitting, or going for a walk instead of sitting in a chair listening to an audiobook. Well in lifeguarding what we would do is change zones of the pool.

The pool is divided up into certain sections, and you would stay in those sections only 30 min at a time. While other pools may operate differently; This seems to be the most efficient way.

I've taken this concept and tried to apply it to my content world for example. To me everything I do comes back to content.

Never taking your eyes off the water

Another very important aspect to this, and the reason why we did the switching in the first place. Is that as lifeguards the job is very serious, and the people in the pool's lives are literally in our hands (which to note most of the time are young teenagers, so keep that in mind the next time you go swimming).

At least with StarGuard and Ellis certified lifeguards we are trained to NEVER take our eyes off the water. Thus the reason why we switched zones to maximize focus.

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PLEASE NOTE: That RedCross lifeguards while they may have some of the hardest initial training. They have been known to be some of the worst guards in record. Often leaving their stands, or not paying attention. Please remember this when going to a pool, and watch your family close.
The point is to be in a semi-state of FLOW, and maximizing that flow of focus on the water.

How it falls into productivity

When you change your focus purposefully, rather than just following the shiny object, then you can control for how long you are going to focus. By changing at measured intervals, maybe with or without pomodoro, and intentionally set a goal to switch.

This will lead you into creating a more conducive deep work experience. As instead of focusing for 30 to maybe 45 min max (with only ONE thing). You would actually be focusing for roughly 3 sets of 30 min actions on three different things. Yes you change the things you are working on (they can be related though), BUT you are now focusing for TWICE as long.