I’m a Sprinter (and My Business Runs Better Because of It)

It took me a while to figure it out, but I’m a sprinter.
Not in the athletic sense (unless there's a croissant at the finish line), but in the way I work. When I look back over the last several years, the times I’ve gotten the most done - the really good, deep work - it has always been during focused bursts. I didn’t know that had a name until recently, but once I saw it for what it was, everything clicked.

Sprints are how I move the needle in my business. And if I want to work that way consistently, I have to make space for it.

No Distractions Allowed

This means shutting off email notifications. All notifications, really. If the sprint isn’t email-focused, I don’t even glance at my inbox.

That took some practice. For a long time, I let my inbox run the show. I truly believed there was no email that could wait, and that belief had me stuck in reactive mode all day.

Spoiler alert: nearly every email can wait an hour. Most can wait two.

My Ideal Sprint Schedule

Time-blocking works really well for me, just not in short bursts.
Give me 20-minute blocks and I’ll spend half of it ramping up and the other half mentally resisting the next thing on my calendar.

I need at least 45 minutes to get into a groove. Most of the time, I block 90 minutes for a single sprint. During that time, I choose one task, focus hard, and ignore everything else.

When I commit to sprints like this, I can get more done in four focused hours than I would in eight or ten scattered ones.

Email Emergency Protocol

Just because I ignore email doesn’t mean I ignore actual emergencies.
I’ve got a filter set up so that any email with the word “emergency” in the subject line pings my phone. That covers my bases if a supplier meltdown or client issue pops up while I’m deep in a project.

Otherwise, my phone stays across the room while I’m working.
Out of sight, out of distraction.

Why I Schedule Everything

Sprinting only works when I make room for it on the calendar.
If I don’t schedule it, it doesn’t happen. Simple as that.

This goes for everything I care about. Whether it's a creative project, a workflow update, or even something fun, I have to block time for it. Structure gives me freedom. I know - that phrase used to make me cringe too, but it’s true.

Setting a timer helps a lot. Sometimes, when the timer goes off, I have to stop because there’s a meeting or client call waiting. Other times, the timer is just there to help me start. Once I get in the zone, I often keep going.

Making the Most of Hold Time

You know what else is weirdly productive? Sitting on hold. I hate it, of course. But since it’s going to happen, I use that time to clear my inbox or knock out quick digital tasks.

I’m always surprised by how much I can get done in those little windows.

If I’m going to be trapped listening to elevator music, I might as well make progress while I wait.

The Bottom Line

Sprint-style work keeps me focused, efficient, and way less stressed.
But it doesn’t happen by accident. It requires structure, intention, and a little bit of unlearning. I still fall into old habits now and then, but I keep coming back to what I know works.

Because winging it? That’s where my productivity goes to die.