Share Tips To Stay Focused!
Make a personalized focus plan and a simple sand-timer jar; practice short timed work sessions, calming breaths, and reward breaks to build concentration.
Step-by-step guide to make a personalized focus plan and a simple sand-timer jar
Step 1
Gather all the materials from the list and bring them to a clear workspace.
Step 2
Write one clear focus goal on your paper such as "read a book" or "finish a puzzle."
Step 3
Choose a short session length and write it down like "5 minutes" or "10 minutes."
Step 4
Pick a small reward for your break and write that on your plan.
Step 5
Choose a calming breath method and draw or write it on your plan (for example breathe in for 4 hold for 2 breathe out for 4).
Step 6
Rinse and dry both plastic bottles so they are clean and ready to use.
Step 7
Use the funnel or paper cone to pour sand into one bottle until it is about one quarter full.
Step 8
Ask an adult to carefully make a very small hole in the center of one bottle cap using the nail or pin.
Step 9
Screw the cap with the hole tightly onto the bottle that has the sand.
Step 10
Screw the empty bottle onto the sand bottle so the two caps meet and the sand can flow between them.
Step 11
Seal the seam where the two caps meet with strong tape or glue so no sand leaks out.
Step 12
Flip your sand-timer and use the stopwatch to measure how long the sand takes to run from one side to the other then write that time on your focus plan.
Step 13
Do one timed work session using your plan: start the sand-timer, use your calming breaths, work until the sand finishes, and then take the reward break you chose.
Step 14
Share a photo and a short tip about your focus plan and sand-timer on DIY.org so others can try it too.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of sand, the funnel, or a stopwatch if we don't have them?
Use uncooked rice or table salt instead of sand, roll a sheet of paper into a cone to act as the funnel, and use a smartphone timer app instead of a stopwatch.
If sand leaks or the sand-timer runs too fast or gets stuck, how can we fix it?
Seal the seam where the two caps meet with extra strong tape or glue as the instructions say, ask an adult to carefully adjust the very small hole in the center of the bottle cap with the nail or pin to slow or widen the flow, and retest timing with the stopwatch while changing the sand amount.
How can I adapt this activity for different age groups?
For younger kids have an adult do steps like rinsing and drying the bottles and making the small hole in the cap while they choose a simple goal and a 2–3 minute session with a sticker reward, and for older kids let them measure precise times with the stopwatch, adjust sand levels for longer sessions, and write detailed focus plans.
How can we extend or personalize the sand-timer focus plan to make it more fun or effective?
Decorate the rinsed and dried bottles with paint or stickers after sealing the caps, build several sand-timers with different sand amounts for 5-, 10-, and 15-minute sessions, and share a photo plus a short tip on DIY.org to compare ideas.
Watch videos on how to make a personalized focus plan and sand-timer jar
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Facts about concentration and time-management for kids
⏳ Hourglasses were used by sailors and cooks as simple, reliable timers long before pocket watches were common.
🌬️ Just three slow belly breaths can help calm your body and sharpen your attention in under a minute.
🍅 The Pomodoro Technique uses short focused sprints (often 25 minutes) with breaks to help your brain stay fresh.
🎉 Tiny rewards after short work sessions boost motivation by giving your brain quick, positive feedback.
📝 Writing a clear, personalized plan makes tasks easier to remember and follow because your brain likes step-by-step goals.
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