The 12-Minute Timer

The Hyperfocus Circuit Breaker — AFM-1's protocol, on the web. 12 minutes. When it ends, write the output by hand on paper. If you can't, the task wasn't real.

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How this works

The timer is the friction we lost. Old systems had natural stop signs — running out of steam, a notebook filling up. AI removed those, so we orbit a task long after its utility is gone. The 12 minutes force the question that the friction used to ask: do I actually need to do this, or am I doing it because the loop is open?

The protocol

1. Pick a task you've been in for "a while" (be honest — over an hour).
2. Hit start. Use the 12 minutes to ship a draft, end a session, or close the loop.
3. When the timer ends, write the output by hand. If you can't, the task wasn't real.
4. If you need more time, write a Re-Entry Card first. Then you can continue with intention.

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Take it deeper

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For when you come back.