Episode 57: the 52/17 Focus Technique with Mary ellen knauff
In this episode, host Hannah Morgan chats with productivity expert and working mom Mary Ellen Knauff about one of her favorite strategies for getting more done in less time — the 52/17 Focus Technique. Instead of rushing through short bursts of focus, this approach encourages 52 minutes of deep work followed by a 17-minute break to reset your brain and refocus your energy.
Mary Ellen shares how she uses this system in her own workdays as a corporate professional and mom of two, along with practical tips like turning off notifications, using one monitor, and printing key materials to reduce distraction. The result? More intentional focus, better work-life boundaries, and a calmer, more productive day.
Key Takeaways
Work in longer, focused bursts: The 52/17 method balances deep concentration with meaningful rest.
Use mornings for deep work: Focus and willpower are strongest earlier in the day.
Limit distractions: Silence notifications and minimize screens to stay present on one task.
Leave a note before your break: A quick “start here next” helps you regain momentum faster.
Take real breaks: Step outside, stretch, or walk — true rest fuels better focus.
Quotes
“Five-minute breaks never feel long enough — 17 minutes lets your brain rest and reset.”
“Focus is like willpower — it fades throughout the day.”
“Turn off your second monitor to double your focus.”
“When you come back from a break, leave yourself a note: start here next.”
Resources Mentioned
Mary Ellen Knauff – Productivity expert helping working moms with sustainable time management tools.
Heron House Management – Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.
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This episode of De-Stress the Nest is sponsored by Heron House Management.
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Heron House Management is a virtual house management service that takes the stress out of your busy life by taking on your mental load and managing your To Do list. We provide fractional virtual house management for busy families at 10, 15 and 20+ hours/month.
Meal planning, signing up for kids activities, scheduling doctor's appointments, finding a house cleaner, planning your kid's birthday party, getting quotes for that home renovation project, or scheduling a monthly date night with your significant other and so much more. We do it all!
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[00:02] Hannah Morgan:
Welcome to De-Stress the Nest, a podcast for busy parents where experts share bite-sized tips on how to create systems that minimize stress at home. I’m your host, Hannah Morgan.[00:12] Hannah Morgan:
Today’s episode is sponsored by Heron House Management — the first-ever virtual house management service that lightens your mental load by handling your to-do list with monthly subscriptions of 10, 15, and 20+ hours per month. From meal planning and doctor’s appointments to birthday parties and home projects, Heron House Management helps busy families reclaim their time and live their best lives. Learn more at heronhousemanagement.com.[00:42] Hannah Morgan:
On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Mary Ellen Knauff, a time and productivity expert, to talk about one of her favorite strategies: the 52/17 Focus Technique. If time management and focus are challenges for you, this quick conversation will help you refocus, recharge, and get more done — with less stress.[01:05] Hannah Morgan:
Mary Ellen, I’m so excited to have you on the show today! Let’s start with who you are and what you do.[01:10] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Thanks so much for having me, Hannah. I’m a productivity expert for working mothers. I work full-time in corporate technical sales and have two little ones — ages three and one. When I returned to work after my second maternity leave, I realized I needed a way to be more efficient during the workday so my job didn’t spill into my nights. My background is in industrial engineering, which is really about optimizing systems, so I started applying those principles to how I work and parent — and that’s where this focus technique came in.[01:50] Hannah Morgan:
Amazing. I know our listeners are going to love this. Let’s dive into the 52/17 Focus Technique.[01:55] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Yes! The 52/17 technique isn’t as famous as the Pomodoro method, but I think it’s even better for longer stretches of focus. You work on one task for 52 minutes — no distractions, no multitasking — then take a 17-minute break. It’s the perfect window for deep work and for real rest afterward.[02:23] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Personally, I use it first thing in the morning, when my focus is strongest. Focus is like willpower — it fades throughout the day. By 3 p.m., most of us are reaching for “easy wins,” so I save 52/17 blocks for that morning deep work window.[02:45] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Here’s how I set it up: I put my iPhone on “Work Focus” mode so only essential calls can come through — like my kids’ school or my husband. I put my phone in another room, and if I’m using dual monitors, I turn one off. It keeps me laser-focused on one screen and one task.[03:12] Hannah Morgan:
That’s such a great tip — and I love that you’re realistic about balancing parent responsibilities. Even while we’re working, we’re still parents, so those school calls need to come through![03:22] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Exactly. During the 17-minute break, I actually step away. You can walk a mile, have a snack, or just reset. Five-minute breaks never feel long enough to recharge — 17 minutes lets your brain relax and make creative connections in the background.[03:45] Hannah Morgan:
I totally relate. Five minutes goes by in a flash — I usually just grab a snack and sit right back down![03:53] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Right? And when you come back after 17 minutes, it helps to leave a note on your desk: “Start here next.” That way, you don’t lose time trying to remember where you left off.[04:08] Mary Ellen Knauff:
I also love having a printer — it was actually a birthday gift — because printing a few pages of something I’m working on helps me focus better. Reading on paper reduces distractions, and I can jot notes directly on the page.[04:30] Hannah Morgan:
That’s such a good point. Studies even show we retain information better from paper than screens — and less scrolling means fewer chances to wander.[04:42] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Yes! And this technique is one of several I teach in my Master Your Week mini-course. Each one is designed for a different time of day — and 52/17 is ideal for the 8 a.m. to noon window when your focus is strongest.[05:00] Hannah Morgan:
I love that. Because after lunch, my brain is not in deep focus mode![05:06] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Exactly. You can switch to something lighter in the afternoon, like Pomodoro or meetings. I can usually get about three 52/17 sessions in before I transition to a new rhythm.[05:20] Hannah Morgan:
So good. I’m going to try this tomorrow — one monitor, phone in the other room, and an actual 17-minute walk. Thank you so much for sharing, Mary Ellen![05:30] Mary Ellen Knauff:
Thank you, Hannah — this was so fun![08:06] Hannah Morgan:
Thanks for listening to De-Stress the Nest — the podcast where experts share bite-sized tips on how to simplify your life. Don’t forget to subscribe and tune in every Tuesday for more ways to make home feel easier.
