Focus, breaks, routine: Mr. Marshmallow shows how it's done

Every morning starts the same way: I get up, Mallow waits patiently until I'm ready – but his eyes already say it all. Out we go, no discussion. At some point I realized that our Chief Happiness Officer lives by a principle that works pretty well in the workday too.

Fixed blocks instead of flexible intentions

The morning walk with Mallow is non-negotiable. It's not in the calendar, but it happens anyway – every day, at the same time. That's exactly what makes it so reliable. Mallow doesn't do flexible appointments. For him, there's only: now.

Breaks that don't look like breaks

Mallow stops constantly. Lamp post, blade of grass, some random smell. To us it looks like dawdling. For him, it's processing information – he's taking in what's happening around him. The brain works the same way. It needs phases where it's not actively working on a problem to sort things out in the background. The best ideas rarely come at your desk – more likely while getting coffee, on the way to the bakery, or on a walk with Mallow. Step outside for a moment or stare out the window for five minutes, and you'll often have a clearer head than after another half hour at the screen.

One thing at a time

When Mallow spots a squirrel, there's only the squirrel. No multitasking, no "I'll keep an eye on that while I quickly do something else". One hundred percent focus. Multitasking sounds efficient, but it isn't. Switching back and forth between tasks costs time and energy – every single time. What helps: finish one task before starting the next. Or at least make a clean cut – park the task, write a note, then switch. Fewer open tabs, fewer context switches, less mental load.

Fixed routines, real breaks, and full focus – sounds simple, but it makes all the difference. Mallow doesn't need tools for that. We do – and that's exactly why we build them. For ourselves and for our clients: solutions that create structure, so you can focus on what matters. Even if we're a bit less committed than Mallow when it comes to squirrels.

Tomorrow morning again. Mallow will be on time – and I'm looking forward to it.