Harnessing Deep Work Techniques

As an academic, I know how easy it is to feel pulled in a million directions. Between teaching, research, meetings, and deadlines, the distractions are endless. I struggled with this for the longest time until I discovered the power of deep, focused work. It changed everything. Now, instead of juggling tasks, I commit to structured, focused work sessions. Here’s what helped me, and it might just help you too: 1. Set Clear Priorities ↳ Know exactly what needs your attention before you start the day. For me, it’s the key research tasks that move the needle. 2. Time Block Your Tasks ↳ Allocate specific blocks of time for uninterrupted work. Teaching prep? 8-9 PM and 5-7 AM. Research? 1-3 PM. Editorial and industry engagement work? Fridays. No distractions. 3. Eliminate Distractions ↳ I turn off all notifications—emails, texts, you name it. A quiet workspace is the foundation of deep work. 4. Work in Sprints ↳ The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes work, 5-minute breaks) has been a real game-changer. It keeps my energy and focus up all day. 5. Review and Adjust ↳ At the end of the day, I reflect on what worked and make tweaks for tomorrow. This small habit keeps me improving. If you’re feeling stretched thin, try making deep, focused work a priority this week. The results—both in productivity and peace of mind—will speak for themselves. Wishing you all a focused and productive week! #mondaybits #deepwork #FutureProofYourLeadership #focus #productivity

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 We’re living in a strange paradox. An ocean of information—yet it's harder than ever to truly learn anything deeply. Not because we lack resources. But because we lack intentionality. I’ve seen this over and over—smart, driven people consuming tons of material but still struggling to solve problems with depth, clarity, or originality. Here’s what’s happening: If your mind is constantly grazing—scrolling feeds, jumping from one video to the next—you unknowingly build the habit of shallow intake. That habit slowly erodes your ability to think deeply, solve creatively, and lead meaningfully. And this doesn’t just show up in interviews. It shows up in client rooms, team meetings, personal decisions. You freeze. Or rely on templates. Or second-guess yourself. Here’s a better metaphor to hold on to: A tree can only grow tall if its roots grow deep. Without depth, there is no strength—only surface-level growth that gets shaken the moment pressure hits. So if you’re preparing for a consulting career—or just trying to level up—please hear this: Don’t mistake more content for real learning. Depth beats quantity. Every time. Try this for the next 5 days: - Pick one topic you're trying to master (e.g. market sizing, synthesis, mental math) - Spend 30 focused minutes each day—not multitasking, not jumping tabs At the end of each session, write 1 insight in your own words - No new content until you’ve reflected and applied what you’ve already consumed Do this—and watch your clarity sharpen and confidence grow. Because depth compounds. You don’t need more noise. You need deeper roots. #DeepWork #Discipline #clarity #careers #paradox

As an Autopreneur, I've learned that the key to success is not just working hard, but working smart. One of the most powerful techniques I use is deep work - focusing intensely on a single task without distraction. Here's my deep work routine to help you master anything: 1. Turn Off Your Phone Notifications, calls, and texts are the enemy of deep work. When I'm in deep work mode, my phone is on airplane mode or in another room. If you service low-leverage tasks, you sacrifice energy from higher-leverage activities. It's a zero-sum game. 2. Reduce Multitasking Studies show that multitasking reduces productivity by 40%. When I'm doing deep work, I focus on one task at a time. I break projects into small chunks and work through them systematically. Multitasking is the ability to screw everything up simultaneously. 3. Practice Mindfulness And Meditate Before starting a deep work session, I take a few minutes to meditate. This helps clear my mind, reduce stress, and increase focus. Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom. 4. Get More Sleep Adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive function and productivity. I aim for 7-9 hours per night to ensure my brain is well-rested and ready for deep work. Practice does not make perfect. It is practice, followed by a night of sleep, that leads to perfection. 5. Focus On The Present Moment During deep work, I aim to be fully present with the task at hand. If my mind starts to wander, I gently bring it back to the present. This takes practice, but you can train your brain to focus. 6. Take Breaks Paradoxically, taking breaks can actually improve your focus. After 60-90 minutes of deep work, I take a short break to recharge. I'll go for a quick walk, do some stretches, or just rest my eyes for a few minutes. Because taking a break can lead to breakthroughs. 7. Connect With Nature Whenever possible, I do my deep work sessions outside in nature. The fresh air, natural light, and greenery have a calming effect that aids concentration. I believe nature is not a place to visit; it is home. 8. Train Your Brain Deep work is a skill that can be trained and improved over time. Start with shorter sessions (25 minutes) and gradually increase the duration as you build your focus muscle. Continuous improvement > Delayed perfection. 9. Exercise Daily  Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain. It increases blood flow, releases endorphins, and promotes the birth of new brain cells. Movement is a medicine for creating change in your physical, emotional and mental states. __ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Matt Gray for more. Want more tips on how to achieve your goals? Join our community of 172,000+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/eaK8wGEG

😓My agency owner "deep work" hacks: As an agency owner I wear many hats so balancing deep and shallow work is a worthy challenge. Why? A 1-minute distraction destroys ~23 minutes of deep work. So dozens of ill-timed of micro-interruptions result in approx. ZERO deep work. Here are some hack that I use to combat ⚔️ interruptions and reclaim focus: ✅ Architect your week for focus (h/t Matt Redler 🎙️) Have days or multi-hour blocks only for deep work. Start with a no-meeting morning or day an first then let the focus blocks expand into your calendar like ivy on an English brick house. ✅ Nuke temptations I'll start to get into deep work and suddenly think "ooh, I should check Slack", "I should check LinkedIn" but compulsively doing that destroys productivity. 🧨One key to nuke them all: I press ⌨️Cmd-8 and all temptations shut down immediately ❌. LinkedIn... bye. Slack, Gmail, messaging apps, see you later, impossible to access until I undo it. (I set this up w/ Cold Turkey + Alfred) ✅ Block incoming distractions Have kids and are hyper-focused? Teach me your ways 🙇♂️ (🐈⬛🐈cats are enough challenge for me) 🛡Aside from (not having) kids, these have worked for me: • Turn off as many phone/computer notifications as possible • Use over-ear noise-blocking headphones (Sony WH-1000XM4) • Block spam calls (Hiya is working well) • Use Do Not Disturb (MacOS) or Focus Assist (Windows) ✅ 🖥 Big monitor (= more headspace) If you're an outbound agency owner, you're doing work that's much easier with a big 27"+ monitor. Studies have shown double-digit productivity improvements with larger monitors and it's one of the first things I buy my employees when they join. ✅ Hire and delegate: If your goal as an agency owner is to get your effective hourly rate really high 💰, you shouldn't be spending time on tasks that others can do with some training. E.g. do NOT set up your email infra yourself. Outsource or insource it (though make sure you understand it enough at a high level). UpWork, OnlineJobs.PH, and referrals (for specialized work) have been great for finding talent. ✅ Misc general tricks: • Plan your day the night ahead of time • Track client work in a system (ClickUp rocks!) • Sleep, rest, exercise, eat well, etc. • Focus music on repeat w/ overear headphones (ask for my Spotify list in comments) ✅🧠 [Final hack] Learn from others: Doing something pointless with a lot of focus is still pointless. Learning from others who have been there helps you focus on the right things more rapidly. If you're a Claygency owner, their Slack is a good place meeting others. Jesse Ouellette also has an excellent (and _very_ active) WhatsApp group. Personally I like to build micro Slack "mafias" around me so we can all learn from each other. (content is also a great way to learn e.g. 🦾Eric Nowoslawski, Jordan Crawford, Scott Martinis, Xavier C., Corey Quinn 🎯...) --- What productivity "hacks" work well for you?

How I Prioritize Deep Work as a Program Manager at Amazon Deep work isn’t about working longer—it’s about working better. Early in my career, my calendar was packed with meetings, leaving little room for focused, high-impact work. Then I noticed how a senior leader blocked out entire afternoons for “strategy time” with zero interruptions. That practice transformed my approach to time management. Here’s how I prioritize deep work effectively: 1️⃣ Time Blocking with a Twist I block at least two hours of deep work daily, but I also set an “emergency exit”—a single task I’ll switch to if urgent issues come up. This flexibility has prevented more than one deep work block from getting derailed. 2️⃣ Meeting-Free Mornings I reserve mornings for deep work and limit meetings to the afternoon whenever possible. This practice has doubled my productivity on complex tasks. During a recent roadmap planning session, this focus led to a clearer and more actionable plan. 3️⃣ Context Over Time I prepare a quick one-pager summarizing the context, goals, and next steps for every deep work session. This practice helps me get into flow faster by eliminating decision fatigue. Deep work isn’t about isolation—it’s about intention. If you’re struggling to focus, try blocking time for deep work with a clear purpose. How do you prioritize deep work? #DeepWork #Productivity #TimeManagement #Amazon

Do you feel like meetings interfere with your ability to get work done? You're not alone. In fact, if you haven't seen a post on this subject, whether as a joke or more serious post, I'd be surprised. But what do we do about it? At Maven, we implemented a program called 'Deep Work', and I have been loving it. The concept of deep work came to us from Cal Newport, an author and computer scientist, and his book, 'Deep Work'. It is worth a read, but the major point is that there is a disconnect between a manager's schedule, who spend most of their time in meetings moving work along and resolving road blocks, and programmers (or creators), who need long blocks of time to get into their flow state and get meaningful work done. "A single meeting can blow a whole afternoon, by breaking it into two pieces each too small to do anything hard in". As content creators and analysts, this hit us hard. So early last year, we implemented a deep work calendar. Company wide, we have "deep work" periods that are off limits for meetings (with rare exceptions), and we are not expected to be super responsive on Slack or email. These time blocks make up 60% of our work week, while the other 40% is "collab time", where we are expected to be more plugged in and responsive. This has made it much easier for me to plan and execute my work, without losing critical touchpoints with the team. Our setup is as below, but this can be configured based on the needs of your team -- do you think this would work for your team? #deepwork #productivity #meetings

Your rituals aren’t just about wellness. They are the cheat code for your peak performance. For years, I yearned for deep work. Go deep - to write, to create, to build things that made a difference. But I struggled with focus. The pings. The dings. And the cravings. My brain was being trained to chase stimulation, not stillness. And then, I got curious. What made the highest performers in history different? When I looked closer, I realized: They didn’t just have discipline. They had rituals. From Maya Angelou’s quiet writing sanctuaries to Steve Jobs’ walking meditations, to Einstein’s violin loops that unlocked nonlinear thought They didn’t just work hard. They created conditions that made deep work inevitable. So I built my own: ⨠ Morning sunlight before screen time. ⨠ Journaling to untangle the mind. ⨠ Movement before meetings. ⨠ Silence after every meeting. ⨠ Daily meditations to create self-awareness. ⨠ Work in sprints. Rest. Repeat. Over time, these became more than habits. They became sacred boundaries, the system that protected my focus, energy, and clarity. So if your mind feels scattered, if your day is running you… Don’t start with another app or productivity hack. Start with one ritual. One practice that signals to your system: “This is where I go deep.” 💡 How AI can Help You Ritualize Your Greatness 🧠 Pattern Spotter Finds hidden links in your data. “You sleep better on journaling days.” 🛠 Ritual Designer Co-creates habit stacks tailored to your energy and goals. 🔄 Trigger Tech Sends nudges, blocks distractions, sets the vibe. Calm tech, not chaos. 📈 Feedback Coach Checks in. Adapts based on stress, sleep, and recovery. 💬 Meaning Maker Prompts deep reflection: “What did this ritual protect you from today?” — 👇 What’s one ritual you won’t compromise on? Drop it below — you might inspire someone’s reset. _______________ I’m Amit Rawal, Chief AI Officer and Ex-Apple AI Product leader. I help ambitious thinkers and founders design their lives like systems: using AI to work smarter, live longer, and grow richer with clarity and calm. If you sign up for the newsletter (link in Bio), then you can access my entire AI stack for free, including prompts, systems, agents, and tools. ♻️ Repost to help someone think and feel better today.

Working 30% less helped me produce 100% more. After burning out 3 times, I NEEDED this formula: I went from a 50+ hour grind, to a focused 40.  All while delivering 2x the results. The 70-20-10 Focus Formula is the secret: 70% of your time on FOCUSED WORK  ↳ Deep work sessions where you operate in your zone of genius  ↳ Schedule these during your peak energy hours 20% on STRATEGIC RECOVERY  ↳ Intentional breaks that recharge your mental batteries  ↳ Micro-recovery rituals between important tasks 10% on PERFORMANCE REFLECTION  ↳ Weekly reviews to optimize your strategy approach  ↳ Identifying energy drains in your operations This framework transformed how I approach work. It helped me create boundaries that protect my energy And it amplified my impact. Remember: Sustainable career performance is built intentionally. What's your biggest energy drain at the office right now? Share in the comments 👇 — 👋 Hi, I'm Jonathan! ♽ Share this with someone who deserves work-life balance. ➕ Follow for daily work-life balance tips @ 9am EDT

I used to start my mornings as a data scientist with no focus AT ALL: • Half-reading Slack messages • Browsing LinkedIn like it was Instagram • Clicking between open Jupyter notebooks with zero focus But then I built a simple Deep Work Start Sequence—and it completely changed how I show up to work. Here’s what I do now—twice a day, every day: Step 1: Water I know this sounds basic, but hear me out. Before I even think about code, I prepare my water bottle. Not coffee, just water and some electrolytes. It resets my brain. Like physically clears the fog. It’s a small win, but it sets the tone. Step 2: Deep Work Music Right after water, I hit play on a specific playlist I’ve saved just for deep work. Nothing with lyrics. Just low BPM, focus-first background music. (Link in the comment) I wear the same headphones, sit in the same spot, and signal to my brain: “Time to lock in.” This trick helps me get into flow faster—whether I’m debugging code or brainstorming a new ML project. Step 3: Cut Off Notifications This is the part I used to skip—and it cost me hours of productive time every week. Before I dive in, I go on Do Not Disturb. No Slack. No email pings. No calendar reminders. I even close out all non-essential browser tabs. I treat deep work like a meeting with myself—and I don’t want to get interrupted. (If I’m working in an open space, I’ll throw on noise-canceling headphones and lower my brightness to avoid visual distractions.) Once the world is muted, it’s like my brain finally has permission to go deep. Why This Works Each part of the sequence is tiny—but together they create momentum: • Water wakes me up • Music shifts my context • Notifications off = no excuses I can do the whole thing in 5 minutes. And when I repeat it later in the day? I get a second wind—without needing caffeine or doomscrolling to “reset.” ----- If you love ideas like this, you’ll love my newsletter. Every 2 days, I share Health and performance tips to land and keep a $100k+ Tech Job - while building a strong body and mind. (Link in the comments)

3 steps to master productivity: There's a limit on what you can do in a single day. At least competently. Throughout my career as a lawyer I've noticed a clear correlation. The more I try to do in a shorter period of time, the more the quality of my work product suffers. Small mistakes emerge. The polish on my final product loses its shine and becomes smudged. Here's what to do instead: 1. Used focused blocks. Limit your work to 2 or 3 hour blocks on a single task. This practice stops your brain from wasting energy on constant task transitions. Each switch incurs a cognitive penalty, and you have to reboot your brain to download the context surrounding the task. Focused blocks avoid frequent mental transitions and promote deep work. They enhance your concentration, and improve the quality of your end work product. 2. Reduce daily priorities If you can, set a maximum of 3 priorities each day. This approach prevents you from overloading your schedule and stepping into counterproductive territory. Stop saying yes to every assignment. Don't be afraid to turn away potential clients. With fewer priorities, your focus sharpens, and you give each task the attention it deserves. 3. Segment your day Dedicate specific parts of your day to distinct activities, often called "chunking". In the context of productivity, "chunking" refers to the practice of breaking up the workday into distinct, manageable segments or chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks or types of work. For example, you can dedicate the first two hours of your workday solely to deep work, then chunking email responses and meetings into later, more fragmented parts of the day. Try just one of these strategies and see what kind of difference it makes with your productivity and quality of your work. Follow me, James Kamanski, for more insights on personal growth! ♻ if you found value 🙏