A 10-year McKinsey study shows:
Flow state boosts productivity by up to 5x.
In today’s world, distractions are everywhere:
The average worker checks their email every 6 minutes.
Notifications interrupt your focus at least 56 times a day.
It takes 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after being interrupted.
Your brain spends more time switching contexts than solving problems. That’s time lost - not gained.
But here’s the fix: Deep Work.
What Is Deep Work?
Cal Newport defines it as:
"Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit."
In other words:
It’s not just about working hard. It’s about working smart.
Getting into the zone where your best ideas live.
How to Enter the Deep Work Zone
Time-block your schedule
Studies show that time-blocking boosts productivity by 37%.
Reserve 2–4 hours daily for uninterrupted focus. Label it your “Deep Work Session.”
Turn off notifications
A simple tweak: Mute your phone. Close unnecessary tabs.
Pro tip: Use tools like Focus@Will to stay distraction-free.
Adopt the rule of three
Ask: “What are the 3 most important things I need to complete today?”
Prioritize these tasks during your deep work hours.
Embrace boredom
Train your brain to resist distractions. Instead of reaching for your phone during a dull moment, let your mind wander. This builds focus like a muscle.
Set boundaries
Let colleagues know your “focus hours” so they can respect your time.
Example: Use an autoresponder for emails stating: “I’ll reply after 3 PM when I’m done with focused work.”
Studies show that:
60–90 minutes of deep work = 50% more satisfaction with your results.
Every minute of focus builds your future.
Deep work leads to deep success.
Nice post, Daniil! I also felt that working in focused mode helps to complete tasks faster and most important, it provides satisfaction at the end. I've been using the Momentum extension in Chrome/Firefox for 5 years to get into the flow.
Great post, Daniil! I read Deep Work a couple of years ago, and I was a game changer for me.