The problem this solves
“I want to do deep work but my days get shredded.”
Primary keyword: deep work blocks
What you'll learn
- What a deep-work block really is
- Why 90 minutes is the magic number
- How to defend the block
- A weekly deep-work calendar template
The science behind it: Deep-Work Blocks
A deep-work block is a scheduled interval (typically 60 to 120 minutes) reserved for one demanding cognitive task with all distractions removed.
Why it matters
Deep-work blocks concentrate the focused-attention resources needed for hard learning and let the diffuse mode operate afterwards on the same problem.
How to apply it
- Pick a single hard task per block; resist the urge to fill spare minutes with easy work.
- Communicate unavailability so colleagues and family do not interrupt.
- Close the block with a brief review of what changed and what the next block will tackle.
Common mistakes
- Stacking deep-work blocks back-to-back until fatigue dominates.
- Picking 'important-sounding' tasks instead of the one specific task the block requires.
- Skipping the closing review that converts the block into memory.
Read the full concept: Deep-Work Blocks.
Where this fits
Part of module Difficulty and Deep Work.
More articles in this module
- What Is Deliberate Practice? : what is deliberate practice in real life
- Design a Deliberate Practice Session : deliberate practice session
- Use Productive Struggle : productive struggle
- Build Frustration Tolerance : how to build frustration tolerance
- What to Do When You Hit a Wall : stuck on a hard topic for weeks