Deep work: build lasting focus in a distracted world

  1. Log every work interval for 48 hours
    1 hour

    Use one log for two consecutive workdays — paper notebook, spreadsheet or notes app. Create five columns: Start – End – Task (3–5 words) – Switched? yes/no – Trigger (message ping, meeting, self-interruption, internal urge, environment, other).

    Start the day with the log open and visible. Set a silent vibration every 30 minutes as a catch-net: when it buzzes, ask whether you switched since last entry and log what you missed. Record within 60 seconds of every switch, not from memory at day’s end.

    At end of day 1 and day 2, tally total work hours, total intervals, total switches. Calculate fragmentation rate = switches ÷ work hours. Count trigger frequency and rank top three. Keep the raw log; you will reuse it in the next steps.