Focus Routines for a Hyperconnected Day

Constant inputs make deep work rare. Instead of relying on willpower, design routines that make focus the default.

Morning Setup

• Decide the day’s one “must ship” task before opening messages.
• Set a two-hour focus block early—phones in another room, tabs cleared.
• Write a short plan for the block: start line, end line, and a minimum bar.

During the Day

• Use “office hours” for quick questions to avoid constant interruptions.
• Keep a “later list” for every distracting thought—capture, don’t chase.
• After meetings, take 5 minutes to synthesize decisions and next steps.

Evening Shutoff

• 30-minute digital sunset: dim lights, no feeds, review tomorrow’s top task.
• Reflect: what broke your focus today, and what boundary fixes it?

Routines beat willpower. Make focus easy, and your best work stops competing with the internet.