Deep Work

Hard thinking earns uninterrupted blocks; capture catches what tries to interrupt.

Key Concept

• Deep work protects uninterrupted blocks for hard thinking while capture handles interruptions.
• Level 1: Like when you put toys away so you can finish homework - quiet time for hard thinking, quick stuff saved for later.
• Level 2: Dad puts his phone in the drawer so one math sheet gets done - interruptions go on a list for later.
• Level 3: Hard thinking earns a protected block - it works only when phone is away and door is closed, not just fewer tabs.
• Level 4: Block ninety minutes with phone in the gym bag before the drill breakdown rots another week - capture catches what tries to interrupt.
• Level 5: Capture catches what tries to interrupt the block - deep work fails when interruptions get sorted mid-thought instead of landing in The Trusted Inbox.
• The block only works if it is actually protected - phone away, door closed, not just fewer tabs open.
• Hard thinking earns a protected block; capture handles what tries to interrupt it.

Examples

• Phone in the drawer while I help with math - one problem set actually finished instead of three distracted false starts.
• Phone in the gym bag for ninety minutes - one drill breakdown written that had been almost done for weeks.

Note Relationships