In December 2020, I started in my current position as a compliance officer and system administrator.

It’s been just over two years, and I still enjoy the work I do every day.

I get to spend my days solving puzzles and problems that need to be solved.

The most important thing I have is my time alone when I can let my mind mull over a problem.

When I started two years ago, I added a block to my calendar called “Project Work.” It was 1.5 hours long and intended to prevent people from scheduling meetings first thing in the morning.

Google Calendar, in the fall of 2021, introduced a new event type called “Focus Time.” I used it to modify my “Project Work” block and expanded it to 2 hours.

And tomorrow, it’s set to be expanded to 3 hours of “Focus Work” for me. And I’ve got it set up so that it automatically declines any new meetings that come in, with a request for people to get in touch with me if they truly need to meet in the morning.

As a knowledge worker, whether a 9-5’er or a solopreneur, your time is one of your most valuable assets.

I guard my time jealously because the current modern workday is a disaster for knowledge workers.

For the most part, the expectation is that you complete a bunch of maintenance tasks and read and respond to emails and maybe work on an interesting project.

Our expertise as a knowledge workers is to build systems and processes and procedures that allow us to work faster and enable others to work faster as well.

Work to live, not live to work.

Most commonly, people will teach about this as entering a “flow state” or doing “deep work.”

Both have been talked about by many people. The most well-known is likely Cal Newport who wrote the book “Deep Work.”

Four Pillars of Focused Work

Pillar 1: Block the Time

Focused work requires your undivided attention, typically over a longer period of time.

How long depends on you.

• Some can enter a flow state in minutes, others need longer

• Some need a short period of focused work, others would like a longer period

• Some work better in the morning before everyone is up, others after everyone is sleeping

No one way is right for you to block your time–but you have to set aside your time and guard it jealously.

For me, the two-hour block worked well, but I’ve found I need that extra hour.

Never be afraid to take ownership of your calendar.

Pillar 2: Create the Mood

You have five main senses as a human being: taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing.

Each of the senses operates all of the time and your mind will connect those senses to your experiences.

Use this to your advantage–set the mood for your focus work.

• Create a specific playlist that inspires your creativity

• Work in the same conditions as often as you can do so

• Build an environment that you like and want to spend time in

You may find that you work better when you’re standing or have clear incandescent lights or a scented candle burning in your workspace.

I have a couple of specific playlists on YouTube that I use, and my office at my 9-5 intentionally has lighting and a desk and supplies that I truly enjoy and can’t wait to use.

Create a space that inspires you to do great things.

Pillar 3: Focus on Single-Tasking

Multi-tasking is dead.

Sure, you’ll still be asked if you can do it, but let’s move away from it, as far away from it as possible.

Focus work requires…focus. And multi-tasking requires too much context-switching.

Single-tasking, by comparison, allows you to focus and hone in.

• You complete the most pressing item on your list

• You go more in-depth and understand the content of your work

• You accomplish more in the long run because you spend less time remembering where you left off

Single-tasking gives you a power that most knowledge workers don’t have, the ability to fully complete your work and know your material.

When I started single-tasking and ignoring my inbox, I was instantly more productive.

Face your tasks one step at a time, rather than ten steps at once.

Pillar 4: Capture Your Thoughts for Later

By far the most difficult thing to achieve is staying in your focus work.

Humans are naturally easily distractable.

We see the inbox number and want–no NEED to check the new email.

Like a dog who suddenly needs a treat after hearing the box of bones being moved around while you look for something totally unrelated.

So, build a system that allows you to capture those thoughts for later.

• Close out the email tab or program on your computer

• Have a notebook or notepad to capture those thoughts as they come

• Invest in a to-do software like Todoist or Asana (ideally with a “quick-add” function)

Keep new info out of your head and get any thought that comes to you out of your head.

My best purchase was Todoist which has a universal quick add function (CMD+CTRL+A for Mac users) so I don’t even have to leave the screen I’m on to add a new thought or item to my to-do list (or my “think about later” list).

Use your brain for creating and connecting, not recalling and remembering.

As a current knowledge worker, my most valuable time is spent creating, not completing maintenance tasks.

The amount of time you dedicate to creating will have a direct impact on how successful you are.

Create periods of focus time in your workday and guard them jealously. Decline all meetings and invites and require people to get in touch with you, to specifically request that you change your schedule around. You’ll be surprised just how many things are not that urgent.

And that’s a wrap for today!

Remember there are 4 pillars to successful Focused Work:

• Block the Time

• Create the Mood

• Focus on Single-Tasking

• Capture Your Thoughts for Later

Use each of those pillars to make huge strides forward in your work for yourself and for others.

With love and a sense of urgency.

Jeff