Distractions swarm you daily. Emails ping, phones buzz, tasks pile up. Focus slips away. But one simple habit can cut through the noise: chunking your time.
Chunking is deciding—before you begin—how long you’ll work on a task. Ten minutes for emails. An hour for writing. Two for that big project. You carve your day into deliberate blocks, each with a purpose. No more drifting. You set the course.
Why does this matter? Deep, meaningful work requires uninterrupted focus. Cal Newport defines The Deep Work Hypothesis:
Deep work is becoming increasingly valuable at the same time that it’s becoming increasingly rare. Therefore, if you cultivate this skill, you’ll thrive.
This insight highlights why chunking works—by protecting your time, you create the conditions to excel in a world that rewards depth over distraction.
Distractions fight hard. The itch to check your phone or answer a knock can derail you. Fight back. Shut the door. Silence notifications. Tell the world you’re off-limits. It’s tough—habits die slow—but each block you defend strengthens your grip on what matters.
Chunking isn’t just a trick for getting stuff done. It’s a declaration: ‘This hour, I choose this.’ You reclaim your attention. You shape your day. Start small, guard it fiercely, and watch focus turn into power.