Focus
Deep Work
What Are Deep Work Blocks?
What Are Deep Work Blocks?
Answer four questions to size your first block — length, frequency, and an example schedule that fits your calendar.
Results
Answer the questions to get your deep work block prescription.
Stay in the loop
Get new tools and productivity tips in your inbox. No spam, ever.
Related tools
How to Do Deep Work
Answer 4 questions and get a Cal Newport–style deep work plan — scheduling, environment, shallow-work cuts, and your first protected focus block.
Deep Work Schedule Quiz
Find your deep work scheduling style — monastic, bimodal, rhythmic, or journalistic — based on Cal Newport's four philosophies and your real-life constraints.
Shallow Work Audit
Calculate how much of your workweek is shallow work — meetings, email, Slack, and admin — versus time left for deep work. Cal Newport–style audit in 60 seconds.
Deep or Shallow Work Quiz
Is this task deep or shallow work? Answer 4 questions about any task and get a clear verdict — protect, batch, delegate, or eliminate — based on Cal Newport's framework.
Frequently asked questions
- What are deep work blocks?
- Pre-scheduled periods of distraction-free concentration on a single cognitively demanding task — typically 45–120 minutes, with phone and messaging off.
- What's the difference between a block and a session?
- No practical difference — both refer to one bounded period of deep work. Use whichever term you prefer.
- How many deep work blocks per week?
- Beginners: 3×45 minutes. Intermediate: one 60–90 minute block daily. Advanced: 2–4 hour blocks on dedicated deep days. This tool sizes yours to your calendar.