Deep work requires sustained attention—blocks of 2-4 hours without interruption. Protect these periods: schedule them, communicate availability, use tools to help.
Disable notifications (Slacking off, badge zeroing). Use Do Not Disturb liberally. Schedule focus time on calendar—defend it like meetings. Batch small tasks around focus blocks.
Common obstacles: reactive culture, open office noise, always-on expectations. Solutions exist: shared norms with team, noise-canceling headphones, asynchronous communication. Start with two focus hours daily.