How to Do Less and Achieve More with Deep Work

About 40% of entrepreneurs are trapped in a cage they built themselves. You're stuck in back-to-back calls, drowning in notifications, and watching your freedom slip away with each “urgent” task that lands on your plate.

I know because I've been there. Burned out, trying to do it all, thinking more hours would somehow fix it. But grinding harder wasn't the answer.

Through years of trial and error, I discovered something powerful: success isn't about being productive. It's about being effective with deep, focused work.

Here's my framework for reclaiming your time and building a foundation for real wealth. While rebuilding from zero, these systems focus on creating space for what truly matters.

No productivity hacks. No hustle p*rn. Just a simple system that actually works.

Why Freedom Matters More Than Hustle

Look, time independence is the real goal here. Not another zero in your bank account.

You've experienced it yourself, the pandemic changed everything. It exposed the gap between being busy and being effective.

Cal Newport defines deep work as focused and distraction-free effort that creates real value. Not endless Zoom calls or “urgent” emails that keep you busy all day.

Through my own journey, I’ve learned 80% of our results come from 20% of our work. Focused 25-45 minute sprints changed everything for me.

Sure, it took time to adjust. But now, I won’t start any task without setting a timer.

That realization shaped the system I’m about to share with you.

My Deep Work Freedom System

Let me walk you through my freedom-first system. No fancy productivity hacks or complex frameworks.

Just four straightforward steps that transformed how I work, and they can do the same for you.

Step 1: Choose Work That Creates Freedom

The truth is, doing work you hate is draining. The beauty of running your own business? You choose what to work on.

I'm starting from zero, but, here's a few tasks I believe will drive growth:

• Building a strong content foundation
• Engaging authentically on X
• Creating valuable podcast content
• Developing systems that scale

Freedom hack: Instead of cramming 40-60 hours into your week, cap it at 10-40.

This constraint forces you to be ruthless with priorities. You'll quickly spot what moves the needle versus what's just keeping you busy.

Use ChatGPT to help brainstorm growth drivers in your business. The goal? Find your key drivers early so you can focus your limited time on what matters most.

Check out the example below. I’m already on step one, but if I weren’t, this would’ve been a great starting point.

Here’s a sample prompt you can use:

I’m working on identifying growth drivers for my business—tasks that directly push me toward my goals and either generate revenue or free up time.

Here’s what I’m currently doing:

• [Task 1]
• [Task 2]
• [Task 3]

I’d love your help brainstorming 3 additional tasks I could add to my weekly workflow to maximize growth. Please apply Pareto’s Law and suggest only the tasks that will drive the most impact for my business.

Here’s a bit more context: I’m a [niche/profession], and my primary goals are [goal 1] and [goal 2].

Once you’ve identified these drivers, it’s time to turn them into actionable systems.

Step 2: Turn Manual Work Into Systems

Take each growth driver and break it down into detailed steps using Notion or a Google doc.

Add a column titled “Type” and tag each task as either “Love” or “Delegate.” This makes it easy to see what energizes you and what can be handed off.

✅ My podcast workflow example:

1. Find potential guests
2. Schedule appointment
3. Send reminders
4. Conduct interview
5. Edit recording
6. Schedule and publish

⚙️ My automation setup:

• Write content in Notion social media database
• Flag as “done” when ready
• Zapier sees the flag and triggers
• Content added to Typefully queue
• Posted automatically on X per schedule

Optional expansion:

• Flag content as “ready for edit”
• Notion notifies team member to edit
• Once edited, flags as “done”
• Same automation flow continues

This setup scales whether you're solo or ready to delegate. Start small, document your process, then automate or delegate when ready.

I shared my setup to show how simple steps create powerful workflows. Use it as inspiration for your own system.

Once your systems are in place, the next step is to focus on the work that truly moves the needle.

Step 3: Deep Work is Your Competitive Edge

Start with 15-25 minute focused sprints. Yes, it feels weird at first, but this constraint trains your brain for deep work.

Can’t imagine staying focused for 15 minutes straight? Start smaller.

Your phone timer works perfectly for this. Stop when it rings, take a quick break, then dive back in.

Some tasks need multiple sprints. A complex article might take three 45-minute blocks. When you're new to this, experiment with different sprint lengths until you find your rhythm.

Just don't obsess over perfect timing.

Protect your peak hours for revenue-driving work. Early mornings are my sweet spot.

For example, I block 6:00-8:00 am on Mondays for content creation and strategic planning.

Create your focus bubble with noise-canceling headphones and instrumental music. I use Sony WH-1000XM4s, but any good headphones work.

Skip detailed time tracking. Trust me, it drains your energy.

Instead, use Notion to map your daily tasks. You'll learn how long things really take as you go.

Step 4: Keep Progress Simple

Review your progress monthly to find the patterns that drive wealth with time freedom. Your data will tell you exactly where to invest your time for maximum value.

Ask yourself:

• What content creates real opportunities?
• Where do you get the best returns?

Then use what you learn to focus hard on what works and cut everything else.

Start with tracking what matters most for your freedom business. For me, that's weekly blog posts. Every post I write becomes a potential income-generating asset.

I monitor:

1. Content engagement on X to validate topics that resonate
2. Time spent creating vs potential product revenue
3. Content that attracts future ghostwriting clients

I chose X as my main platform and use ChatGPT to analyze these patterns quickly. This focused approach means I invest my time where it counts most.

Freedom Starts With Focus

I wasted months chasing SEO instead of building a real brand. Even when revenue came, it was inconsistent with no loyal audience to show for it. Working past 10 PM while juggling a day job left me burned out and frustrated.

Deep work changed everything. Four focused hours now beats eight scattered ones. The constant switching between tasks drains your energy. When you focus on what truly matters, work becomes energizing.

Running a successful business shouldn't chain you to your laptop. Every notification, meeting, and “urgent” task doesn't deserve your attention.

I still face the same struggles you do. But these systems work because they focus on what truly matters.

Don't overcomplicate this, just start small today.