University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Focus Formula How To Get Deep Work Done In Less Time

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the focus formula how to get deep work done in less time

Learn the simple system high performers use to do more meaningful work. Ever sat down to work and two hours later, realised you’ve done everything except the thing that mattered? You’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re just distracted by a world designed to steal your attention. The real challenge isn’t productivity.

It’s focused productivity…the ability to work deeply on what matters most. That’s where the Focus Formula comes in. It’s a simple system you can apply today to get more done in less time and without relying on fad-like hacks. In a world of unending notifications, endless emails and content-driven feeds, concentration has become one of the most worthy-and-limited talents. We are living in a world which is used to rob our attention. However, meaningful, high impact work takes the reverse, namely, deep, protracted concentration.

The focus skills are not only a productivity tip, but a competitive edge. It is the way that you shift to responding to all the things that surround you to purposefully building what is most important. That is how to learn to concentrate in a distracted world. Superficial work, such as froths, meetings, and fusswork, can make us think we are doing something. But it hardly ever shifts the needle. According to the author Cal Newport, deep work is the capacity to contemplate without disruption on a cognitively challenging activity.

It is what generates breakthrough, mastery and creative output. In the economy of the present times where knowledge work prevails, deep focus is the difference between an average performance and an outstanding outcome. No matter what you are creating such as business, code writing, product design or solving complicated issues, the quality of the output is directly related to how well you can focus. Distraction does not just cut off your stream of thought, it also dis-integrates your attention and leaves the thinking process exhausted. Research indicates that the time to regain attention after one disruption is 23 minutes or more. Even such minor distractions as looking at an email notification or checking an email undermine your capacity to accomplish meaningful work.

We are living in an era of constant input-notifications, open tabs, shifting priorities, and digital clutter all competing for our attention. It is no longer unusual to start a task with intention, only to find yourself hours later having skimmed through messages, jumped between half-completed projects, and added five more items to an already overwhelming... This isn’t due to a lack of ambition or effort. In fact, high-functioning individuals-people who plan their days, set goals, and crave meaningful progress are among those most affected. The modern attention span is under pressure from systems designed for distraction. The mind becomes fragmented not from a lack of capacity, but from an overload of inputs with no clear filter.

Mental clarity, once a natural rhythm of our day, now requires conscious effort to cultivate. The rise of multitasking culture, endless digital noise, and the pressure to constantly optimize performance have created a cycle of shallow engagement and mental fatigue. Deep focus has become a skill-one that requires structure, boundaries, and practice. This post introduces a series of small, sustainable shifts designed to help you build what we’ll call a Focus Formula-a personalized framework that protects your attention, renews your energy, and helps you return to... These are not productivity hacks or rigid rules. They are subtle but powerful mindset changes and practical tools that create the conditions for focus to thrive.

If your days often feel scattered, if your mind struggles to stay anchored in the present task, and if you’re looking for a way to feel mentally organized without pushing harder, you’re in the... Let’s begin. Deep work isn’t about forcing focus; it’s about training your brain to quiet noise, sustain attention, and build momentum over time. The truth? Most people never experience real concentration. Not because they lack discipline, but because their brains are wired for fragmentation.

The good news? With neuroscience-backed strategies, you can build focus that feels effortless, powerful, and deeply productive. Subscribe to Insights Journal to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. Do you know what it feels like? To be trapped in an endless cycle of busy work, watching your dreams slip through your fingers like sand? To feel the weight of unfinished projects and scattered attention crushing your potential?

It’s a question I’ve asked myself countless times. A question that haunts every professional drowning in the sea of digital distraction and endless to-do lists. My office was a battleground of notifications. Emails pinged, Slack messages popped, and my phone buzzed with a relentless rhythm that mimicked my mounting anxiety. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a harsh light on my scattered desktop — a landscape of half-started projects and abandoned dreams. I saw the problem immediately.

My colleagues who seemed to glide through their work with ease, while I was stuck in a quicksand of perpetual overwhelm. Their eyes focused, their productivity surgical, their output seemingly effortless. My eyes darted from screen to screen, consuming but never creating, busy but never productive. Your attention is your most valuable resource — but in today’s noisy world, it’s being stolen every second. The Focus Formula is a practical guide that helps you reclaim it. Inside, you’ll discover how to:✔ Clear mental clutter and hidden distractions✔ Design a workspace that naturally supports deep focus✔ Master the rhythm of deep work and mindful breaks✔ Train your brain like a muscle...

This isn’t about working harder — it’s about working smarter. Through small daily shifts, you’ll unlock clarity, calm, and creative flow. 💡 Each section includes practical strategies, reflection prompts, and rituals you can start immediately. ✨ Bonus: A 21-Day Focus Challenge to help you build momentum and turn insights into lasting habits.

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