How to Structure Deep-Work Blocks

Here are practical steps to build your focus architecture:

1. Block protected chunks of time

Set aside 60- to 90-minute blocks, ideally two or three times per week, where you eliminate interruptions. Prasanth Nair emphasizes blocking time for tasks that require sustained attention; he found that frequent interruptions double the time required for a one-hour task. 

Calibrate your schedule: mark yourself “unavailable” or offline during these periods, communicate to your team that this time is for strategic work.

2. Define the objective ahead of time

Before each block, begin with a clear statement: “In this session I will X.” X could be redesigning the escalation workflow, defining the metrics-dashboard, or delegating the issue-triage system. This is consistent with Double Gemini’s emphasis on action-oriented systems: turning inboxes into “actions” focused on what moves work forward. 

Treat the time like a decision-making session, not just “thinking time”.

3. Remove typical attention drains

Notifications off, email closed, phone muted. Use the Stack Method’s principle: categorize actions so your environment supports focused work instead of reactive responsiveness. For operations leaders that might mean you'll need to: disable email alerts, set an escalation buffer, have a triage delegate, block non-essential meetings, or turn off Slack sounds. 

The goal is preserving attention for the task at hand.

4. Use rhythm and consistency

Deep work isn’t one-off. Build a rhythm. For example: Mondays 10:00-11:30 block for strategic review; Wednesdays 14:00-15:30 block for process redesign; Fridays 09:00-10:30 block for capability building and team coaching. Consistency triggers habit. Prasanth Nair’s productivity methods stress consistency over sporadic bursts. 

As a COO, your cadence sets the tone for the entire operations function.

5. Follow with review and action

After each block, write a short summary: What was achieved? What’s next? Treat it as a handoff to your schedule, not a “cool down”. This ensures the work you’ve done is embedded into the function, not just another item checked off. 

Considering the operations context, this leads to fewer surprises, greater clarity, and stronger momentum.

Cultivating Focus Habits in Operations Environments

Protecting time is one thing; sustaining focus is another. Operations environments are full of interruptions, shifting priorities, and invisible load. Here are habits to strengthen your attention muscles.

Habit: Manage your attention systemically

Nair’s “Stack Method” turns email into actionable categories. Create workflows that filter and delegate urgency. For example: set your team to escalate only with context and proposed options; empower trusted lieutenants to handle triage; establish “focus safe” hours for the organization where no meeting is allowed.

Habit: Start with the highest-leverage task

When your deep-work block begins, tackle the one task that will move the needle most for the week or quarter - don’t use it for “miscellaneous thinking”. This aligns with operations leadership: that one task might be clarifying a process, removing a bottleneck, improving visibility across functions. By prioritizing it, you prevent smaller issues from stacking and eroding your focus.

Habit: Use short cycles of focus and refresh

Even within a 90-minute block, built-in breaks matter (for example: 50 minutes work, 10 minute break, 30 minutes work). The idea is maintaining cognitive stamina. The Stack Method principle of grouping similar tasks applies here: when you enter focus mode, stay there. Don’t flip tasks unnecessarily.

Habit: Align your environment to your brain

Operations leaders often default to “always-on”. Instead, consciously design your day: ambient conditions (quiet space or headphones), calendar layout (scheduled blocks + buffer), meeting booking rules (no interruptions in focus slots). The more your environment supports focus, the less your attention fights you.

Habit: Review your focus performance

At the end of each week ask: How many deep-work blocks did I hit? How many interruptions broke them? What prevented focus? What can I adjust next week? This reflective loop is one of Double Gemini’s foundational productivity practices. As a COO, this habit helps you track not just output but the quality of your attention.

Why This Matters for Operations Executives

When you shift from firefighting mode to structured deep-work mode, your capacity changes. You move from reacting to designing. You create systems rather than just rescuing them. You give your team space to lead. The ripple effects are significant: fewer crises, clearer priorities, stronger delegation, improved metrics, and sustainable execution.

Let’s tie this back to Double Gemini’s approach: their goal is to transform productivity by designing processes around how people and teams actually think and work. As an operations leader, you can apply that same lens upward - to yourself. Design your schedule, your attention system, your day-to-day so that your cognitive load is manageable. Use deep-work blocks to elevate your leadership instead of just catching up.