Do you make time for heads-down focus?

When was the last time you really focused?

I’m talking about time with no phone notifications, no emails popping up, and no knock at the door with another question.

True heads-down focus.

I know it’s easy to get stuck in a reactive mode where you are tackling the urgent at the expense of the important.

But here’s the hard truth:

If you don’t make time for deep, focused work, your best ideas will never see the light of day.

Work that truly moves the needle—strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and long-term vision—requires uninterrupted time and attention.

I needed to do just that this morning.

Last week as I looked ahead to Q1 and Q2, I realized I needed some serious creative thinking time.

Not just a quick 30 minutes.

But a few solid hours to design new workshops and bring them to life.

Here’s how I made it happen:

✅ Schedule it: I blocked focus time on my calendar and protected it like a meeting with a client.

✅ Set boundaries: I let others know this was happening. (including telling my teenager not to expect text replies this morning.)

✅ Minimize distractions: I turned on Do Not Disturb and moved to a place other than my desk.

✅ Reflect: I started by thinking about what I wanted to accomplish during this block of time.

Great leadership isn’t just about responding to others.

It’s also about creating the space for your own thinking, strategy, and vision.

If you don’t prioritize heads-down work, you risk letting the urgent drown out the ideas that will shape your success.

So when will you make your next heads-down block a priority?