Monday Mindset: Prompts for Better Deep Work
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In a world full of distractions, is doing deep work a competitive advantage? Getting started isn’t always easy but very much worth getting into the habit.
How often do you sit down to focus, only to end up checking emails, scrolling LinkedIn or procrastinating in some other way? 🙋♂️
Make work, work
To make deep work effective, it helps to start with a clear intention. Here are ten prompts (pick a favourite and there are nine others…) that might help you get into the right mindset:
1. What’s the one thing that, if completed, would make the biggest impact today?
If you could only work on one task, what would it be?
Prioritise progress over busyness.
2. What have I been avoiding that I know I need to do?
Often, the work we resist is the work that matters most.
A good test: If it makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably important.
3. If I could only work for 60 minutes today, what would I focus on?
Time constraints force clarity.
Imagine you only had one focused sprint—what would you tackle first?
4. What’s the bottleneck that’s slowing everything else down?
Instead of doing more, fix what’s blocking real progress.
Look for the one thing that, if solved, unlocks everything else.
5. How will I know when this task is ‘done’?
Vague tasks lead to vague outcomes — quantify it.
Before you start, define what ‘finished’ looks like.
6. What distractions can I eliminate before I start?
Close tabs, put your phone away, and set a timer.
Don’t rely on willpower—set up your environment for focus.
7. What mindset do I need to bring to this work?
Deep work isn’t just about time—it’s about energy and intent—do you need to do something first? A run, a walk, some deep breathing?
Show up ready to think, create, or solve—whatever the work demands.
8. What’s the first small step I can take right now?
If a task feels overwhelming, break it down.
Action beats overthinking—just start.
9. Am I working on something meaningful or just staying busy?
Not all work is equal. Be honest: is this deep work or just task-switching?
If it’s not meaningful, maybe skip the session and reassess.
10. What would ‘future me’ be grateful I worked on today?
Think beyond today’s to-do list.
Work on something that creates value beyond the short term.
Useful?
Next time you sit down to focus, have a go at starting with one of these prompts. They don’t take long to think through before a deep work session, but they can make all the difference.
Sign up now, join the next session
You can join Founders Focus at any time. Do that and I will add you to the calendar and the private Slack channel. Then, the next time it’s Monday at 10am (UK time) you can join in.
🔗 Details and sign up here.
Thanks for reading,
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