I used to have one focus profile: "Work Mode."
Block Twitter, Reddit, YouTube. Allow everything else. Done.
Except it didn't work. Because writing needs different tools than coding. And studying needs different rules than email.
One profile can't handle everything. So I built five.
1. Deep Work (whitelist)
Allows: VS Code, Terminal, localhost, GitHub, docs
Blocks: Everything else, including Task Manager
Use case: Coding, building features, solving hard problems
2. Writing (whitelist)
Allows: Obsidian, Grammarly, one browser tab
Blocks: Everything else
Use case: Blog posts, documentation, long-form writing
3. Research (blacklist)
Blocks: Social media, news, entertainment
Allows: Browser, notes, PDF reader
Use case: Reading papers, gathering information, exploring ideas
4. Meetings (blacklist)
Blocks: Distracting apps
Allows: Zoom, Slack, calendar, browser
Use case: Calls, standups, collaborative work
5. Email & Admin (blacklist)
Blocks: Deep work tools (so I don't get pulled into coding)
Allows: Email, Slack, browser, task manager
Use case: Inbox zero, responding to messages, admin tasks
Each profile is a context. When I activate "Deep Work," my brain knows: this is coding time. No email. No Slack. No escape routes.
When I activate "Email & Admin," my brain knows: this is reactive time. Handle messages. Don't start deep work.
The profiles create boundaries. And boundaries create focus.
Step 1: List your work modes.
What are the different types of work you do? Writing, coding, meetings, admin, research?
Step 2: For each mode, list what you need.**
What apps and websites are essential? What's a distraction?
Step 3: Create a profile for each mode.**
Use whitelist for focused work. Use blacklist for flexible work.
Step 4: Assign profiles to time blocks.**
Use Session Planner or Weekly Scheduler to auto-activate the right profile at the right time.
One profile is a compromise. Multiple profiles are precision.
Stop trying to make one set of rules work for everything. Build a profile for each context. And let the tool enforce the boundaries your brain can't.
You don't need more discipline. You need better contexts.
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