Hey! Something on HN I can finally comment on.<p>I've been time blocking for two years. It's the only strategy that works in my open office.<p>I've invested in a nice pair of headphones (Bose QC35s), in order to help convey the message to my coworkers that I am unavailable, as well as set an outlook appointment on a weekly basis for what hours I'll be blocking out.<p>You probably won't be good at it, at first. In the beginning for me, I still checked email, I still glanced at my phone...it was really only to stop interacting with my coworkers to focus on tasks.<p>However, over time, I got better at finding music that kept me focused. Placing my phone on DnD, and placing it in my bag, and closing outlook.<p>Colleagues began to understand what my 'time blocks' meant. As I did it more often it became effective.<p>Now people check my calendar for my daily time block to see when to come bother me, and I am able to be hyper focused on tasks for 2 hours a day.<p>My advice to anyone wanting to attempt this, is to be diligent and persistent. Have a list of polite ways to tell people that you are unavailable for this time, and learn how to deflect questions to others who may have the answer. I would definitely recommend good, noise cancelling headphones. Avoid listening to music you like, and know the lyrics to. Find a random station that plays lyricless, low-tempo music. Your brain will eventually begin to associate that music with focus.