Coding in the Era of Interruptions
If you want to write better code (and actually finish it), you have to protect your focus. Deep work doesn’t just magically happen anymore — you have to guard it like snacks in a shared office fridge.
By the end of this post, you’ll have simple, realistic ways to cut down interruptions and keep your brain where it belongs: on the problem you’re trying to solve, not on Slack #random. So why does focus feel impossible lately?
Why focus feels impossible lately
Let’s just say the quiet days are gone.
You sit down to code, and suddenly it’s:
- Slack: ding
- Email: ding
- Calendar reminder: ding
- Coworker: “Hey, quick question?”
(It is never quick. Ever.)
Each interruption feels harmless. Thirty seconds here. One minute there.
But the real damage isn’t the interruption — it’s the context switching.
Your brain was halfway through solving something tricky.
Now it has to reboot like a Windows update from 2009.
That mental map you were building? Gone.
And that’s usually where the good code lives.
What “deep work” actually looks like (in real life)
Let’s clear this up.
Deep work is not:
- Eight silent hours
- A monk’s robe
- A cabin in the woods with no Wi-Fi
Deep work is usually:
- 45–90 minutes
- One clear task
- No notifications
- Brain fully locked in.
That’s it. That’s the goal.
You don’t need perfect conditions.
You need protected time.
Common ways we sabotage ourselves (without realising it)
We’re really good at ruining our own focus. Some classics:
- Leaving Slack open “just in case”
- Checking email between test runs
- Saying yes to meetings during your best focus hours
- Switching tasks the moment something feels hard.
That last one is particularly tricky because it can feel productive to switch, but it often derails progress.
Feeling stuck often means you’re this close to real thinking.
Bailing too early is how half-baked solutions are born.
Simple ways to protect your focus (that actually work)
1. Block focus time on your calendar
If it’s not blocked, it doesn’t exist.
Even a single 1-hour block says:
“I am unavailable because my brain is busy.”
People respect calendars way more than vibes.
2. Turn off notifications — yes, really
Silence:
- Slack
- Desktop popups
- Anything that dings, flashes, or screams for attention
If something is truly urgent, someone will find you.
Most things aren’t urgent. They just feel dramatic.
3. Batch communication instead of reacting all day
Try this:
- Check messages at set times.
- Respond in chunks
- Go back to coding
You’ll quickly notice how many “urgent” things solve themselves without you.
4. Write yourself a breadcrumb trail
Before you step away, jot down:
- What you were doing
- What you planned to do next
- Any open questions
Future-you will thank past-you for not leaving them in the dark.
5. Protect mornings (if you can)
For many developers, mornings are prime brain hours.
If possible:
- No meetings before 10 or 11
- Code first
- Talk later
Even one protected morning a week makes a difference.
The honest truth about interruptions
Interruptions aren’t going away.
Teams need communication.
Bugs happen.
Production likes to surprise you.
The goal isn’t total silence.
It’s control.
When you decide when to switch contexts, your brain stays calmer, and your work gets better. Fewer mistakes. Cleaner code. Less end-of-day burnout.
Final takeaway
Deep work doesn’t require heroics.
It requires boundaries.
A few blocked hours.
Fewer pings.
More respect for how your brain actually works.
Even in a noisy world, protecting your focus is what leads to quality code.