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Employ a virtual worker that schedules meetings and replies to low-level emails. Disconnect yourself from real-time communications during those hours and allow your VA to contact you in cases of urgently needed replies. I employ a lady 20 hours a week for this, so I get core time about 4 hours a day to do whatever I want. Even if it's pc gaming. Costs me $15,000 a year and is well worth it.

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Can you elaborate on how this "virtual worker" works in practice? I'd love to learn more.

She logs in remotely on my email. To get her up to speed she watched what and how I replied to things for about a week, until I had her start drafting emails as replies that I would approve (or edit) and reply. After a while she just got it. She's based in the Philippines and works from 11p - 3a her local time. I proactively schedule my conflicts and times in my calendar, and then she can schedule anything in the open space.

I could just not answer for a few hours a day, but I have alot of people who expect a quick response. This solves that and gives me back my evenings to spend with the family.

This is fascinating, thanks for sharing. Did you use upwork or a similar platform?

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