The term Deep work was coined by Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University and author of “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” In his book, Newport defines deep work as a state of distraction-free concentration when your brain works at its maximum potential.
These are worth reading in full. I would also recommend the book Getting Things Done, which presents a highly popular personal productivity system for how to manage the shallow work, including emails, materials, and scheduling. Draining the shallows allows you to devote more time on meaningful deep work.
Deep Work a book by Cal Newport:
In a world full of shallow distractions, the ability to do focused "Deep Work" is a super power that can set you apart from the crowd. This summary will give you the essentials you need to start working deeply.
On the banks of Lake Zurich, in a village called Bollingen, there is a small stone castle with four towers. Its story starts in 1922, when Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, bought this land to build a retreat. Hiding from hectic city life, he worked intensely on his analytical psychology, which eventually became one of the most influential schools of thought of the 20th century. And even though there are many reasons why Jung became so successful, the space and freedom away from city chaos let him develop a skill that definitely played a key role in his accomplishments – deep work.
To achieve deep work means to spend uninterrupted time with complete focus on the task at hand. You'll have to block out time for your priorities. This means turning off notifications and making yourself unavailable. A thriving team needs workers who are able to focus and get their key priorities done.
The term was coined by Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University and author of “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” In his book, Newport defines deep work as a state of distraction-free concentration when your brain works at its maximum potential.
Newport defines deep work as the ability to focus on a task without distractions as to maximize cognitive capabilities, allowing you to produce better quality work in less time. Examples of deep work: Researching. Writing thoughtful content.
The author of the concept Deep work is Cal Newport, who described it in his book “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World”. Newport defines deep work as “professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit”. According to him, although there is evidence that many influential individuals “go deep”, this doesn’t convince millions of others. Deep work is not popular - it requires effort, and it’s way more comfortable to stay shallow.
Logically, this increases the value of deep work. Those who choose to prioritize depth have many doors open in front of them. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done – the world around us is full of distractions, and it’s extremely hard to resist them.
“Deep Work” by Cal Newport consists of two parts: the first one explains the idea of deep work, while the second one suggests strategies that help adopt this behavior. So, here you can read a short “Deep Work” summary.
10 lessons from Deep Work by Cal Newport:
(1) The ability to focus without distraction is becoming increasingly rare - and increasingly valuable. In the age of information overload, the ability to focus is more important than ever. Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's the ability to enter a state of “flow” where you're completely immersed in the task at hand and time seems to fly by.
(2) Deep work is essential for high-performance in knowledge work. Deep work is not just a nice-to-have skill. It's essential for high-performance in knowledge work. When you're able to focus deeply, you can produce better work, faster.
(3) The ability to do deep work is becoming increasingly scarce. The ability to focus deeply is becoming increasingly scarce. In our always-connected world, we're constantly bombarded with distractions. This makes it difficult to focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.
(4)) There are four pillars of deep work:
(I ) Solitude: Deep work requires solitude. This means finding a quiet place where you can focus without distractions.
(II ) Intentionality: Deep work requires intentionality. This means setting clear goals for yourself and sticking to them.
(III ) Repetition: Deep work requires repetition. The more you practice deep work, the better you'll become at it.
(IV) Structure: Deep work requires structure. This means creating a system for managing your time and attention.
(5) There are three types of distractions:
(I) External distractions: These are distractions that come from outside of you, such as your phone, email, or social media.
(II) Internal distractions: These are distractions that come from within you, such as worries, doubts, or fears.
(III ) Habitual distractions: These are distractions that you've created for yourself, such as checking your email every few minutes or browsing the internet aimlessly.
(6) There are four strategies for overcoming distractions:
(I) Eliminate: Eliminate distractions as much as possible. This means turning off your phone, closing your email, and finding a quiet place to work.
(II) Delay: If you can't eliminate a distraction, delay it. This means scheduling time to check your email or social media later.
(III ) Deflect: If you can't eliminate or delay a distraction, deflect it. This means finding a way to deal with the distraction without letting it derail your focus.
(IV) Accept: If you can't eliminate, delay, or deflect a distraction, accept it. This means acknowledging the distraction and then letting it go so you can focus on the task at hand.
(7) There are three benefits of deep work:]
• Increased productivity: Deep work can help you produce more work in less time.
• Improved decision-making: Deep work can help you make better decisions because you're able to think more clearly and creatively.
• Greater satisfaction: Deep work can help you feel more satisfied with your work because you're able to produce something of high quality.
(8) There are three challenges of deep work:
(I ) It's difficult to stay focused: Deep work requires a lot of discipline and focus. It can be difficult to stay focused on a task for a long period of time, especially when there are so many distractions around us.
(II) It's not always easy to find time: Deep work requires time and space. It can be difficult to find time to focus deeply when we're constantly bombarded with demands on our time.
(III) It can be lonely: Deep work can be lonely. When you're focused on a task, it can be easy to forget about the people around you.
(9 There are three ways to overcome the challenges of deep work:
(I ) Make it a habit: The more you practice deep work, the easier it will become. Make it a habit to schedule time for deep work each day.
(II ) Find a supportive environment: Find a place where you can focus without distractions. This could be a library, a coffee shop, or even your own home office.
(III ) Build relationships: Deep work doesn't mean you have to be isolated from others. Make sure to build relationships with people who understand and support your need for deep work.
(10) Deep work is a skill that can be learned and improved: Deep work is a skill that can be learned and improved. The more you practice deep work, the better you'll become at it. So start today and see how deep work can help you achieve your goals.
I hope these lessons help you on your journey to deep work.
Information compiled by:
Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
