Deep work: Rules For Focused Success in a Distracted World.
Deep work :
“Professional activity performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit.”
To understand the concept of deep work author gives a contrasting concept “shallow work”.
Shallow Work
“Non-cognitive, logistical or minor duties performed in a state of distraction”
Difference between Deep Work and Shallow Work
Deep work involves your cognitive skills, requires distraction-free concentration, increases your ability to reach ‘intellectual limits’ and adds value to your work. According to author it is ‘valuable, meaningful and rare”.
Shallow work does not require your cognitive skills to be involved during work. It involves ‘logistical style task’ that are easy to ‘replicate’ and are mostly done when you are distracted. They add a little value to your work.
The Rules of Deep Work
Rule # 1 Work Deeply
This is the first and foremost rule and in fact the crux of this whole book. You have to work deeply with concentration, without being distracted. But it is very hard to concentrate and focus on your work for a long time without being distracted. Cal Newport suggests that you should develop a habit of deep work, “move beyond good intentions, add routines and rituals to minimize you limited willpower” these things will help you maintain a distraction free concentration. To work deeply and make it a habit you will have to “Decide on your Depth Philosophy”
Deep Work Scheduling
Monastic Philosophy
“This philosophy attempts to maximize deep efforts by eliminating or radically minimizing shallow obligations.”
You give up all the activities that may be characterized as shallow work. Give up all the activities that do not involve cognitive skills and spend all your time in the activities that are cognitively demanding and are directly aimed at achieving your greater goals. You carry on this practice for a long period of time i.e. weeks or months. During this period you cut off all shallow activities and pay full attention to deep work.
Bimodal Philosophy
“This philosophy asks that you divide your time, dedicating some clearly defined stretches to deep pursuits and leaving the rest open to everything else.”
You divide your time in a way that you dedicate a clearly defined stretches of time for deep work and the other time you are free to do anything else. This may be two to three days a week or week in month. The greater the size of duration you dedicate to deep work, the more valuable results will be produced.
Rhythmic Philosophy
“The philosophy argues that the easiest way to consistently start deep work sessions is to transform them into a simple regular habit.”
Make it a daily habit to dedicate some hours in a day to deep work. Make a schedule and assign clear and definite task to every hour and at least keep four to five hours for deep work tasks. Make sure you give four to five hours to deep work and never miss a day.
Journalistic Philosophy
“I call this approach, where you fit deep work wherever you can into your schedule, the journalist philosophy.”
You can spend your time to deep work whenever it suits you. I think this is the most flexible strategy among the four strategies of deep work. But it makes deep work as an option, not a necessary part of your schedule. As whenever you have time you concentrate on deep work instead of engaging in shallow activities. It may occur that you don’t manage to find that leisure time for days or weeks or months that you may dedicate to deep work.
Choose your philosophy of Deep Work scheduling
According to details given above, you can decide that which philosophy of deep work suits you the best. You must choose one and stick to it strictly. I shall choose rhythmic philosophy as I think by regularly committing to four to five hours a day for deep work will bring out much valuable outcomes.
Rule # 2 Embrace Boredom
It is not unexpected to be distracted when you concentrate deeply. Your mind starts craving to break concentration by using social media sites and checking emails etc. Cal Newport does not forces to remain focused, instead he suggests to take rest instead of giving up to shallow activities. When you engage in shallow activities when distracted, you cannot immediately shift your focus to your deep work activities when you return to work. It will be more beneficial to give your mind complete rest as it will restore you energy and focus.
Rule # 3 Quit Social Media.
Social media is the greatest enemy of your focus to deep work. Cal Newport does not appreciate using social media. He suggests that if you want to remain connected socially, and don’t want to give it up completely then limit its use to only one hour a week.
Rule # 4 Drain in the shallows
Newport points out that there are many activities that consume your time for deep work i.e. meetings, phone calls and scheduled events. You should minimize such activities by scheduling your day in advance. Work that you do after evening is usually not much important. Give that time to rest.
Why do I suggest reading Deep Work?
In a world full of distractions i.e. social media sites and Netflix etc., there is a need to restore your ability to concentrate deeply and to be more focused. These things are obviously very crucial to achieve greater goals and Deep Work is a book that has not only instilled in my mind the importance of distraction free concentration and focus but also taught me the ways by which I can achieve it.