How Deep Work can help you too!
Why is it that focused work is increasingly important in today’s environment of constant distraction?
At “Figure out in advance what you’re going to do with your evenings and weekends before they begin,” Cal Newport shares his views against the constant exposure of being distracted. I first heard him speak in 2018 when he gave a session that convinced me to remove my social media accounts. It was a good thing that happened to me!
“Performers” who are capable of taking on hard jobs are becoming increasingly sought after by businesses. Some work can be automated or delegated, but to do the hard ones, persistence is required. Those who engage in this type of “shallow-focused” labor risk losing their jobs as a result. Doing a lot of in-depth work necessitates a higher level of ability. As a result, your employment prospects will be brighter in the future.
The book “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, published in 2016, offers advice on how to organize your life by identifying distractions and how you can be empowered for DEEP WORK. Here are three essential elements from this book that I think will be most useful to you in order to help you get the most out of it.
Make sure you don’t try to accomplish it all at once!
To accomplish many tasks at once, it is necessary to split your focus among them. You’ll be unable to perform at a high level, and your results will be mediocre or worse. The amount of time and effort you put into a project or activity has a direct correlation to the quality of your work. When I stopped multitasking, I felt as though I had entered a level of intense focus that I had longed for all my life.
Take on the role of a monk!
A monastic attitude could help you focus on the work at hand by removing yourself from distractions. Total seclusion from the outside world is required for this. Distractions can be turned off for optimum attention. Putting your phone away, locking the door, putting on earplugs, and making sure nothing is in your line of vision are all examples of this. Alternate periods of time spent focusing on different activities can also be done for occupations that need clients contacting you. I was unable to communicate with the monks in Thailand due to a language barrier, yet I still felt a strong energy from them that draws me to want to know more about their practices and beliefs. Every day, they must BE in the present moment several times to do their spiritual work. Why do monks appear younger and more at ease? It’s a simple answer.
Make a system out of it!
When it comes to the importance of establishing routines and cultivating habits, it doesn’t matter what your beliefs are. Start by brainstorming how you’ll approach this difficult task. Is it clear to you where and when you’ll do your in-depth personal work? These types of queries may be helpful. What if someone knocks on your door and wants something? How long do you intend to devote to this difficult task?
To put it another way, the choice is between a pro-distraction environment or a distraction-free environment (like putting your phone aside and turning it off). Make sure you’ve got a strategy that works for you, stick to the system, and be disciplined to see it through. Without a plan in place, your time may be quickly lost in the haze of email, social media, and online browsing.
