On Deep Work.

The author Cal Newport defines Deep Work as “a state of distraction-free concentration, when your brain works at its maximum potential.”

We are becoming increasingly out of practice at focusing on one important task at a time. We allow ourselves to be distracted by our notifications, our messages, our emails, news, and social media. We flit between them, often whilst still trying to accomplish something important. We end up taking longer to get meaningful tasks done, and the result is often not our best effort. Getting into the practice of doing consistent, deep and focused work is not easy, but if you persevere, it can be an incredibly satisfying experience, with significant results in the quality of your output.

Initially it will feel mentally taxing to concentrate on only one thing at a time; but that is because we are not used to it; and turning to a distraction relieves the perceived pain of having to really think and generate a good result. Try to embrace the discomfort.  If it means that you need to pause and really think, you have a far greater chance of coming up with the next step or the solution than you do if you fill your consciousness with fragments and images that are not related to your task.

Our ability to concentrate deeply declines during the course of a day, as the distractions and stimulation add up and detract from the brains ability to focus fully. Our deep, focused work is best done in the morning, when we are fresh from a good night’s sleep and some form of exercise, and can place ourselves in an environment that is quiet, and supportive of getting important  things done well.

Try this:

For one week, at the same time each morning, sit (or stand) in a distraction-free environment that feels conducive to creating. Turn off your notifications. Set your timer for 60 minutes, and do some pre-planned deep, important work. Emails or trivial items do not count – that can come later in the day. Work on something qualitative that requires concentration and focus. Do not allow yourself to be distracted. If the work is very challenging, use this quiet time to really think about it – you can make a list of questions to ask others for help, but reach out only when you are done doing your very best for at least one full hour.

After that hour, take a few minutes to go for a walk and stretch your legs. Avoid scanning your phone for messages or your computer for emails straight away – if there was anything urgent, someone would have phoned you. Having just used one full hour productively and distraction free – decide what you’d like to do with the rest of your day. You may have meetings or obligations, or administration to take care of, or you may decide to do another timed hour because you are on a roll after the first session. Keep this up for one full week; and at the end, pause to reflect on at least five solid hours of deep, focused, quality work that you have accomplished.

This is often that work that moves the needle in our careers, and in our lives. How can you make more time for it?

Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash.