Deep Work - Deepstash
Deep Work

MJ Jensen's Key Ideas from Deep Work
by Cal Newport

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Multitasking and distraction are killing our productivity

Multitasking and distraction are killing our productivity

When we are task switching some of our attention is still thinking about the first task so we are only half-focused on the new task. 

Having social media and email tabs open on your browser allows their notifications to pop up on the screen, which is enough to derail our focus

Todays workers feel like they are being more productive however they are merely moving information and completing small tasks which makes them feel busy--not productive though. Task switching and distractions are preventing us from truely focusing.

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Achieving deep work requires intention

Achieving deep work requires intention

There are four strategies for achieving deep work:

  1. Monastic approach- this is eliminating all sources of distraction and secluding yourself like a monk.
  2. Bimodal approach- this is setting a clearly defined, long period of seclusion for work and leaving the rest of our time open for anything else.
  3. Rhythmic approach- this approach is about forming a habit of doing deep work for blocks of  ~90 minutes and using a calendar to track your accomplishments.
  4.  Journalistic strategy- this one has you doing deep work in any unexpected free time in your daily routine.

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Having a ritual is essential for deep work

Having a ritual is essential for deep work

Despite the strategy you choose the important part to remember is the the key is consistency with that routine.

The difference between being in the zone and deep work is being in the zone happens by chance and after hours of procrastination but deep work is intentional and desired.

One ritual you could have is to define your workspace. Placing a "do not disturb" sign on your door or going to a coffee shop or library

Another way is to define specific boundaries. For example, you could completely disconnect from the internet or turn your phone on silent. 

You just need it to be a sustainable routine

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CAL NEWPORT

“If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive—no matter how skilled or talented you are.”

CAL NEWPORT

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Know how you spend your time

Know how you spend your time

We should track our habits to separate productive from unproductive time so we can spot patterns.

Adding routines and rituals to our day allows us to need our limited willpower less in order to maintain a state on unbroken concentration

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Productive meditation can help us stay focused

The idea here is to use any downtime, such as when you are walking the dog or riding the subway or driving to work to do some deep thinking. You might try to use the time to solve a complex problem--Try to see sub-problems and break it down so you can solve it.

You can ask yourself action questions like "What do I need to do to get to my goals?"

The key is to be mindful with how you spend your time and give your brain a mental workout. This is stimulating your brain and allows you to focus on something demanding. 

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Quit work at the same time every day and leave work at work

Quit work at the same time every day and leave work at work

Cal Newport says that our brains need space to wind down every night. Newport quits work every day at 5:30pm, no work, no email, no to-do lists. 

It's important to set limits. When you know you have to quit work at a specific time, it allows you to focus more intensely during your working hours. 

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IDEAS CURATED BY

mj.jens

I'm a writer obsessed with sharing new ideas in the areas of mindset, personal development, self-help, procrastination, productivity, writing, organization, and health & fitness

CURATOR'S NOTE

Deep work is an important con ept to use to maximize productivity.

Curious about different takes? Check out our Deep Work Summary book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash users.

MJ Jensen's ideas are part of this journey:

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