Engage in “deep Work” to Become More Productive
The concept of deep work was most popularly articulated by Cal Newport, author of the aptly titled book “Deep Work: Rules for Succeeding in a Distracted World . ” According to him, deep work is a state in which you gain the ability to fully focus on a complex task, resisting distractions.
If you master this, you’ll be able to accomplish more in less time and ultimately feel more fulfilled. On her website, Newport notes that it’s rare to see someone feeling energized and happy after sending emails, but a sense of fulfillment comes from consistently focusing on more meaningful tasks.
How to achieve deep work?
Newport distinguishes between deep work and “shallow work,” that is, work that can be completed without distraction. Deep work is designed for tasks that require “cognitive effort,” while shallow work prepares you for deep work. Creating a project presentation is a deep activity. Sending emails to colleagues to coordinate data on it is a shallow activity.
If you’re having trouble determining what constitutes deep work and what doesn’t, Newport offers some guidance. Shallow work typically “doesn’t create new value in the world” and is “easily copied.”
So, the key is to first divide your work into deep and shallow categories. Identify which of your tasks are cognitively demanding and valuable, and which are more “logistical” and repeatable. Then, schedule an hour or an hour and a half for tasks that require deep work, and block them out in your schedule. (As for blocking time in your schedule, familiarize yourself with the principles of timeboxing and time blocking , which require you to plan every minute of your day and enter it into a detailed calendar, moment by moment, to maintain focus.)
Finally, when it’s time to dive into work, eliminate all distractions. Make it clear you’re busy , make sure you’re unavailable on Slack and shared calendars, and set your phone to “Do Not Disturb.” Don’t check email, don’t talk to anyone, don’t look at your device for anything other than work, and focus solely on your challenging task during the allotted time.
The most important thing is to do this mindfully and begin deep work sessions with the understanding that your goal is to accomplish something challenging without distraction. Emails, notifications, chatter, and other distractions are common distractions from the task at hand, so intentionally shutting them out to get something done can be challenging, but it can become a habit, especially when it begins to yield two benefits: satisfaction and fulfillment.
A hack for deep work
This all sounds great in theory, but when you find yourself staring at your allotted ninety-minute block, you might not know what to do or where to start. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique comes in handy —a well-known productivity method that suggests working uninterrupted for 25 minutes, taking a five-minute break, and repeating the cycle about four times before taking a longer break. You can adjust these time blocks slightly to suit your needs, but the standard is 25 minutes of work and five minutes of rest.
With this approach, deep work begins to flow naturally during these work blocks because you know there’s a break at the end. Deep work is described as a period when work feels smooth and you barely notice the time passing, so 25 minutes may not be enough for you (depending on the task), but you’ll realize this once you start using these methods. The most important thing is to avoid distractions. Secondly, remember that breaks are actually key to maintaining productivity , so don’t skip them altogether.
The easiest way to use this time-tested method is, of course, through an app. My favorite is FocusPomo , which blocks all distracting apps while you work and generates cute, unobtrusive cartoon tomatoes as a reward for completing work blocks.