Deep Work

One of my goals this year, is to blog more. Hence the creation and still continual re-designing of my personal blog space. In truth, I have been blogging since 2005 (and here’s the link to prove it) and always knew the pen/keyboard has always been my friend and my way of relaxing myself.

Also needed a way to share the books I’ve read and keep a place where I can always come back to remind myself of what inspires me.

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Deep Work Book Cover

Deep Work has been one of those books that have been recommended in certain reading lists and the title and slogan itself is right up the reflective alley I’ve been walking on the past few days.

Whilst the writing can be long-winded and overtly paternalistic – past those long proses lie a sound reasoning for people in this highly-stimulated generation to engage in focused attention and work.

Cal Newport stipulates that there are 2 versions of work – Shallow Work (Noncogntively demanding, logistical, work that can be easily replicated and add little value such as answering emails) and Deep Work (professional activities performed with concentration and focus that create new value, improve skills and hard to replicate).

He argues, with countless examples on how engaging in a frenetic shallowness of being human network routers (emails) permanently reduces one capacity to perform meaningful work. The first part of the book then goes on to highlight the importance of doing Deep Work in a knowledge economy. Those who will have an advantage are those who can work well and creatively with intelligent machines, those who are the best at what they do, and those with access to capital. For the first 2, the ability to quickly master hard things and produce at an elite level in quality and speed will be paramount to achieving success. This echoes the likes of performance psychology, concepts of flow and intrinsic motivation.

The second part of the book delves into techniques to achieving deep work – fighting desires (basically our willpower is constantly being depleted), structuring and scheduling your time, focusing on the important, building skills for the long-haul and measuring your progress.

The main draw of the book is the insistence that we are accustomed to on-demand distraction and that makes it hard for us to shake off the habit to look at our gadgets when we are bored (which I agree). His call for an internet shut-off, quit social media and disapproval of open planned offices (which I do not agree) may be too dogmatic, but it drives in the point that we must start re-wiring our brain to be comfortable in resisting distracting stimuli which is everywhere.

How many times have I found myself watching videos, reading useless articles, playing games or reach out for my phone while waiting in line? Its almost as if I can’t do anything else. And in truth, I always feel more tired and demotivated when I engage in these tasks.

The mind has a capacity for so much more, I don’t want to be wasting it any further. More work can be done if I approach it in a thoughtful and planned way, more can be done in a day if we are more deliberate in our scheduling. We would feel more productive when we get more done, engage in meaningful work and grow as individuals. We can have the potential to always have a good day.

With that, I’ll end off with a question that we should all start asking ourselves continually throughout the day:

” What makes sense for me to do with the time that remains?”