Deep work by cal newport

Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. ... In DEEP WORK, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age.

Before you start deep work

Deep work is hard and takes some effort to get going, but it’s not meant to be a bore – it’s the intense kind of concentration you only get when you’re super into something. Think of your first encounter as a test of your attention, self-control and exploratory abilities. You’ll probably learn something unexpected about yourself along the way.

If you’re trying it out in an office, find an undisturbed space: book a meeting room, block out time in your calendar, turn off your phone, put your headphones on, trigger your out-of-office message and let people know you’re not to be disturbed. Do everything to make sure you have your own undivided attention.

But be realistic – whilst Cal Newport suggests deep work means roughly 90-minute stretches of uninterrupted time, you may not get there immediately. Don’t put yourself off it forever by diving too deep, too fast.