"Deep Work - Rules for Focused Success
in a Distracted World"
By Cal Newport
According to the author, people need to handle "deep work" to succeed in an information economy. However, people today are distracted by social pressures that push them to shallow work.
Deep work is defined as professional work that requires intense focus and concentration. Deep work is the outgrowth of not being distracted by conflicting demands and the never-ending stimuli that compete for our attention. Deep work requires uninterrupted concentration.
In order to engage in deep work, the author posits four rules.
Rule #1 - Work deeply. Deep work needs to become a regular part of your everyday life. Deep work requires an intense focus void of checking your e-mail, watching television, or being engaged with social media. Some people take on a "monastic philosophy" by shutting themselves off from the world. Others prefer a "bimodal philosophy" where they oscillate between deep work and being focused elsewhere.
Rule #2 - Embrace Boredom. Though paradoxical, being open to boredom is proof of your focus. Boredom is the antidote to our addiction to distraction.
Rule #3 - Quiet social media. Social media is entertainment. Social media keeps us in touch with people. However, the benefits are minimal compared to the costs. Think about how your involvement in social media adds or subtracts to your professional success.
Rule #4 - Drain the Shallows. Deep work is exhausting since it pushes you to the limits. Usually people have only 4 hours of deep work until exhaustion sets in. The advice is to build up to the 4 hours by starting with an hour a day.
One of the best pieces of advice suggested by the author is to "select work that shapes your professional fate." Be selective in the tasks you take on, the meetings you attend, and the e-mails you respond to. By doing deep work, you will experience greater productivity and a heightened sense of fulfillment.
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