deep work

src: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport | Goodreads

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World” is a book by Cal Newport, an American author and academic. Published in 2016, it explores the art of professional development and how to cultivate a deep and meaningful career.

🤖 Abstract

In the book, Newport argues that modern technology has created two major issues:

1. distractions and
2. shallow work. He calls these two problems “epidemic”

because they have become widespread in many professions, particularly among knowledge workers.

Shallow work is when someone does their job using minimal skill or attention. It is also low value-added, as it can be done by machines.

Main Ideas

1. The Shallows:

• Newport suggests that the rise of technology has enabled shallow work.
• The ease of access to information and a multitude of other things people need to do creates a sense of obligation to use every spare moment doing something.
• He calls this phenomenon “the shallows.”
• He argues that it is not necessary to be distracted 24/7, but if you are, you are losing the time when you could have been doing work that has value.

2. Deep Work:

• A person does deep work in a narrow field, where they can specialize and do high value-added work, which may require minimal attention from others and more effort by themselves.
• Deep work is about focus on one task for a long period of time without distraction.

3. The Four Rules:
4. Work on Few Things: Newport says that having many shallow projects going at the same time can lead to not doing anything well, or even doing anything at all. It is better to have few deep projects and work on those until they are finished.
5. Practice Focus: It takes time and energy to switch between multiple tasks; therefore, you should avoid switching too often.
6. Schedule Regular Time Off-Line: Technology should not be allowed to bleed over into the free time of a person’s day. A person can decide what hours will be devoted to work and what times are off-line.
7. Protect Your Free Time: Newport says that it is essential to maintain some downtime from technology, whether that is a long vacation or regular breaks.
8. The Calm Centered Mind:

• It is hard for a person to do deep work in the “shallow center of their minds.” A person should try to have a calm and centered mind that has been trained to focus without distractions.

5. How to Get Better at Deep Work:

• Newport argues that one can train oneself to become better at deep work. It requires discipline, but it is possible. To do so, you need to be aware of the problems that you are having with shallow work and take action by setting a plan for your career.

The “Four Laws of Deep Work”

1. Schedule Time Off-Line: Schedule regular time off-line from technology.
2. Protect Your Free Time: Protect it just like you protect your working hours.
3. Embrace Boredom:

• The mind is a muscle that needs to be exercised; it will become fatigued if it does not have the right kind of exercise. A person should find work with enough challenge and interest so that they do not get bored.
• The fact that you can focus for an hour on one project may mean that, after some practice, you could focus for four hours.

4. Emphasize Quality over Quantity:

• You are better off doing a few important projects than trying to do many unimportant ones. It is not the number of things you do, but the quality.

The “Seven Day Rule”

A person should plan ahead about their free time so that they can take time for deep work. This will allow them to make sure that it happens and then recover in a way that ensures they are well-rested for the next day.

Some of the Consequences of Shallow Work

1. The Decline of Deep Work: Newport says that with the rise of shallow work, the decline of deep work is inevitable.
2. A Rise in Mindless Drudgery: Many jobs have become like assembly line jobs, where workers can do a task without using their mind at all. The person is not doing anything interesting or engaging.
3. The Failure to Create Art:

• A person who is only working on shallow work will never be able to create any art. It takes deep work to make something new.
• There are many jobs where a creative task must be performed. If the worker has no time for that, then the job cannot be done well.

4. The Difficulty of Creating Art: To do a creative task, it is necessary to have some free time. The mind should not be fatigued and there should be enough challenge and interest.
5. The Need for an Inclusive Definition of Productivity:

• Many people assume that productivity means completing as many tasks as possible in the shortest amount of time with minimal effort.

What You Can Do to Create a Better Career

1. Read Books:

• If you have any interest in deep work, start by reading books. There are no better ways for a person to learn than through reading.

2. Set Your Goals:

• If your job has too many tasks and none of them are very important, then it is better that you should quit the job if possible. It is best to have one or two deep projects rather than multiple shallow ones.

3. Plan Ahead:

• The first step in creating a good plan for deep work is to decide what will be the most important things on your schedule.

4. Train Yourself:

• A person should train themselves to do deep work by making sure they are not distracted and that they have enough time.

What Do You Get Out of “Deep Work”?

1. Mastery:

• The more you know, the better you can do your job. In fact, the better you can do it is because there are fewer things for a person to be worried about.

2. The Ability to Create:

• A person who has enough time and mental resources should focus on making something new that others do not know how to make. It requires deep work to create art.

3. A Sense of Accomplishment:

• The more important the tasks you complete, the better you will feel about yourself.

1. The Ability to Learn New Skills:

• A person who can focus for a long time will find that they can learn new skills at a faster rate.

The Benefits

1. Increased Creativity: Deep work gives one the time to think and make something new.
2. Higher Quality Work: A person is better able to do their job well.
3. A Sense of Accomplishment: The more important the tasks that are completed, the better a person will feel about themselves.

The Costs

1. Lack of Mastery:

• A lack of deep work in one’s career may make it difficult for a person to master anything well.

2. A Shallow Career:

• If a job is too busy and has too many shallow tasks, then the worker will never have enough time to create something new. The person will be better off quitting.

3. Stagnation:

• A lack of deep work can cause one’s career to stagnate because there are no opportunities to do anything meaningful.

4. The Inability to Learn New Skills:

• If a person is too busy doing shallow work, then they may not have the time or mental resources to learn new skills.

What Do You Do After “Deep Work”?

1. Take A Break:

• It’s okay to take a break after you’ve completed some deep work.

2. Don’t Overwork:

• It is good to be productive, but overworking can cause you to burn out.

3. Do Something Meaningful:

• When your day is done, do something that has meaning and value.

The Five Key Lessons for a Career in the Digital Age

1. It’s Okay to Quit Your Job:

• It is better for you if you are working on shallow work than trying to do many things at once.

2. Don’t Pursue an MBA:

• The first step to creating a good career in the digital age is to quit your job or find a new one where you will not have too many shallow tasks.

3. The Most Important Things Are Not Those You’re Taught; They Are Those You Teach Yourself:

• If you want to do something well, then start doing it.

4. Your Career Is Your Calling:

• What are your most important goals? What can you do about them?

5. Be Careful When Hiring a Manager:

• Newport says that there is no such thing as a “good boss.” A good person to have working for you will be one who does not micromanage and does not hire based on what they look for in others.

The Benefits of the Book

1. New Ideas:

• The book offers new ideas about how to work on deep projects.

2. It’s Not a Long Read:

• It is only 224 pages long, so it should be an easy read if you are interested in learning about the topic.

3. The Author Is An Expert:

• Cal Newport has studied this subject for many years and has written extensively on it.

Disadvantages of the Book

1. No Examples of How To Implement:

• There is no example provided of how to implement the book’s ideas in the text.

2. No Realistic Expectations:

• The book does not provide any realistic expectations about what you will get out of deep work.