Deep work
Deep work is working in a state of full concentration on a cognitively demanding task, without frequent interruptions and distractions.
Definition
Deep work is a practical concept popularized in the context of productivity. Refers to conditions under which attention can come into prolonged, stable contact with a difficult task. Its opposite is distributed work: constant context switching, notifications, reactions and shallow tasks pretending to be progress.
Key ideas
- Stable attention
- No distractions
- High value tasks
Practice and life
Plan a block of 60-90 minutes for one task, turn off notifications and prepare a clear result of the block: text, decision, analysis or solution.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to think of deep work as working without breaks all day long. Deep blocks require recovery and realistic attention capacity.
> The most important things often require silence longer than the impulse.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Which task really requires deep attention?
- What most often interrupts my work block?
- What specific result should this block produce?