How ‘Deep Work’ Reshaped the Way I Think and Work

Breaking the cycle of distraction

Sometimes, I am very busy but hardly achieve any results.

It’s as if I’m constantly connected to my laptop, but at the end of the day, I am rarely satisfied with the day I have made.

I have turned off notifications from Instagram (the only social media on my smartphone) and a few other apps.

But that’s not enough because I can’t avoid notifications from some important apps.

Imagine you are in the middle of writing an important story, and your phone rings.

No matter how important it is, it immediately takes your attention away from everything you do.

In today’s digital world, getting distracted is easier than ever.

We live in a world where the hardest thing to do is focus on something important.

Our smartphones, watches, and computers are constantly flooded with endless notifications.

It often doesn’t matter whose phone it is or how difficult the task is.

In this video, Simon Sinek shows us what NOT to do with your smartphone when you are working, with your family, or taking a break from your daily routine.

Constant connectivity and the lure of digital devices have fragmented our attention.

This has impaired our ability to concentrate.

Cal Newport, author of the popular book “Deep Work,” teaches the value of deep, focused work in an increasingly distracted world.

Cal advises us to keep a space in our day free of distractions.

In this time, we can be creative, reflect, and create work of real value.

In this age of information overload, the ability to focus is the true weapon to accomplish anything we want to achieve in our lives.

Let me share with you the key takeaways from this transformative book.

1. The power of focused work

Imagine you’re sitting at your desk, the clock is ticking, and you have a big project ahead of you.

You start to work, but then your phone rings, a quick glance at an email, a glance at social media.

Before you know it, hours have passed without you getting anything done.

That was my daily routine until I internalized the first lesson.

“Deep Work” is the sheer power of concentrated, undisturbed work.

The concept is simple yet profound: dedicate yourself to a task without interruption.

It allows you to achieve a level of productivity and creativity that is almost impossible in a normal, distraction-filled environment.

I’ve recently started experimenting with this concept.

I set aside two hours daily for intensive work, usually between 11 am and 1 pm.

That’s the time when I feel most productive.

I set this time based on my work years and side hustles.

During these blocks, I’ve my phone notifications turned off.

I close all unimportant browser tabs and focus solely on the task.

Applying the principles of deep work has dramatically improved my quality of work.

But it’s not just about saving time.

The state of deep work also promotes a sense of fulfillment and mastery.

It’s a pleasure to immerse yourself completely in a task and to feel that all parts of the brain are involved.

This level of engagement leads to better results and deep satisfaction with the work itself.

I recommend the Forest app for anyone with problems with concentration.

It encourages you to stay focused by planting and growing virtual trees.

The more you focus, the bigger your forest will grow.

It’s a simple but effective way to visualize your concentration and make the process enjoyable.

Deep work is a skill that requires practice and commitment.

Start with 30 minutes a day and gradually increase your time for deep work.

You’ll be surprised how much more you can achieve and how much more fulfilling your work can become.

2. Embracing boredom

In our hyper-connected world, boredom is almost considered a sin.

We fill every free minute with gadgets.

Allowing yourself to be bored strengthens your ability to focus and work hard.

I used to reach for my phone every spare minute, in queues, during TV commercials.

Even while I was waiting for my tea to boil.

At first, according to Cal’s advice, it felt almost uncomfortable, like an itch I couldn’t scratch.

But over time, these moments of boredom became spaces where I could let my mind wander, process, and develop new ideas.

I noticed a marked improvement in my concentration during the intensive work sessions.

By no longer giving in to every distraction, my brain learned to focus for longer periods.

Another aspect of dealing with boredom is finding enjoyment in simpler activities.

I started with low-stimulus activities like going for walks without my phone.

These activities gave my brain a much-needed break.

They helped me reconnect with the physical world, which improved my overall well-being.

If you’re interested in the effects of the digital world on our brains, I recommend “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr.

Nicholas Carr explains how the internet is rewiring our brains and making it harder for us to focus and think deeply.

Building boredom into your life doesn’t mean you’re idle.

It’s about consciously choosing low-stimulus activities that allow your mind to rest and rejuvenate.

This is an important step in training your brain for work demands.

Take a break and give boredom a chance to work its magic.

3. Quit social media

Social media steals your time and attention.

Like many of us, I was caught up in the web of likes, shares, and endless scrolling.

It was a routine part of my daily routine.

The overuse, passive, and thoughtless consumption of social media apps are the problems.

I started tracking my time on social media, and the results were astounding.

It wasn’t just the hours but the fragmented attention and lingering thoughts that kept me distracted long after I logged off.

So I decided to take on the challenge.

I didn’t go cold turkey, but set myself strict limits on my social media use.

I set specific times for using these platforms.

I also used app blockers to prevent access during working hours, and now I no longer need those blockers.

The effect was immediate and profound.

I had more time, time I used for reading, a new hobby and, yes, for deeper, more fulfilling work.

There was another unexpected benefit: a sense of serenity.

Reducing social media use reduced the constant barrage of information and unconscious comparison to the curated lives of others.

For anyone who finds this idea daunting, try a ‘social media detox’ for a day or two and see how you feel.

The goal isn’t to demonize social media but to use it to serve you, not the other way around.

To control your use of social media, you can use tools such as Freedom or Cold Turkey.

These apps block distracting websites and apps and help you focus on your work.

It’s worth stepping back and focusing on what’s important.

Be it work, personal projects, or simply being present.

4. Drain the shallows

Not all work is equal.

Cal Newport introduces a critical concept, deep and shallow work.

Shallow work consists of non-cognitively demanding tasks and is often performed while distracted.

While necessary, it doesn’t contribute significantly to personal or professional growth.

Think of things like responding to non-urgent emails, attending unproductive meetings, or doing chores.

My days were packed with tasks that gave me a false sense of busyness.

They didn’t accomplish anything.

Those who work on side projects while still having a job know the pain better.

So how did I drain the “shallows’?

First, I rethought my typical work day.

I kept a log of all my activities for a week.

I realized that a significant portion of my day was spent on necessary tasks that could be streamlined or bundled.

I then introduced strategies to minimize the shallow work.

I started bundling similar tasks and setting specific times for checking and responding to emails.

I explored automation options or delegated routine administrative tasks where possible.

Another change was that I learned to say no.

It’s tempting to accept every request or opportunity that comes your way.

But only some things are worth taking the time for.

I began to evaluate requests and opportunities based on whether they aligned with my long-term goals and what value they added.

That wasn't easy at first.

I had the feeling that I was missing out on something.

But it helped me to focus on the work that was meaningful and effective.

Taking these steps created more space in my day for deep work.

The work requires full cognitive abilities and aligns with my professional and personal goals.

This change made me more productive, and my work became more satisfying and purposeful.

“Getting Things Done” by David Allen is a great tool to increase your productivity further.

It provides a roadmap for organizing tasks and effective time management and complements the philosophy of deep work.

It’s constantly evaluating and re-evaluating how you spend your time.

This ensures that your time is aligned with your most important work and life goals.

5. The grand gesture

Sometimes, a change of environment can increase your productivity.

Cal Newport’s concept revolves around making a significant, deliberate change to break out of routine and allow for deep, focused work.

It’s about creating a physical and mental space that signals your brain that it’s time to get serious about work.

I tried this idea out during a particularly challenging phase of a project.

The usual routine wasn’t cutting it; I was stuck in a creative rut.

I booked a cab to a hotel in the nearest mountain resort for a weekend dedicated solely to working on this project.

It was a dramatic difference from my usual working environment, and that was the point.

The effect was almost immediate.

I could focus better away from the familiar distractions of home and the office.

The new, quiet environment opened up my mental space and allowed me to think more deeply and be more creative.

It was as if my mind had been waiting for this signal to unleash its full potential.

I made more progress in those two days than in the previous two weeks.

But a grand gesture can also be something other than that grand.

It can be as simple as reorganizing your workplace.

It can be dedicating a day to a single project or turning off your phone for an extended period of time.

The key is to break the norm in a way that tells your mind it’s time to shift into an intense work mode.

An important aspect of the grand gesture is its symbolic meaning.

It’s a physical manifestation of your commitment to a task or goal.

Deciding out of the ordinary can effectively overcome procrastination and inspire motivation.

Consider using noise-canceling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort to amplify your grand gesture.

They can help create an isolated environment.

Even if you’re working from home, they’ll block out distracting noises and help you focus.

The grand gesture is about more than just a change of scenery.

It’s a way to recalibrate your brain and your work habits.

It’s a commitment to yourself and your work that says: “This is important enough to do something different.”

It can be a powerful catalyst for deep work and exceptional productivity.

Final thoughts

Applying these principles from “Deep Work” has boosted my productivity and improved my overall well-being.

Try these methods and see the difference for yourself.

Sometimes, a good book, a helpful app, or a change in routine is all you need to get there.

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