Deep Work

 

Currently reading: Deep Work by Cal Newport.

Taking notes about Deep Work

I can’t remember where I saw this book mentioned but I am reading this now and I am absolutely loving this book. I’ve also got his more recent book Digital Minimalism. 

Deep Work is really about the work we do which we don’t focus intently enough on, and the other kind of work which is ‘shallow’ work. Often we do more of the shallow work and we neglect the deep work. One reason is because we are just so distracted we fail to work with concentration and intensity (and thus get the best out of ourselves with the work we do.)

I can attest. Ten minutes at the laptop, check the phone, get a coffee, another fifteen minutes, remember to do something else… My mind often goes down that path but what I am learning is to be aware of it, and not give into that urge but to keep on going, and keep being focused on the work, which is for me, the writing.

I am loving this book so much I am taking notes.

Another learning from it is to make a schedule for the day so you know what you’re doing and when you are doing it. I love this idea because I love lists. I also happen to love writing lists, but I generally forget all about them, so all this kind of activity appeals to me, to be more intentional about my precious and, let's face it, ever decreasing number of hours left on this planet.

Like I said before, I am someone who gets up to do one innocent thing, say, make a coffee, then see the washing in the machine has finished so I’ll put that out, then see the junk mail so I'll skim that, then put the mail down on the bureau and think, 'Oh the mirror needs a clean, it's grotty,' so I do that, then go to the loo, then refill the toilet paper basket because its running low, then half an hour later…. And all I did was go down to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee! Yet all along that process I got utterly distracted by other things and half an hour had gone by and my Deep Work just collapsed for that half hour.

I am also very interested in the digital minimalism idea. I have minimalised quite a lot over the years.  Giving up Twitter was a big one as that was so addictive, I loved it. Loved it! 

But for now, I am really into this idea of Deep Work. Can't wait to read what else Cal Newport has to say about that!