1. Deep Work
This is similar to the "flow" state that many psychologists references.
Newport defines deep work as, "the professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit".
Deep vs. Shallow:
2. Only Four Hours
Newport states that you can only do about four hours of deep work every day.
This isnât a matter of concentration or practice; itâs a matter of human biology and psychology.
Think of your mind as a muscle. You can Stretch it to the theoretical 4 hour limit.
3. Deep Workers Win
Deep work consistently provides better results & a more excellent portfolio of work than traditional labor and strategies.
Emphasizing deep work and doing all you can to make this time as productive as possible will yield fantastic dividends in the long run
4. The Maker is Becoming More Important
Newport suggests that culture is shifting to celebrate the "maker" or the deep thinker.
This trend is most visible within pop-culture and content creation as people find their unique voices and reach wider audiences.
5. Uninterrupted Time is Necessary
In order to perform any time span of deep work, you must have a stretch of uninterrupted time.
Itâs virtually impossible to engage your brain in deep work if you are constantly interrupted.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Like with virtually all skills and habits, the more you engage in deep work, the easier it will be and the longer your sessions will last.
7. Focus on Progress, Not Outcome
Many people focus on the bottom line or end result of their effort. This can stifle the act of creation and ruin your motivation.
Instead, Newport advises focusing on the progress you make or the actual process of creation itself.
8. Four Strategies for Managing Willpower
Newport understands that managing your willpower is incredibly difficult, so he has four strategies you can use to open yourself to deep work:
1âŁGet rid of easy distractions
2âŁBimodal Behavior
3âŁRhythmic Behavior
4âŁJournalistic Behavior
9. Get Rid of Easy Distractions
The first is to give up your email and other easy distractions that tear your attention away from your task or objective, at least while youâre working.
10. Bimodal Behavior
This doesnât necessarily refer to a sleep schedule. Instead, Newport recommends that you should schedule regular retreats or periods of intense concentration and isolation to create opportunities for deep work.
11. Rhythmic Behavior
Newport also suggests that you adopt a rhythmic lifestyle, at least in relation to your artistic endeavors.
Make sure that you follow a habit that is consistent, and which allows you to perfect your artistic techniques rhythmically.
12. Journalistic Behavior
Finally, donât be afraid to utilize so-called âjournalisticâ behavior, which is best summarized as âjumping in whenever you canâ.
Make peace with the fact that you may need to take advantage of any downtime you have and use it for deep work.
You can't improve if you don't know what you're doing wrong.
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