You Can Build "Deep Work" Skills to Increase Productivity

In a world full of distractions, maintaining focus is a tall order. You've probably already gotten a new notification on your phone since opening this article. Not your fault. The key to increasing your productivity and actually getting things done without Instagram likes and group texts getting in the way is "deep work." It's a skill that will take some practice, but will pay off big time. {Play}

The Deep End

The term "deep work" was coined by Cal Newport, an author and associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University. He should know a thing or five about being productive: He earned a PhD from MIT in just a few years, has published five books and many academic papers, and blogs regularly, yet he's married with two kids and rarely works on the weekends. In addition to time blocking his entire workday the night before, Newport relies on his deep work skills to remain an enviously productive dude. {Play}

He describes deep work as the following: "Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skills, and are hard to replicate." Some examples include writing a book, creating music, or solving a difficult problem. In contrast, there is shallow work: "Non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend to not create new value in the world and are easy to replicate." Examples include reading emails, filing expenses, and other easily checked items on your to-do list. {Play}

Time to Focus

In our distraction-heavy society, Newport argues that the ability to access a state of deep work is becoming both more valuable and more rare. Spending more time in deep work than in shallow work is key to accomplishing more with your time. {Play}

Great, so you can do this by just blocking off time to only do the thing you're trying to do, right? Not exactly. According to Newport, the notification-heavy lives we live have trained our brains and reduced our attention spans. "You have to treat your attention with a lot of respect, like a professional athlete might treat their body," Newport tells Entrepreneur. Sharpening your deep work skills can be done with intentional practice focusing and removing distractions. The result, according to Newport? You'll be able to learn difficult things faster and create to the best of your ability. {Play}

Distraction: حواس پرتی

Maintain: حفظ کردن/ نگه داشتن

Be a tall order: انجام دادن کاری سخت و دشوار

Productivity: بهره وری

Pay off: پرداخت کردن، جواب دادن، نتیجه خوب دادن

Coin: ابداع یک لغت و یا یک اصطلاح جدید

Author: نویسنده/ مولف

Rarely: به ندرت

Rely on: تکیه کردن

Enviously: از روی حسادت و رشک

Dude: مرد

Concentration: تمرکز

Cognitive: ادراکی

Capability: توانایی

Replicate: تکرار کردن

In contrast: در مقابل

Shallow: سطحی

Logistical: منطقی

Expense: هزینه/ خرج

Span: محدوده/ ظرفیت

Athlete: ورزشکار

Intentional: قصدی/ عمدی