Are you constantly distracted? Struggling to concentrate and do the work you want to do? Learn how to focus, eliminate distractions and master the art of deep work.
Engineers build. Composers compose. Writers write. Artists paint. Coaches coach. We all have something that we need and want to do everyday, a calling that gives life meaning, puts food on the table and satisfies our soul.
‘The work’ can vary from person to person, as can the reason for doing it, but it’s important to each of us as individuals and causes a great deal of anxiety when we don’t do it.
When we do the work we feel energised, productive and positive. When we don’t, we feel anxious, irritable and increasingly negative.
The work needs to be prioritised above all else and should never fall prey to the distractions, diversions and humdrum of life.
That said, let’s take a look at how to quiet the noise and master the art of deep work.
What is deep work?
According to Georgetown Professor and author, Cal Newport, deep work is “Professional activity performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”
If you’re struggling to focus for any length of time and make progress with your career, his book Deep Work: Rules For Focussed Success in a Distracted World is full of advice on how to become less chaotic and more effective at work.
Your ability to focus increases your performance and productivity. It also heightens your enjoyment of the activity. Doing work that matters, in a focussed and mindful way, brings you greater joy and fulfilment as well as the many rewards that come with being good at your job.
How to get better at deep work
Deep work is a skill that can be improved with daily practice. Take your time and develop it slowly by making the following enhancements to your process.
Be clear
The first step is to be clear on what the work is. What’s your craft? What’s your main skill? What do you want to be great at, and known for? What one thing, done consistently, will ignite your spirit and produce the results you want in life.
Write it down and make it a priority. It should be the first thing on your mind when you wake up in the morning and given all of the focus, energy, time, and resources you can give.
Time block
Organise your schedule with a daily time block of deep work. 3-4 hours is ideal and about the maximum amount of focussed work the average person can complete before performance declines.
Choose the time of day that suits you best, enter it in your calendar and commit to it fully.
This is your most important activity of the day and should be treated as such – never to be obstructed or diluted by anything else. Be as flexible the rest of the time as you like, but remain rigid when it comes to the work that matters.
Build a sanctuary
Companies love open plan offices and collaborative spaces, but deep work does not. It’s impossible to get much done because of the noise and constant distraction.
Build your own little sanctuary where you can focus and do your work. This might be a private space at work or a small home office – just make sure it’s quiet, comfortable, has the tools you need, and is extremely difficult for others to interrupt you.
Create a ritual
Prolific people tend to be creatures of habit. They have their little quirks and routines that allow them to access the muse and do consistently great work.
Create a ritual of your own that readies you each day. Same time, same place, same process. And the simpler it is, the better.
Something as easy as making yourself a cup of tea can be incredibly comforting and sends the signal that it’s time for work. You may benefit from a mantra, or a verse that reinforces the habit, or a visualisation meditation. Do whatever works for you.
No distractions. No diversions.
It can take time to get in the zone and that time is fraught with peril. That’s when you’re at your most vulnerable to distraction, diversion and procrastination – and even the slightest upset can derail an entire block of deep work.
“I’m not in the mood today, so I’ll just check Instagram,” then before you know it an hour is lost and you feel significantly dumber.
You want to make the transition into work mode as fast and fluid as possible. There should be no news, social media or any kind of noise before, so your mind is clear and primed for the task. Follow your ritual and nothing else.
I personally prefer mornings because it’s much easier to get straight to work and deal with the other stuff later in the day.
Quiet the mind
There’s always something to worry about, something else that needs to be done, but right now, none of that’s important. Right now, it’s only the work that matters.
Take a seat at your desk and practice a few rounds of box breathing. Inhale for a count of 4. Hold for a count of 4. Exhale for a count of 4. Hold for a count of 4. Repeat this cycle for 5-10 minutes to oxygenate your mind and body and find a state of calm.
Optimise your workflow
Staring at a blank page, or a blank project file at the start of each session, is pretty daunting. It can be hard to get going and find your flow when you have absolutely nothing to work with.
Make your life easier by creating exercises, questions, guides, shortcuts and templates that you can use each day. This will give you direction, an initial burst of inspiration and some momentum to build on – helping you overcome any kind of creative block.
For example, Ableton Live and other DAWs have samples and templates. Load up a template, drop in a few samples and you’ve instantly created a vibe that will stimulate some ideas.
The same is true for Adobe Illustrator, Final Cut Pro and any piece of software. Learn, personalise and make use of all the creative features your tools provide.
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Featured Image: @thoughtcatalog
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