Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University, has always been interested in how to use technology to support people in achieving their goals. Carl has come up with the term “deep work” and defined this method of working. According to his definition, deep work is all the professional tasks which we do when we are fully concentrated and work in a distraction‑free environment. Such conditions make it possible for us to make the best of our cognitive capacities. In other words, deep work means no distraction, maximum focus and effort to achieve the best possible results.

How? It’s a matter of how engaging the task you are doing is. Replying to emails, sorting your bookmarks, or organising your files are the activities that do not require the full capacity of your brain. They are easy, mechanical tasks, and although they may give you a sense of satisfaction, they are classified as shallow work. Deep work engages your brain power and makes you learn or create things. Some examples of deep work are researching, analysing data, or developing a strategy.

Nowadays, people learn and work in spaces where everything is constantly drawing their attention away from the tasks at hand. Our computers give us permanent internet access. We’re obsessively glued to our phones and refuse to disable notifications. Our brains have learned to crave this constant stream of information. As a result we have to keep juggling a number of tasks and switching from one to another. That’s not an effective way of obtaining results. 

In this everyday hustle and bustle, shallow work replaces deep work, and the ability to focus and deliver a high quality product is becoming rare. As a consequence, those who can concentrate and whose work results in new creations will be offered the best jobs and highest salaries. 

Number one: reduce the amount of shallow work to make space for deep work. Number two: do away with the distractors to create an environment that is favourable to concentration. Cut off from social media and news feeds when you work. Make sure edutainment is not easily available. Nowadays there is software that will make sure you cannot access certain websites during your working hours. Instal it on your computer.

More and more people suffer from FOMO –  the fear of missing out –  when they have no access to their phones all the time. To increase your capacity for deep work, consider spending part of your down time without the internet access. Try putting your phone and computer away for a few hours a day and let your mind wander. Let the mind work on your ideas in the background instead. Give it a go and you will soon be surprised with the results.

Whether you’re working on a project or studying for a test, divide your work into stages. Especially if you’re the kind of person who procrastinates and leaves things until the last minute, split what you have to do into smaller chunks and give each of them a deadline. Decide when you’re going to work on them and hold yourself accountable for your progress. Have a planner in a visible place to be able to keep track of what you have already done, what’s left to be done, and how much time you have for it.

To a certain extent, our lives are predictable and built around activities such as school, extracurriculars, and house chores. Plan your deep work time around them. Estimate how much time you need to complete a certain task. Test and verify how accurate your estimation was. It will be a challenge at first, but with time, it will get easier. Inform your friends and family when your deep work time is and ask them not to distract you then. Tell them when you’re available, so they don’t feel cut off.

Ask yourself what makes you focus and perform best and give it your best shot. In terms of space, it does not have to be your desk. It might be a comfortable sofa, the local library, or a cafe with a quiet corner. Make sure you have enough paper and highlighters if that’s what you need to focus effectively. If hot tea and crackers are your treat, have a generous supply. Don’t go over your attention span. Your attention will decrease and so will the quality of your work. Have breaks!,

Four hours of deep work produce better results than eight hours of regular work with constant distractions. The formula for success is less time, more focus. Remember: practice makes perfect. Once you get in the habit of deep work, it will become your routine.