Focus Helps You Do Deep Work

The formula below says high-quality work takes two things: time, which we already know is finite, and focus.

By tapping into your ability to be highly focused on whatever task is at hand, Newport says you can do “deep work,” which is “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 skill, and are hard to replicate,” he writes.

Deep work isn’t easy to achieve, but it’s one of the best ways we can counter the age of distraction we all live in, and do our best, most productive work. Newport suggests practicing deep work — it takes time to get good at it, like any other skill.

He also recommends having a deep work routine, so your brain knows when it’s time to get down to business. That means having:

• A location that’s specific to doing deep work. Somewhere that’s comfortable, quiet, and completely free from distractions is ideal.
• A duration in mind for your deep work session. If you’re new to deep work, start with 15 minutes and work your way up to longer sessions.
• Structure that determines what deep work looks like for you. For example, can you have drinks and snacks, or will those distract you? Can you get up and move, or should you stay in front of your screen the entire time?
• Requirements for accessing deep work, so you’re ready to go when your session begins. This means you won’t waste any of the duration of your deep work session setting your phone to silent or picking out the right music, because those things will be done before you start.

24 Hours in the Day Is More than Enough

None of us needs more hours in the day. In fact, 24 is more than enough, since no one should be spending more than eight of them at work on a regular basis.

By practicing and combining skills that create better work systems, you can instead make the most of your work time and get important tasks finished — without needing more time.