Deep Work

1. “The Deep Work Hypothesis: The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. As a consequence, the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.”

2. “Ironically, jobs are actually easier to enjoy than free time, because like flow activities they have built-in goals, feedback rules, and challenges, all of which encourage one to become involved in one’s work, to concentrate and lose oneself in it. Free time, on the other hand, is unstructured, and requires much greater effort to be shaped into something that can be enjoyed.”

3. “Once your brain has become accustomed to on-demand distraction, Nass discovered, it’s hard to shake the addiction even when you want to concentrate. To put this more concretely: If every moment of potential boredom in your life—say, having to wait five minutes in line or sit alone in a restaurant until a friend arrives—is relieved with a quick glance at your smartphone, then your brain has likely been rewired to a point where, like the “mental wrecks” in Nass’s research, it’s not ready for deep work—even if you regularly schedule time to practice this concentration.”

4. “This, ultimately, is the lesson to come away with from our brief foray into the world of experimental psychology: To build your working life around the experience of flow produced by deep work is a proven path to deep satisfaction.”

5. “Deep Work: 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.”

6. “The goal of productive meditation is to take a period in which you’re occupied physically but not mentally—walking, jogging, driving, showering—and focus your attention on a single well-defined professional problem. Depending on your profession, this problem might be outlining an article, writing a talk, making progress on a proof, or attempting to sharpen a business strategy. As in mindfulness meditation, you must continue to bring your attention back to the problem at hand when it wanders or stalls.”

1. Deep Work is the Superpower of the Knowledge Economy

The ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks is becoming increasingly rare and valuable. In a world of shallow work and constant interruption, those who can go deep will thrive while others struggle with mediocrity. Deep work produces high-value output and builds career capital.

2. Shallow Work is the Enemy of Excellence

Shallow work—tasks that are logistical, often performed while distracted, and don't create much new value—fills most people's days but contributes little to meaningful progress. Email, meetings, social media, and administrative tasks feel productive but prevent the focused effort needed for breakthrough results.

3. Create Rituals and Sacred Spaces

Deep work requires intentional design, not willpower alone. Establish consistent routines, dedicated physical spaces, and clear rules for when and how you'll work deeply. Remove friction and decision fatigue by systematizing your approach to focused work, making it easier to slip into deep states regularly.

4. Embrace Boredom and Resist Distraction

The ability to focus is like a muscle that weakens with constant stimulation. If you're always reaching for your phone or switching between tasks, you're training your brain to crave distraction. Practice being comfortable with boredom and single-tasking to rebuild your concentration capacity.

5. Be Selective About Technology and Communication

Don't adopt new technologies or communication tools just because they offer some benefit—consider their cost to your ability to focus. Most social media, instant messaging, and "productivity" apps fragment attention more than they help. Choose tools deliberately based on their net impact on your most important work.