Deep work is the ability to concentrate deeply on a difficult task for prolonged periods of time without getting distracted. It creates that intense, out-of-body kind of focus that makes you completely oblivious to what’s going on around you , the kind that produces your best work.
The term “deep work” was coined by Cal Newport, associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, and the concept has been quickly adopted as a useful antidote for modern working practices saturated with unrewarding and unproductive distractions
It’s possibly best to understand deep work by looking at its opposite. Shallow work is the distracted, on and off multi-tasking most workers of today used to. This is the type of work that happens when you finish the day without achieving very much. You start a project, but you have many tabs open and are responding to instant messages, emails and phone notifications. This is shallow work, and it’s the norm for most workers.
Depth requires focus. To be all-in on a task for a block of time allows you to truly tap into creativity and quality. Deep work is where the magic happens.
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Deep work is valuable
Newport argues that deep work is like the secret sauce for success in today’s world. With automation and outsourcing on the rise, those who can perform deep work will have a serious edge. He gives shoutouts to folks like Nate Silver (the data whiz) and David Heinemeier Hansson (the programming guru), who’ve rocked their fields by going deep.
Deep Work Is Rare
Next, he explains why deep work is becoming as rare as unicorns. Modern workplaces are all about open offices, constant emails, and social media — basically, it’s a distraction city. Newport shares how these trends turn us into shallow work zombies, constantly multitasking and rarely focusing deeply.
Enhanced employability
Deep work helps us quickly develop new skills and solve the complex problems that move companies forward. In addition, working at an elite level – where you produce more and better work in less time – clearly comes with huge competitive advantages.
Since deep work is currently under-practiced as a skill, Newport believes that those who can produce high-quality work at a superior rate will quickly outpace their colleagues and land the best jobs. In an increasingly automated future, this ability to quickly grasp and engage new skills is also essential to our job security and continued employability.
Better job satisfaction
Deep work challenges people to regularly accomplish difficult and meaningful tasks. It essentially provides a framework for accessing and extending productive flow states – where we produce our best work. When we achieve something valuable, we feel an intense sense of happiness, purpose and satisfaction. So there’s a deeply emotional benefit to deep work, too
