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Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport · 2016 · 5 pulses · ~4 min read

Why the ability to do focused, undistracted work is the superpower of the 21st century.

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1 / 5 · focus
“Deep Work: Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit.”
— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 3

Insight

Deep Work creates value impossible at the surface. The skill is rare and increasingly valuable.

Try this

Block 90 minutes tomorrow morning for one cognitively demanding task. Phone in another room.

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2 / 5 · focus
“Treat shallow work with suspicion because its damage is often vastly underestimated and its importance vastly overestimated.”
— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 226

Insight

Email, meetings, Slack feel productive but produce nothing the world will pay you for in 5 years.

Try this

Audit yesterday's work. Mark each block "deep" or "shallow." Cap shallow at <50% of working hours.

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3 / 5 · focus
“When you switch from some task A to another task B, your attention does not immediately follow.”
— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 42

Insight

Switching tasks costs ~20 minutes of full focus regaining each time. Most workers burn 4-6 hours/day to context-switching.

Try this

Batch similar work. Do email in 2 windows (morning, evening) instead of constantly. Track if you feel less drained.

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4 / 5 · systems
“To make the most out of your deep work sessions, build rituals of the same level of strictness and idiosyncrasy as the most committed thinkers I've studied.”
— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 119

Insight

Where you work, how long, and what triggers it shouldn't be daily decisions. Rituals remove decision-fatigue.

Try this

Define your deep-work ritual. WHERE (specific spot), HOW LONG (90-180 min), HOW (no internet, specific drink). Test for a week.

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5 / 5 · craft
“Don't take breaks from distraction. Instead take breaks from focus.”
— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 157

Insight

Constant phone-checking trains the brain to be unable to focus. The default state should be focus; phone is the break.

Try this

For 1 hour today, leave your phone in another room. Notice the urge. Let it pass without acting on it.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Deep Work about?

Why the ability to do focused, undistracted work is the superpower of the 21st century. Deep Work by Cal Newport (2016) has 5 key pulses on ReadMinute, condensed into ~4 minutes of swipeable reading.

How long does Deep Work take to read?

On ReadMinute, Deep Work is condensed to 5 pulses — approximately 4 minutes of reading. The full book varies but typically takes 4-8 hours. Pulses surface the most quote-worthy ideas with citations.

Who is Deep Work for?

Deep Work is most relevant to readers interested in: focus, systems, craft. Browse pulses below or explore theme pages for related books.

Where can I buy Deep Work?

Deep Work by Cal Newport is available on Amazon. ReadMinute uses fair-use quotes with citation; for the full text, buy the book to support the author. Affiliate disclosure: ReadMinute earns a small commission on Amazon purchases.