When you finish the day at work, do you think that, despite being tired, you haven't done everything you should? Have you considered that you could be more productive? These are frequent questions in the lives of many professionals. If you live with these dilemmas, know that you can change this scenario by becoming a deep work adept.
In recent times, a lot has been said about deep work, but you may not know what it is. In the following article we will explain the concept and how it can promote major transformations in your work routine and in your personal life. Who wouldn't want more time to spend with his family?
But, after all, what is deep work?
In 2015, Cal Newport released the book “Deep work: rules for focused success in a distracted world”. In this work, the author introduces us to the concept of deep work.
Throughout the book, Newport explains how it's possible to become more productive than you're currently doing. To achieve a good productivity pace, it is important to work in a focused way. This means focusing fully on what you are doing in the present moment.
Cal Newport: Meeting the Author
Above we explained what deep work is, but you are probably curious to know who Cal Newport is and his basis for proposing this concept. Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University in the United States. He is also the author of six books on self-improvement.
One of the focuses of Newport's work is to present tips on how to stay productive in a digital age that offers a series of distractions. For example, while you are reading this article, your smartphone may be receiving a series of notifications from your social networks. We live all the time distracted by technology.
Don't be multitasking!
Many people believe that productivity comes from multitasking. If that's your idea of what it means to be productive, we're sorry to inform you that it's the exact opposite.
When we perform more than one task at the same time, we need to divide our attention between them. The result is that none of the tasks will be performed with excellence. There is also the fact that when alternating activities, concentration is seriously affected. So, if you want something well done, it's better to focus only on that until you complete it.
Deep work: what are the skills for deep work?
Are you reading this and thinking “I'm going to go into deep work right now”? If so, we need to warn you that, to get into focused work, you need more than wanting to. It is necessary to focus on and develop at least two essential skills.
The first skill is to master things that have a high degree of difficulty and complexity. The second skill is the ability to combine speed and quality in what you are doing.
Deep work: check out tips to become more productive
Throughout the article we present the concept of deep work, its author and the skills needed to develop it. Below we list tips on how to get into this focused work mode, thus becoming more productive. Check it out!
1. Develop routines and rituals
Having a routine is important to understand that tasks need to be done at a certain time of day. Routine is a synonym of commitment and that way you can “armor” yourself better from distractions. Establish what needs to be done each hour of your workday and don't divert your focus.
However, remember that to maintain your concentration and the quality of your work, it is essential to take breaks. Interspersing periods of activity with periods of inactivity helps the brain to relax. Thus tasks are carried out more efficiently.
2. No social media
Have you noticed how easy it is to enter a social network to check a notification and spend half an hour watching random videos of pets? Nothing against videos of animals making fun, but they should be seen after hours.
The most effective way to avoid getting distracted by social media is to put them away while you work. Set a time of day to check social media and outside of that period forget they exist.
3. Set a schedule for your day
When we don't know exactly what tasks and appointments we'll have in a day, it's hard to get organized and be productive. It seems that every moment a new activity appears that prevents the other five from being completed.
To avoid this chaotic scenario, the tip is to have a schedule of tasks, you must start the day knowing everything you need to do. You can use a planner or even an app to write down activities and allocate time for them to be carried out.
However, it is essential to bear in mind that you can and should be flexible on some points. It is normal for some tasks to take longer than we previously thought and others less. If possible, work out your schedule for the next day at the end of the day.
4. Set priorities
Reflect for a moment, have you been investing more time than necessary in activities that are not a priority? For example, checking e-mails is not as important as dealing with a supplier over the phone.
To avoid wasting time on less relevant activities, you can analyze and optimize your schedules to focus on what is most important. Make your day more flexible to have more time to complete more complex tasks.
5. Have time to end your day
Setting a time to complete a certain task propels you to be more productive. So it's interesting to set a time to complete your work day. For those who work as a freelancer and/or in the home office model , this tip will make a lot of sense.
Set the time when you should deliver the last task and stay focused on your goal. Having limited time helps increase your concentration on what needs to be done. Remember that by finishing tasks on time, you allow yourself more time for yourself.
