Deep Work - Cal Newport Pt 1

Topics:

Definition: Professional activities performed in a state of distraction free concentration, that push cognitive capabilities to their limits

Ch1
- Deep work requires isolation and time by yourself
- Need to remember the difference between busy-ness and effectiveness
- The ability to master hard things, if you can’t learn, you can’t thrive
- Also must be able to quickly learn hard things, because technology always changes.
Not simply technological changes, but as you advance in your career path, you’ll have to learn more and more things
- To produce at an elite level - quality & speed
Not only is it enough to learn these new skills, you must be able to master them an produce tangible benefits
- The difference between normal adults and extraordinary adults, requires long and hard studies - deliberate practice.
- High quality work production = time spent x intensity of focus
- We have attention residue - where when we switch tasks, our brain is still thinking about the previous task, whilst attempting to switch focus to the next one.

Ch2
- The principle of least resistance - we will tend towards behaviours that are the easiest in the moment
- Creating clarity on what matters has unintended consequences about what does not matter
- Deep work - quality, craftsmanship & mastery. Decidedly old fashioned and non-technological.

Ch3
- Neurological argument for depth
Happiness through attention & focus, the content of what we focus on matters.
- Psychological argument for depth
The best moments usually occur when a person’s body/mind are stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.
- Philosophical argument for depth
We have tasked ourselves to figure out what’s important and meaningful

Tune in next week for the second and final installment about Deep Work!

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