DEEP
WORK
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 will thrive.
THE IDEA
Why Deep Work Matters
Deep Work is Valuable
In the new economy, three groups will thrive: high-skilled workers, superstars, and owners. Deep work helps you join the first two. The ability to quickly master hard things and produce at an elite level is becoming increasingly valuable.
Deep Work is Rare
Modern business culture actively fights against deep work with open offices, instant messaging, and constant connectivity. The metric black hole, culture of connectivity, and busyness as proxy for productivity all conspire against depth.
Deep Work is Meaningful
A deep life is a good life. Depth generates meaning through craftsmanship, flow, and philosophical alignment. Craftsmen find meaning in the creation of valuable things. Flow provides psychological fulfillment.
Focus Challenge
Test Your Concentration
Try to maintain focus on the center while notifications appear around you.
ATTENTION RESIDUE
When you switch tasks, part of your attention remains stuck on the previous task. This "residue" reduces your cognitive capacity.
Sophie Leroy's research shows that when you switch from Task A to Task B, your attention doesn't immediately follow. A residue of your attention remains stuck thinking about the original task.
The more intense the original task, the stronger the residue. This is why context switching is so damaging to productivity.
Shallow Work
Non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted.
Moderate Focus
Tasks requiring some attention but easily interrupted.
Deep Work
Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration.
Flow State
The deepest level where time disappears and extraordinary work emerges.
WORK AUDIT
Most people spend 60%+ of their time in shallow work, thinking they're productive. This audit will show you the truth.
YOUR CURRENT DISTRIBUTION (Yesterday)
Honestly estimate: how many hours did you spend in each mode yesterday?
YOUR ACTION PLAN
Track every hour for 2 weeks. Be brutally honest. Most people overestimate their deep work by 50%.
Cut shallow work by 50%. Batch emails. Say no. Automate. Delegate. Delete.
Start with 1h deep blocks. Gradually extend to 3-4h. Protect like your life depends on it (it does).
FLOW
// A state of complete absorption. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one.
SYSTEM_PREQUISITES [08]
THREAT_DETECTION
THE PROTOCOLS
Work Deeply
Transform deep work into a regular habit through rituals and routines that minimize willpower.
Embrace Boredom
Don't take breaks from distraction. Instead, take breaks from focus. Train your mind to tolerate absence of novelty.
Quit Social Media
Apply the craftsman approach to tool selection: only use technology that substantially supports your core goals.
Drain the Shallows
Ruthlessly identify and eliminate shallow work. Schedule every minute of your day to protect deep work time.
ARCHITECTURES
CHOOSE YOUR STRUCTURE
Monastic
Eliminate or radically minimize shallow obligations.
Bimodal
Divide time into deep and shallow periods (at least one day of depth).
Rhythmic
Create a regular habit of deep work at the same time each day.
Journalistic
Fit deep work wherever you can into your schedule.
Deep Work Time Blocking
SCHEDULE EVERY MINUTE OF YOUR DAY
THE HALL
OF FOCUS
Masters who built extraordinary things through deep, undistracted work.
SOURCE_MATERIAL
FOCUSED
SUCCESS
ACQUIRE<br/>ARTIFACT
// WARNING: Physical ownership increases commitment probability by 40%. Digital distraction vectors removed in hardcopy format.
Recommended Deep Dives
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The foundational research on flow states that Deep Work builds upon.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Practical strategies for building the deep work habit into your daily routine.
Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport
Newport's follow-up exploring how to optimize your digital life for depth.