Deep Work
by Alex Ng
Cal Newport’s strategies for cultivating focused work and producing high-value output in an increasingly distracted economy.
The Big Idea
"The ability to perform deep work—focused, uninterrupted concentration on cognitively demanding tasks—is becoming increasingly rare and increasingly valuable in our distracted world."
Key Insights
Deep Work Is Rare and Valuable
In an economy that rewards rare and valuable skills, the ability to quickly master hard things and produce at an elite level requires deep work—yet most people spend their days in shallow work.
Bill Gates famously takes 'Think Weeks' where he isolates himself to read and think deeply, which led to many of Microsoft's strategic pivots.
The Any-Benefit Mindset Is Flawed
We adopt tools like social media if they offer any benefit, ignoring the costs. A craftsman approach asks: Does this tool's benefits substantially outweigh its drawbacks for what matters most?
A writer might quit Twitter not because it has zero value, but because the constant distraction costs more in lost writing time than the networking benefits provide.
Attention Residue
When you switch tasks, your attention doesn't immediately follow—a residue of your attention remains stuck on the previous task, reducing your cognitive performance.
Checking email 'real quick' before a meeting leaves attention residue that impairs your performance in that meeting for 10-20 minutes.
The Four Disciplines of Execution
To implement deep work: (1) Focus on the wildly important, (2) Act on lead measures (hours of deep work), (3) Keep a compelling scoreboard, (4) Create a cadence of accountability.
Track your deep work hours daily on a visible calendar. Aim for a specific target. Review weekly what worked and what didn't.
Embrace Boredom
If you always reach for your phone when bored, you're training your brain to demand constant stimulation. Practice being bored to strengthen your concentration muscle.
When waiting in line, resist the urge to check your phone. This practice helps you build the mental muscles needed for sustained focus.
Chapter Breakdown
Part 1: The Idea
Deep Work Is Valuable
In our economy, three groups will thrive: those who can work creatively with intelligent machines, those who are the best at what they do, and those with capital. The first two groups require the ability to quickly master hard things and produce at an elite level—both of which require deep work.
Deep Work Is Rare
Open offices, instant messaging, social media presence, and the expectation of immediate email responses all push us toward shallow work. Yet businesses rarely measure the cost of these distractions.
Deep Work Is Meaningful
Neurological research shows that focused attention on demanding tasks creates a sense of meaning and satisfaction. The shallow alternative—a life of distraction—leads to a scattered, unsatisfying existence.
Part 2: The Rules
Rule #1: Work Deeply
You need rituals and routines to minimize the willpower needed for deep work. Options include:
- Monastic: Eliminate shallow obligations entirely
- Bimodal: Dedicate defined stretches to deep work (days or weeks)
- Rhythmic: Create a daily habit of deep work at set times
- Journalistic: Fit deep work wherever you can in your schedule
Rule #2: Embrace Boredom
Don't take breaks from distraction; take breaks from focus. If every moment of potential boredom is relieved with a quick glance at your smartphone, your brain has been trained to never tolerate absence of novelty.
Rule #3: Quit Social Media
Apply the craftsman approach: Identify the core factors that determine success in your professional and personal life. Adopt a tool only if its positive impacts substantially outweigh its negative impacts.
Rule #4: Drain the Shallows
Schedule every minute of your day. Quantify the depth of every activity. Set shallow work budgets. Become hard to reach. Finish your work by 5:30 PM.
Take Action
Practical steps you can implement today:
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Schedule deep work blocks on your calendar and protect them fiercely
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Quit or drastically reduce social media—apply the craftsman approach to tools
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Create a shutdown ritual to end your workday and free your mind
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Practice productive meditation: focus on a problem during physical activity
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Embrace boredom—don't reach for your phone every idle moment
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Track your deep work hours and aim for 4+ hours of focused work daily
Who Should Read This
Knowledge workers who feel constantly distracted. Anyone who wants to produce higher quality work. Professionals seeking to develop rare and valuable skills. People who want to reclaim their time from email and social media.
Summary Written By
Software Engineer & Writer
Software engineer with a passion for distilling complex ideas into actionable insights. Writes about finance, investment, entrepreneurship, and technology.
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