Now that we’ve established why deep work matters and how to get better at it, it’s time to establish deep work routines. We need to do this for three reasons: Deep work is a skill that requires consistent practice. Choosing to go deep is difficult in a world obsessed with the shallows. Going deep takes time. Consistency Engaging in deep work on a regular basis is the only way to… Read More »Deep Work Routines
“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, and then make it the core of their working life, will thrive.” –Cal Newport1 That’s from Cal Newport’s excellent book, Deep Work. Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, and he’s a leading voice in… Read More »How to Get Better at Deep Work
To-Do List Trouble I used to put things on my weekly to-do list like “write next week’s blog post” or “practice calculus” or “redo homepage for website.” To-do lists are great, but for tasks like these, I was having a problem: They weren’t things I was going to do in a single sitting. Writing next week’s blog post takes multiple sessions of writing and editing. Practicing calculus is something I… Read More »The To-Do List Checkbox System
Do you ever procrastinate? Yeah? Oh good. I just wanted to make sure you’re human. Procrastination is the #1 most common issue I work with people on. 6th graders avoiding their math homework? Check. High school seniors putting off writing their college essays? Check. 24 year old’s neglecting their household chores? Check. 48 year old’s skipping workouts? Check. All procrastinating. But don’t get me wrong – I’m in no position… Read More »How to Beat Procrastination by Making Your Own Motivation