In fast-paced work environments, falling into procrastination is an all-too-familiar story. If you’ve been struggling to combat this issue, you’re probably not alone. In fact, roughly 20% of adult men and women struggle with chronic procrastination.
This productivity issue results from various factors in our modern lives, such as the pressure of deadlines and the expectation to multitask. Psychological aspects, such as fear of failure or perfectionism, can also contribute to this pervasive habit.
The practice of deep work can be an effective solution to combat procrastination. Applying deep work practices can help you maintain focus and supercharge productivity during work hours. Before we go deeper, let’s learn the basics.
What is Deep Work?
Professor Cal Newport introduced the concept of deep working as the state of intense and undistracted focus on cognitively demanding tasks. If you want to take a closer look at his book, consider watching the book review by LeadLearnLeap on its channel.
Deep work is a working mode where you immerse yourself in a singular task. In this state, you delve into challenging work that requires full cognitive abilities to reach a heightened concentration level and a state of “flow” where creativity and problem-solving flourish.
The practices emphasize the quality of work over its quantity, aiming to maximize productivity and cognitive output. It contrasts with shallow work that typically doesn’t require intense focus or intellectual depth.
Moreover, the impact of deep work extends far beyond professional realms. It influences both professional and personal spheres, which include:
- Increase productivity and output
- Produce higher-quality work
- Fostering innovation and creative problem-solving
- Improved focus and discipline
- Reduced stress with work-life balance
Achieving deep work involves specific practices. Let’s explore them below, from creating a focused schedule to embracing low-stimuli activity and avoiding multitasking.
Create a Focused Schedule
One of the keys to deep working is by creating a focused schedule. It may require intentionally structuring your day or week to optimize productivity during dedicated time blocks.
These blocks are exclusive for deep work sessions, where you delve into tasks requiring intense concentration. A focused schedule typically includes setting aside specific hours or periods, whether early mornings, late afternoons, or certain days of the week.
Dedicate a time block for a single task. It should be free from distractions. This fosters deep, uninterrupted work, helping you to immerse yourself fully in challenging tasks and optimize your productivity.
Set Clear Goals
Setting clear goals within these focused work periods is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness. Clear goals provide a roadmap for deep work sessions and guide you toward specific outcomes.
Your goal should be specific and well-defined, detailing your goals during each session. For instance, instead of a vague goal like “work on project X,” a clear goal might be “draft the first three sections of project X by the end of the session.”
This clarity keeps you on track and motivates you to focus on your efforts. It ensures your time spent in deep work is purposeful and aligned with your objectives. You’ll gain a sense of accomplishment when completing your specific goals, which motivates you to achieve the broader objective.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions are among the most significant causes of procrastination. In deep work practices, you must identify and mitigate potential distractions that could disrupt your focus.
Distractions come in various forms, such as digital interruptions like emails, social media notifications, or the temptation to multitask. Meanwhile, physical distractions can be a noisy workspace or interruptions from colleagues or family members.
Strategies or techniques to prevent distractions are simple. You can follow the following points:
- Turn off social media notifications and consider using trusted ad blocker
- Use website blockers or apps to limit access to distracting sites
- Find a quiet and secluded workspace
- Use noise-canceling headphones
- Establish boundaries with others
The above are some distraction prevention you can apply to help you engage deeply in your work and achieve higher productivity and concentration levels. You can also visit a library or a comfortable place to evoke your spirit.
Build a Space-Essential
External factors are essential to trigger motivation and creativity. You can design an office space tailored to suit your preferences. It should be organized, clutter-free, and ideally set up with the tools and resources necessary for your tasks.
Digital spaces can also play a significant role; for instance, organizing your digital files, using productivity apps, or customizing your computer desktop. Intentionally designing a space primes your mind for focused, uninterrupted work.
However, there may be times when you want a fresh sight. In this case, you can get out of your dedicated workspace. You can consider working from a café, library, or public working space for a fresh vibe.
Embrace Low-Stimuli Activity
Low-stimuli activities are practices that provide mental relaxation without overwhelming stimuli. They complement deep work practices by allowing your mind to rest and recharge between intense work sessions.
Some examples of low-stimuli activities include taking short walks, practicing mindfulness or meditation, and engaging in light stretching exercises. You can also spend time in a quiet environment and let the time go slowly.
These activities between deep work sessions allow your mind to rejuvenate. They help you refresh your brain’s capacity and will enable you to continue your work more effectively without being overwhelmed.
Avoid Multitasking
You may think multitasking is an effective solution when dealing with tons of work, but in fact, it doesn’t. Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously often leads to reduced efficiency and lower-quality output.
Instead, deep work encourages a single-minded focus on one task at a time. Concentrating on a singular task allows you to allocate your cognitive resources more effectively. Consequently, it improves concentration, productivity, and work quality.
Moreover, avoiding multitasking can help you prevent mental health issues. Focusing on a single task by deep working can maintain mental clarity and reduce the strain of constantly switching between tasks.
Wrapping Up: Reflect and Evaluate
In mastering deep work, the final step is to embrace reflection and evaluation. Don’t forget to reflect on your deep work sessions and asses what worked well and where improvements could be made.
Consider the effectiveness of your focused schedule, the clarity of your goals, and the success in eliminating distractions. Use this introspection to refine your approach and adapt techniques that resonate best with your workflow.
Deep work is a continuous evolution—a commitment to refining your focus, productivity, and overall effectiveness. It may take some time for you to practice deep work. But it’s worth investing in to pave the way for your continual growth.
Author Bio
Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).