Time for some Deep Work

Too many of us have lost the ability to focus on priorities, spending too much time attending to emails, texts, social media, etc. One of the first things I encourage my clients to do is improve their time management and task prioritisation disciplines. I occasionally explore new methods to reinforce this message and recently discovered “Deep Work” by Prof Cal Newport.

Deep Work is the ability to focus without distraction on a demanding task. It allows you to work on a key task and deliver improved results in less time. In short, it is a valuable competency in our increasingly time competitive lives.

It will take practice to be truly focussed. The following will help you build a routine and provide tactics for achieving the benefits.

Ways to generate Deep Work time.
Eliminate or at best radically reduce trivial or low priority tasks (so called shallow work).
Consciously divide your time between deep and shallow work.
Create a habit of assigning time in your daily/weekly schedule.
Fit it in whenever your schedule allows for it, eg a cancelled meeting.

How to instigate best practice Deep work 
Once you have planned your time, decide what you want to achieve.
Become unavailable, establish positive habits such as switching off your phone!
Know when to stop and actually stop then assess how you did.
Enjoy the benefit and new sense of accomplishment!

In the beginning, the aim is to develop a routine for concentrating on difficult tasks. Aim for no more than 20-30 minutes.
Schedule it, initially set small goals and accept that it will be challenging.
Critically, set the right time and environment and clear your head of the trivia.
As your confidence and ability grows gradually increase the amount of time.
Continually review progress and make a longer term plan.