Deep Work By Cal Newport

Multitasking and distraction are the enemies of productivity.
Many people think that they use their time most productively when they do a lot of things at once, but this logic is completely wrong. Multitasking does not equal productivity. Sophie Leroy, a business professor at the University of Minnesota who studied this phenomenon in 2009, shows why.

She shows that when we switch from task A to task B, our attention remains on the first activity, leaving us to only half-concentrate on the second, which impairs our performance. Her experiments consisted of two groups: Group A worked on word puzzles until they were interrupted to continue reading resumes and making hypothetical hiring decisions; Group B was allowed to finish the puzzles before moving on to the resumes.

Core Ideas in Deep Work

Introduction

1. Multitasking and distraction are the enemies of productivity.
2. There are several strategies for achieving deep work – all of which require intention.
3. Focus your brain and be selective in using technology.
4. Planning both work and leisure time is essential to restoring your energy.

About the author

Cal Newport is Provost's Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University and the author of seven books. His ideas and writings appear regularly in major publications and on television and radio.

From his website: “I write about the intersection of digital technology and culture. I’m particularly interested in our struggle to use these tools in ways that support, rather than undermine, the things we care about in our personal and professional lives.”