7 ways to improve your deep work...
get more stuff done
It doesn’t matter what you do, everyone wants to get more done in less time.
In a world of endless “mores”, deep work is one of the highest leverage activities you can do.
1 hour of deep work > 8 hours of busy work
1. Put your phone away
Most distractions come from notifications on your phone.
Acton Step: Put your phone in a completely different room.
2. Listen to wordless music
Don’t get me wrong, music is very helpful when you’re trying to get in the zone.
But make sure that the music you’re listening to is adding to your focus, not taking from it.
Action Step: Listen to a Deep Focus Playlist.
3. Keep some water near you
When you’re deep working, it’s important to not break your focus as much as possible. You don’t want to have to interrupt your flow because you’re thirsty.
Action Step: Keep a water bottle near you.
4. Go to the bathroom first
A tip from experience, the last thing you want to do is to have to go to the bathroom in the middle of your deep work session.
Action Step: Go to the bathroom before you start deep working.
5. Take a break every 25 minutes
Everyone’s focus is different, for me every 25 minutes my focus starts to wane. Other’s can focus for much longer. But once you start to feel your focus slipping, take a short break.
This is the Pomodoro Method:
Every 25 minutes take a short 5 minute break
Repeat 3 times
On the third break, take a longer 15 minute break.
Key Point: On these breaks, try not to hop on your phone and start scrolling.
Instead, get up, look out the window, rest your eyes, stretch, whatever floats your boat.
6. Start in the morning
Studies have shown that people tend to have the most energy between 9-11 a.m.
I realize that everyone’s schedules are different and everyone has different preferences, but try to do the most important work when you have the most energy.
This is usually in the morning.
Summary:
Put your phone away
Listen to wordless music
Have water next to you
Go to the bathroom first
Take a break every 25 min
Do the important tasks first
- Jay Yang
P.S. don’t forget to drink some water :)