It creates that intense, out-of-body kind of focus that makes you completely oblivious to what’s going on around you – the kind that produces your best work. What is deep work?ĭeep work is the ability to concentrate deeply on a difficult task for prolonged periods of time without getting distracted. We’ll then move on to lay out exactly how you can practice deep work and thrive by it. But what exactly is deep work and does this work philosophy buzzword actually have any substance? In this guide, we’ll break down the main talking points behind the concept to assess its wider context and usefulness. In sharp contrast, there’s deep work, which promises dividends in terms of productivity, employability and happiness. This also contributes to a culture of busyness, where we seem to work flat out, but with very little to show for it at the end of the day. Flitting between these tasks slowly maxes out our attention, leaving us overwhelmed, unfulfilled and unproductive. Constant communication and immersive tech have made it almost impossible for us to stay focused on the complex, problem-solving tasks that push our work forward – ushering in huge consequences for our wellbeing, as well as our productivity.Ī ton of “shallow work” fills our days – like emails, Slack messages, manual admin and tool notifications. Most of us work in a state of perpetual distraction, multitasking and checking phones and emails every few minutes.

Deep work and digital minimalism