Deepwork Short Review

I just completed a book called Deep Work penned by Cal Newport. Found it an interesting read due to some of the concepts explained by the Author. First of all Deep Work is the work for which you need a deep level of concentration & a place free of distraction. Another interesting point raised by the author is the difference between Deep Work & Shallow Work.

Coding, Blogging, and Data Analytics are some examples of Deep Work. Talking about Shallow Work, the activities involved are day-to-day activities like Data Entry, Email Browsing, and Other routine office tasks. So you can divide your activities into Deep & Shallow work activities and complete them accordingly.

Another interesting concept in the book is Work Shutdown. This task needs proper work scheduling. Schedule your work in such a manner that before stepping out of the office you can say this magic phrase “Schedule, Shutdown & Complete” and close your PC. The major advantage of this concept is that it gives required free time in the evening which you can spend enjoying the activities you love to do without thinking about the work. Go for a jog, Spend time with your family & friends, and watch a movie or a Cricket Match. Do things which you enjoy doing.

Yes, at times there can be emergencies that can arise for which you need to sit late in the office but keep it as a rare case scenario.  Schedule your week well in advance so that you get proper time to finish all your activities in-office hours & you won’t need to drag your work after office hours. Another advantage of Work Shutdown is that it will help you to de-stress and rejuvenate yourself so that you can start your work the next day with a fresh mood & relaxed mind.

Another important point stressed in this book is about Social Media. Stay away from this addiction as possible. When you are free just embrace boredom instead of Scrolling through Facebook & Instagram feeds. Spend time thinking about your next course of action or thinking about something productive. Social Media is an excellent tool to kill time but it also kills your peace of mind.

I agree many use Social Media for marketing & promotion and if you are a Digital Marketer you need to stay connected with these mediums. However, make it a point just to use it for work-related purposes. If you wish you can enjoy a session or two for a few minutes once your work ends. But don’t get addicted to it.

So, these are a few takeaways that I found useful from this book. There are many more deep & interesting concepts that you can read & apply in your professional & personal life by reading this Book.