Pulled in every direction and distracted by everything from Teams notifications to overflowing inboxes, most professionals today are operating in a constant state of distraction. And it’s not just harmless multitasking. The ripple effects of distraction are staggering.
Workplace distractions cost U.S. businesses up to $650 billion annually, in a report from BusinessDasher. The average employee loses 2.1 hours per day to distractions, which also doubles their error rate and increases task completion time by 27%.
According to Cal Newport in his book, Deep Work, we need to fight the constant distractions
with a new set of strategies to reclaim our productivity. Newport is an author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University whose research on focus and productivity has gained widespread acclaim. Newport describes deep work as the focused, undistracted efforts that enhance your skills and enable you to deliver high-value results. By delivering more breakthrough results, you’ll have a better shot at opening doors to promotion or advancement. “Human beings, it seems, are at their best when immersed deeply in something challenging,” says Cal Newport in Deep Work. In contrast, “shallow work” includes the tasks that feel urgent but rarely move the needle—checking email, sitting in status meetings, or reacting to notifications. This is not simply about increasing productivity, deep work is about changing the results you can deliver.
But deep work doesn’t happen by accident. Here are the specific set of habits that Newport proposes to make it happen:
- Work Deeply – Create the conditions for sustained concentration.
- Embrace Boredom – Resist the urge to constantly seek stimulation.
- Quit Social Media – Reclaim attention from algorithmic time-sinks.
- Drain the Shallows – Minimize low-value, reactive work.
“Your goal is not to stick to a given schedule at all costs; it’s instead to maintain, at all times, a thoughtful say in what you’re doing with your time going forward,” says Cal Newport in Deep Work.
The four habits above come together, maintaining that thoughtful say, in many ways, with “time blocking” as an overarching strategy. Time blocking, a practice where individuals carve out scheduled, uninterrupted time for focused work, is one of the most effective ways to prioritize deep work. In fact, research from the University of Southern California found that those who used time blocking increased productivity by up to 50%. Another survey found that 90% of successful CEOs credit time blocking as a key to their personal productivity and success (Psico-smart).
Ready to take a deep dive into Deep Work?
“To build your working life around the experience of flow produced by deep work is a proven path to deep satisfaction.” - Cal Newport, Deep Work
Based on the principles outlined in Deep Work, our upcoming virtual session will offer practical guidance for reclaiming your attention and aligning your time with your most meaningful goals. From understanding the power that can be derived from time blocking, to discussing other, easily applicable ways to apply Newport’s four habits, this workshop will inspire you to cut through the noise and produce work that matters.
Whether or not you’ve read the book, join us!. This session will be facilitated by WEST leaders:
- Jocelyn Dunphy, Owner & Senior Consultant at ProCapability Training & Consulting
- Astrid Descoutures, Asset Lead at Lantheus
- Leah Cole, Director of Immunology at Sanofi Pasteur
These accomplished leaders will share their journeys to incorporate “deep work” into their calendars and facilitate a conversation that will help you explore what changes you can make, too, to boost productivity, prevent burnout, or take the next step forward in your field..
Don’t miss it. Register now and unlock your most productive self.
Sources:
https://www.businessdasher.com/workplace-statistics/
https://hbr.org/2013/07/look-whos-distracted-now