Constant distractions cost more than we think Quickly checking your emails, then replying to a chat message on Slack, while WhatsApp announces five new messages and the news push reports traffic jams on the main roads. Interruptions are omnipresent and keep us constantly busy.
What is often underestimated is that they prevent us from doing the very tasks that require our full cognitive attention. Studies show that after an interruption, it takes an average of around 23 minutes to get back into the swing of things. [1]
What's more, the mere presence of a smartphone on the table can measurably reduce our mental performance, even if it is not being used! Our brain unconsciously uses resources to resist potential distractions. This phenomenon is known as brain drain[2]. This makes it all the more important to adopt a way of working that enables conscious focus: deep work.
What does Deep Work mean?
When you engage in a task in such a way that you use your full intellectual potential and channel all your energy into it, you are practicing Deep Work. The result: you generate real value and improve your ability to concentrate. This state is not easily replicable. In fact, instead of practicing Deep Work, we often engage in what expert Cal Newport calls Shallow Work. These are low-challenge, low-impact tasks that are easy to reproduce, such as skimming messages, forwarding emails, or checking voicemail.
How to achieve Deep Work
brevity, and constant availability, creating an environment that makes true focused work difficult. All the more reason to apply the Deep Work method regularly. Here are a few hacks to help your brain enter and maintain this productive state:
#1 Choose a quiet place
Noise and commotion are true Deep Work killers. Find a low-stimulus environment where you can think, reflect, and develop ideas in peace. Distractions like social media, push notifications, ringing phones, incoming emails, or talkative colleagues should be avoided. Modern employers who embrace New Work understand that employees need such spaces. If you don’t have a quiet area yet, consider setting one up.
#2 Make time for it
Create a daily schedule with clear goals and designate specific time blocks for focused work. These time frames are for working exclusively and attentively on a single task. Mindfulness, routines, and fixed hours help make Deep Work successful and eventually a habit.
#3 Improve your concentration skills
The ability to quickly enter Deep Work mode is a skill you can learn. Strengthen your concentration by allowing boredom: dedicate yourself to a task for an extended period without mentally jumping to the next one. If your job mostly consists of multitasking or Shallow Work, try switching it up. Immerse yourself in a task until it is completed. You’ll notice: Deep Work is a powerful state that opens up entirely new perspectives.