How to develop the main skill of the XXI century

Productivity / by admin / December 23, 2019

All tasks can be divided into two main categories: In-depth and surface work. They highlighted Cal Newport, author of the book "In work with head». According to him, Deeper work - a professional activity performed in a state of undivided concentration, which requires a limit stress of mental abilities. This effort leads to the creation of new values and increase the skills of artist, and its results are difficult to reproduce.

A work surface - it does not require intellectual strain type of computing tasks are often performed in a state of scattered attention. Typically, these efforts do not lead to the creation of the world new values and easily reproducible. This meeting, work with e-mail reports. Although such cases is difficult to avoid, try to reduce the time spent on them. And begin to develop the skills of deep concentration. To learn how to do it, I told blogger Dan Sylvester (Dan Silvestre).

1. Select your own method of profound work

The usual work environment is difficult to concentrate deeply. Newport offers a four systems that can be used for in-depth work:

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Monastic. Cut down or eliminate the surface charge. Get away for a long time, and cut off from all distractions.
The dual-mode. Divide the working time into several segments that dedicate the work of profound and leave gaps for other things. Several days a week, work on the monastic system.
Rhythmic. The easiest way to regularly undertake an in-depth job - is to turn it into a habit. The essence of the rhythmic system creating regulations. For example, highlight a job requiring a concentration of three to four hours every day.
Journalistic. Alternate-depth work with the surface during the day. This method is not for novices.

2. Turn in-depth work in the habit

By choosing a suitable method for you, plan the calendar days or hours on the in-depth work and try to unswervingly adhere to this schedule. That such work has become a habit, you need not only your intention, but also a certain schedule. Consider the following points:

Where. Choose a place exclusively for in-depth work. For example, negotiation or a quiet corner in the library.
How many. Highlight a specific time on each call of profound work. Always know when you're done.
How. It is necessary to organize the process. Think about whether you should disable the Internet while you are working in depth. Are there any metrics by which you can assess their productivity?
With using what. To maximize success, you will need a support system. For example, you may have a habit to start with a good cup of coffee or have on hand some food to replenish energy.

3. Bring your plans into action with the help of the four disciplines

Know what to do and how to do - not the same thing. Many spend time and resources, thinking about the first only. But they forget to consider how to implement the chosen strategy will be implemented. The book "How to achieve the goal. Four performance discipline"Offers the following methods:

Focus on the mission-critical applications. Select a few of these objectives and to deal with them at the time of profound work. They should yield tangible results in the professional field that you always be enthusiastic.
Refer to the leading indicators. Success can be measured using two metrics: lagging and leading indicators. Among the former are the ultimate goals that you are trying to achieve. For example, the number of printed articles. The second evaluated the habits that lead to success. Thus, the actual figure for in-depth work - the time spent in a state of concentration and busy working on goals.
Keep accounting. People try more when they need to fix the result. Notes in the calendar, how many hours a day working in depth. And the days in which to solve complex problems, or did something else important, looking around in a circle.
Develop a schedule of reporting. It will help you achieve mission-critical goals. Get into the habit once a week to make a report and plan for the next working week.

4. Remove all distractions

At work, it is practically impossible for a long time to be focused. And in the rest of the time we are constantly distracted by TV or social networks. As a result, suffers our ability to concentrate. The brain expects and even requires entertainment. A frequent switching from one task to another further worsens the situation.

But conscious concentrated work, on the contrary, strengthens the pathways of the nervous system. Here are some ways to focus:

Work on headphones. Colleagues will think you do not hear them, and will be less likely to contact you.
Ask that you have been given the opportunity to work half a day remotely. It is best in the morning.
Disassemble the e-mail twice a day closer to the dinner and at the end of the day. And limit the time to work with it, for example, by "Tomato" timer.
Turn off notifications on your phone. If there is something really urgent, you receive a call.
Plan how long it will spend on the Internet, and try not to go into the network just like that. It is useful to do, not only at work but also at home to train concentration.
At the end of the day, close all tabs in the browser and open the program, delete or move to the right place all the files from the download, empty the trash and turn off the computer. Tomorrow will be easier for you to get started.

5. Do not forget to rest

According to studiesThe Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert PerformanceWe can work with concentration about four hours a day. After that, the ability to concentrate decreases. So that alternate periods of profound work with rest.

When finished, try not to think about it until the morning. Do not check email after dinner, do not scroll in his head talking with colleagues, do not make plans for tomorrow.

That is why it is so important:

During leisure, there are new ideas. As long as your mind is relaxed, the subconscious consolidates memories, and can also throw you helpful ideas and creative solutions.
Rest helps to fill the energy that then will come in handy for in-depth work.
The work you do in the evening, usually not so important. Most likely, this superficial problem that does not allow your career.

Just remember that the quality vacation - this is not a thoughtless seat on the Internet or watching TV series. Treat technology consciously and from time to time arrange themselves digital detox.

Bonus: how to improve the work of profound in

Constantly train this skill. Here are a few tips that will help you:

Give up the social networks. Permanent notification harm the ability to concentrate. If you can not spend on social networks in less time remove them completely.
Learn to say "no." Be selective when deciding what to accept. Every time you do not give up, by default, you say "yes."
Meditate. Enough to spend on it for ten minutes in the morning to increase the ability to concentrate during the day.

As with any other technique, in-depth work needed to adjust for themselves. Try different options until you find one that is right for you.