Deep Work in the Internet age

I thank my friend H for suggesting this book: Deep Work by Cal Newport. It's a wake-up call that I believe a lot of us need.

For a knowledge worker, it is unbelievably apt in this day and age where our attention and powers of concentration are scattered over a constant barrage of emails, messages, updates, notifications and whatnot.

The book cites a 2012 McKinsey study: The average knowledge worker now spends more than 60% of the work week engaged in electronic communication and Internet searching, with close to 30% of the worker's time dedicated to reading and answering email alone.

The scary bit is when Newport says, 'spend enough time in a state of frenetic shallowness and you permanently reduce your capacity to perform deep work'. This Deep Work is defined as professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.

For me, this would mean the ability to come up with new ideas, engage with platforms where I may learn something to forward my career, the opportunity to discover new trends and to figure out my future path, to reflect on my abilities, to hone my talents... all of which is impossible when my focus falters due to my giving in to constant distraction.

Additionally, what I see is that work is certainly a big concern. But, even apart from work, the Internet has begun making it impossible to do anything deep - from movies to breakfasts with family to shopping trips to housework to even sleep. Internet is everywhere and wherever internet is, our attention follows. I don't remember the last time I watched a movie without any distraction whatsoever. Actually, it's not the Internet, it's me. Internet is awesome as it is, what's less so is our ability to use it wisely.

So, if your plan for 2017 figures reading a good book, Deep Work would be a good choice.

Also, if I may distract you further from your work, read this: Why I am a sociomediapath by Neal Stephenson.