No Hurry, No Pause

It’s now 4 weeks since I started being aware of how much I was rushing. I’ve made some good changes since this began. I have become aware of when I am rushing and I (mostly) stop - pause and get back to working at a normal pace. I do feel an improvement in my enjoyment of work and I don’t think I am achieving any less.

In looking for help with this I turned to Deep Work, by Cal Newport. When I first read this book I had an instant recognition of all he was saying - but I have found it really hard to implement his principles. He defines deep work as

“Professional activity performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”

My work environment is really not distraction free. My inbox is always open. I jump in and out of activities and am open to conversations. And this inquiry into rushing has shown me how much distraction is going on in my mind. It’s not just external distraction, it’s the noise in my head. 

So I have 2 challenges - to turn off the noise in my head, and to remove distraction in my external world. 

Cal Newport goes on to say To learn hard things quickly, you must focus intensely without distraction.

I think that the same is true for doing. ‘To do hard things quickly’, we must focus intently without distraction. In my case I am interested in the internal distraction of my hurry up noise! 

Jerry Seinfeld describes how he does this on Tim Ferris’s podcast. When he writes - he sets a timer, no distractions, 1 hour, write. He also has rituals, coffee, same type of writing paper and a determination not to get up until the timer goes off. 

Newport also suggests setting time limits. He suggests the time limits help our focus and goal achievement. As I play with this I see that the time limits don’t necessarily mean rushing. They just require focus. As I do this I notice that when I really focus, sink in, take all other distractions away. I get a lot more done. 

When I set a time limit I am not rushing. The deeper concentration that allows me to learn/do and achieve quickly, to see more clearly. Rushing pulls against this achievement - I am tense and not in the flow. This ability depends on focus. And there’s not an absence of speed. The speed comes through quality focus and concentration. 

Focus and deep work require discipline and commitment. They don’t come naturally. Over these past few weeks I am really happy to say I am seeing green shoots of change. 

This coming week I invite you to be aware of focus and immersion. What opportunities can you make to give something your complete attention? How could you set aside time for ‘deep work’ to help you to get these things done?

Meanwhile, I’ll keep going back to Deep Work to see how I keep improving my focus!

If you are interested in this - I came across this blog which includes a good summary of the book Deep Work if you don’t want to ‘rush’ to read it.