
A couple years ago I got the book Deep Work by Cal Newport. Since then I have to keep re-reading/skimming through it to remind myself of things that I should be incorporating into my days and weeks to be more focused.
If you haven’t read the book, I recommend it. It lays out how high-achieving people with demanding schedules are able to accomplish big, meaningful projects. The short version: There are huge chunks of time where they have unplugged from social media, email, and other distracting things. And they do this regularly.
I think we all feel that we should be doing that. I’m convinced we all seriously underestimate how addicted we have become to distractions.
Even typing this post I feel the urge to check social media. Again. Even though I have in the past successfully had cut out that nonsense for long periods of the day. Once those pathways are ingrained in our brains, it’s easy to get back into the habit.
An addiction engineered by some stranger in silicon valley. All for the purposes of revenue for a companies I have no stake in.