Hey there, cognitive superstar
Shane Parrish, the founder of the excellent blog fsblog.com, once said,
βSometimes success is 3% brains and 97% not getting distracted by the internet.β
Thereβs a lot of truth in this statement.
Beyond raw intelligence or talent, avoiding digital distractions (especially endless smartphone scrolling) is what really drives productivity and success.
But itβs extremely hard to do because social media platforms are designed to keep you addicted via the tiny hits of dopamine they release.
So, how do you fight back?
Short of putting your phone in a lockbox (which is a brilliant idea as it means you donβt have to rely on willpower!), there are a few good books that explore the science and strategies of distraction-free productivity:
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
Hyperfocus: How to Work Less and Achieve More by Chris Bailey
One of the many interesting things we learnt from Deep Work was the different approaches to focused work:
The 4 Deep Work Philosophies
Monastic: isolate yourself for long periods of time without distractions; no shallow work allowed
Bimodal: reserve a few consecutive days when you will be working like a monastic (you need at least one day a week)
Rhythmic: take 3β4 hours every day to perform deep work on your project
Journalistic: alternate your day between deep and shallow work as it fits your blocks of time (not recommended for beginners!)
If youβre just starting, itβs advisable to try the rhythmic approach first. Itβs manageable
and helps you build the deep work habit. We donβt want you going too hard too early!
Good luck on your journey to becoming a productivity superstar.
Big love,
Chris & the 42courses team x