If you are like me, there have been days where you felt as though you worked all day but accomplished nothing. Or, you wished that you had help focusing when you had essential tasks but were having constant distractions. If so, try deep work.

Deep work is a concept popularized by Cal Newport, a computer science professor and author of "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World." He defines deep work as a state of distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit. In other words, deep work is when you immerse yourself in a challenging task and give it your full attention.

Why is deep work important? Because it can help you master hard things quickly, produce high-quality work, and create new value in the world. Deep work can also increase your creativity, satisfaction, and engagement with your work. Think of people like Bill Gates, who takes a week off twice a year to read and think deeply about new ideas. Or Carl Jung, who built a tower in the woods to write his influential books.

But you don't have to be a billionaire or a genius to do deep work. You can incorporate deep work into your daily routine with simple practices and tools. Here are some tips and examples to help you get started.

1. Choose a strategy that suits your personality and lifestyle.

There are four main strategies for deep work, according to Newport:

• The monastic approach is when you isolate yourself from the world for long periods, like moving to a cabin in the woods or locking yourself in your office. This is ideal for people who need complete solitude and silence to focus. For example, author J.K. Rowling wrote the last Harry Potter book in a hotel room away from her family and fans.
• The bimodal approach is when you dedicate large blocks of time (at least four hours) to deep work every day and then do shallow work (like answering emails or attending meetings) in the remaining time. This is ideal for people who can easily switch between modes and control their schedules. For example, psychologist Adam Grant blocks out several days or weeks for research and writing and then catches up on other tasks later.
• The rhythmic approach is when you break down your deep work into smaller chunks (like 90 minutes) and schedule them on your calendar. This is ideal for people who like to have a routine and habit of doing deep work. For example, comedian Jerry Seinfeld marks an X on his calendar every day he writes jokes and tries to keep the chain going.
• The journalistic approach is when you fit in deep work whenever you have spare time, like between meetings or commutes. This is ideal for people with unpredictable schedules who can enter deep work mode. For example, journalist Walter Isaacson wrote his biography of Steve Jobs by squeezing in writing sessions whenever possible.

2. Train your mind to resist distractions and stay focused.

One of the biggest enemies of deep work is distraction. Distraction can ruin your concentration and waste time, whether it's from your smartphone, colleagues, or your own thoughts. To overcome distraction, you need to practice some mental skills, such as:

• Productive meditation: This is when you think deeply about a problem while engaging in physical activity, like walking, running, or showering. This can help you sharpen your focus and solve complex issues. For example, physicist Albert Einstein developed his theory of relativity while riding his bicycle.
• Embracing boredom: This is when you resist the urge to check your phone or browse the web when you feel bored or restless. This can help you strengthen your willpower and avoid mindless stimulation. For example, writer Neil Gaiman carries a notebook wherever he goes and writes down ideas instead of checking his phone.
• Scheduling your internet use: You decide in advance when and how long you will use the internet each day. This can help you avoid switching between online and offline modes and reduce digital distractions. For example, blogger Tim Ferriss checks his email only twice daily, at 11 am and 4 pm.

3. Use tools or apps that can help you with deep work.

There are many tools or apps that can enhance your deep work experience, depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some examples:

• Noisli: This app provides inspiring background noises and a timer to help you focus during blocks of deep work. You can choose from different sounds like rain, wind, coffee shop, or white noise. You can also use the app's distraction-free text editor to write without interruptions.
• Twist: This app is a team communication tool that supports asynchronous communication, so you don't have to reply to messages in real-time. This can help you reduce distractions and interruptions from your colleagues and focus on your deep work. You can also set your status to let others know when you're working deeply and when you're available.
• Shift: This app is a desktop platform that lets you access all your apps and tools in one place. You can also mute all notifications across every app in Shift with one click, which can help you block out distractions and enter deep work mode. Shift also has a focus mode that dims your screen and shows you an inspirational quote.
• Focus Mode: This feature on iOS and Android devices lets you customize your settings to limit distractions from your smartphone. You can choose which apps and contacts are allowed to notify you and which are silenced. You can also set different focus modes for different scenarios, such as work, personal, or sleep.
• Notion: This app is a powerful productivity tool that lets you create notes, tasks, databases, wikis, and more. You can use Notion to plan deep work sessions, track progress, and organize projects. You can also integrate Notion with other apps and tools for deep work.
• Cold Turkey: This app is a website and app blocker that helps you focus on your deep work by preventing you from accessing distracting sites and apps. You can set a timer for how long you want to block them or schedule blocks in advance. You can also choose between blocking modes, such as frozen turkey (which locks your computer) or lockdown (which prevents you from changing the settings).

4. Balance deep work and shallow work.

While deep work is essential, it doesn't mean that shallow work is useless or irrelevant. According to Cal Newport, the author of the book “Deep Work”, shallow work is the opposite of deep work. He defines shallow work as the opposite of deep work.  It does not require deep thinking, is easy to replicate, and does not tend to create much new value in the world.

Some examples of shallow work are:

• Answering emails or messages
• Attending meetings
• Browsing the web or social media
• Doing administrative or routine tasks

Shallow work still has its place in our jobs and lives as long as we don't let it take over our time and energy. To balance deep work and shallow work, we need to:

• Schedule your day in advance: This means deciding how much time you will spend on each type of work and sticking to it as much as possible. You should also prioritize our most important tasks first and leave the less urgent ones for later.
• Limit your email time: This means checking your email only at specific times (such as morning, noon, or evening) and not letting it interrupt your workflow. You should also avoid sending unnecessary emails that create more noise than value.
• Say no to unimportant requests: This means being selective about what you agree to do or attend and not feeling guilty about declining things that don't align with your goals or priorities. You should also delegate or outsource what you can to free up our time for more valuable activities.

5. Know what tasks are deep work and what are not.

Not all tasks require the same level of concentration and effort. Some tasks are inherently more complex and challenging than others, requiring more attention and focus. These are the tasks that qualify as deep work. Some examples of deep work are:

• Writing a novel, a blog post, or a research paper
• Developing a software program, a website, or an app
• Solving a complex mathematical problem, a puzzle, or a riddle
• Learning a new skill, a language, or a musical instrument
• Designing a product, a logo, or a user interface
• Building a financial model, a business plan, or a marketing strategy
• Preparing for a presentation, a speech, or an exam
• Analyzing data, statistics, or trends

These are all examples of professional activities that require distraction-free concentration and push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. They also create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate by others.

Deep work is not easy, but it’s worth it. By following these tips and examples, you can make deep work a part of your daily routine and boost your productivity like never before.