Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

by Cal Newport

The best students understood the role intensity plays in productivity and therefore went out of their way to maximize their concentration—radically reducing the time required to prepare for tests or write papers, without diminishing the quality of their results.

Human beings, it seems, are at their best when immersed deeply in something challenging.

Bill Gates, for example, was famous during his time as Microsoft CEO for taking Think Weeks during which he would leave behind his normal work and family obligations to retreat to a cabin with a stack of papers and books.

Downtime Helps Recharge the Energy Needed to Work Deeply

Willpower is limited, and therefore the more enticing tools you have pulling at your attention, the harder it’ll be to maintain focus on something important.

Facebook, at best, added one more (arguably quite mediocre) entertainment option to many that already existed.

While your goals will likely differ, the key is to keep the list limited to what’s most important and to keep the descriptions suitably high-level.