My Notes on Deep Work by Cal Newport(part 2)

This is the continuation of my notes on Deep Work by Cal Newport. to read part 1, click here.

Knowing that relying on willpower alone is unsustainable, because of it's finiteness, the question becomes: how then do we train our ability for depth? The quick answer is that we must develop systems to manage our willpower. Cal Newport offers plenty of advice in Deep Work—some of which, in my Opinion, are a bit too strict or impractical. Still, here's what i intend to adopt.

First, pay serious attention to your attention. What you give consistent attention to determines your level of output. Deep work, shallow work, and junky work are all constantly competing for your scare focus ,time and attention. Be ruthless with how you spend your time and attention—it's your most valuable currency. The ancient script says "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life"

Second, set clear goals and identify the few activities essential for achieving them. According to the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule), 20% of your activities generate 80% of your results. Find those 20% activities that truly matter and pour 80% of your attention and resources into them. For blogging, it's deliberate writing—not social media engagement. For training to dunk, it's doing more explosive squats, not more benchpresses.

Third, develop a deep work philosophy — a clear method for how you want to approach your work. Newport identifies four:

Monastic,, which involves living like a monk, fully secluded from distractions.
Bimodal, which alternates between deep, isolated work sessions and regular life(think retreats).
Rhythmic, which builds deep work into your daily routine
Journalistic, the hardest, where you can drop into depth at any moment, even amid chaos. Personally, i lean toward the Rhythmic philosophy- it's feels more of lifestyle and reasonably balanced.

Next, design your environment so that deep work becomes the default. Environments are very important. Set up your office, apartment, calendar, and devices in ways that promote focus and intentional collaboration. Newton lived a minimalist lifestyle, Steve jobs wore the same outfit everyday, and Maya Angelou rented hotel rooms for solitude. Your environment should make it easier to focus than to get distracted.

Fifth, set up daily lead measures to track progress towards your goals. These are not backward-looking metrics but forward-moving habits. For example, if my goal is to improve my writing, a lead measure could be write 100 words per day. If i want to read 30 books a year, i can aim to read 20 pages a day.

Then, carefully manage your internet and social media usage. Newport suggests quitting social media altogether, which i find a bit extreme—but understandable, given the cruciality of the topic. My approach is to be purposeful: schedule social media use, reflect on its value, and quit if it doesn't contribute to your goals or wellbeing.

Also, schedule your shallow work. Have a designated time for emails, messages, or admin tasks—and timebox them if needed. Don't let them bleed into your deep work sessions.

Lastly, accept boredom and schedule your relaxation. Deep work is mentally demanding. Rest is not laziness—it's fuel for the soul and body. Recharge your brain intentionally. Deep work burns energy.

And above all, never underestimate your brain's capacity for work and adventure. Keep learning, reading, creating, and producing. Don't just consume, Contribute! Your brain is far more capable than you think—it just needs the right systems to unleash its depth.