Hey,
I'm Chibzo Karake,
Welcome to The Daily Striver.
Today we're diving into the concept of deep work,
The kind of focused uninterrupted effort that leads to progress and breakthroughs.
As a high achiever,
I'm sure you know how easy it is to get pulled in a million different directions.
With so many distractions and demands on our time,
Mastering the art of deep work is becoming a rare but incredibly valuable skill.
Let's explore how creating space for this kind of focus can transform the way we work and what we accomplish.
Let's get into the meditation.
Finding a comfortable position,
Alert yet relaxed.
You're welcome to close your eyes or if that doesn't feel good to you,
Just gently soften the gaze.
And let's just have a quick check-in with what's going on in the mind and the body and in particular notice whether or not you're here,
Whether you're present.
Are you focused on today's practice or have you got other things running through your mind?
Stresses of the day?
Worries about the week ahead perhaps?
Not that it matters but we do want to be aware of where our mind is.
If we're feeling calm and present we bring awareness to our calmness.
If our mind is somewhere else we bring awareness to the fact that our mind is elsewhere.
And let's settle our focus on the breath.
Noticing the inhale.
Noticing the exhale.
We're not so much watching the breath,
We're experiencing the breath,
We're feeling the breath.
So what does it feel like to breathe?
Perhaps we can feel the cool air coming in through the nostrils as we breathe in.
The lungs,
The chest,
The stomach expanding.
And then we might notice the warm air leaving the nostrils as we breathe out,
As the body softens and relaxes and sinks deeper into the chair.
We breathe in,
The body expands.
We breathe out,
The body softens and relaxes and sinks deeper.
If any thoughts pop up just acknowledge them and allow them to pass on by.
You can always give them attention later but now just keep coming back to your breath.
No need to overthink,
Just breathing.
Now that we're focused and calm I want you to think back to a time when you were fully immersed in a task.
No distractions,
Just you and the work in front of you.
How did that feel?
Did you notice how productive and clear your thinking became?
And now bring to mind something on your to-do list that requires deep focus.
Visualize setting aside time for it,
Uninterrupted by emails,
Notifications or meetings.
Imagine yourself fully diving into this task with clarity and intention.
What would change if you gave yourself that space regularly?
How much more could you accomplish?
Bill Gates used to take think weeks,
Secluded time away to dive into deep work and strategic thinking.
These focused weeks were where real breakthrough ideas came through for Microsoft.
Now while a full week might be difficult to carve out even 90 minutes of deep focus can lead to significant progress.
Cal Newport once said,
The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it's becoming increasingly valuable.
Tomorrow try scheduling just 90 minutes of deep work.
Find a quiet space,
Turn off all distractions and focus solely on one task.
See what happens when you allow yourself that uninterrupted time.
Deep work is your edge in a distracted world.
The few who can cultivate this ability will thrive in any field.
By making space for focused effort you can tap into your most innovative and productive self.
If you haven't already done so feel free to crack open the eyes and come back to the room.
Thanks for joining me I'm Chibs Okereke and I'll see you tomorrow for The Daily Striver.
