Stream: bookclub

Topic: Deep Work

Matthew Fish (Oct 09 2024 at 20:46):

Deep Work by Cal Newport is the book I have been reading for a while. Trying to finish this by the end of this month. I find reading both the ebook and listening to the audiobook is the best way for my brain to take in the information.

Patrick Arminio (Oct 09 2024 at 20:50):

I really liked it! I recently ready slow productivity and so good they can't ignore you, both good books :blush:

Don MacKinnon (Oct 09 2024 at 21:05):

That's a great book. Hard at times to execute in practice but it's a worthy ideal to strive for. I also read Slow Productivity but did not find that one to be as good as Deep Work.

Philip Durbin (Oct 10 2024 at 02:24):

I listened to it. Agreed. Nice book. If only I could be as productive as the author! :sweat_smile:

Matthew Fish (Oct 10 2024 at 14:18):

Currently, I'm about half way through the book, and my reading last night covered the 4 Disciplines of Execution. This ties into one of the main reasons I started this book, after two years of newborns I am trying to get back into my productivity.

The 4DX Principle

• Focus on the Wildly Important
  • currently, I want to improve my reading habit.
• Act on the Lead Measuers
  • I have started tracking undistracted time reading, this is generally about 15-30 minutes (one Pomodoro was my previous goal) with Kimai my time tracking solution
• Keep a Compelling Scorecard
  • This one i am having a bit of trouble with, I don't know how to make completing a chapter/section/book more compelling. I used to try to treat myself to games, but found that a bit counter productive to what my goal is.
• Create a Cadence of Accountability
  • I am implementing a personal review, to take place every Sunday at 10:00, this also piggybacks off my GTD goals, and I am partially using this group as accontability.

Lars Ellingsen (Oct 10 2024 at 17:29):

I read Deep Work a couple years ago, when I switched back to being an IC. Really liked it. For a while I was trying to do the "schedule each day in 30 min blocks" bit. It helped somewhat, but ultimately I'd ignore it, even though I did it daily... plus there are so many things that come up unexpectedly.

What I've started doing the last few weeks that is super helpful for me is just leaving my phone on the other side of my office. I can't even hear when it rings, and that's fine. Check it when I get up for water/restroom/etc. That's helped more than anything lol

Patrick Arminio (Oct 10 2024 at 17:50):

leaving the phone somewhere else is a great tip! related: https://news.utexas.edu/2017/06/26/the-mere-presence-of-your-smartphone-reduces-brain-power/#:~:text=Jun%2026%2C%202017-,The%20Mere%20Presence%20of%20Your%20Smartphone%20Reduces%20Brain%20Power%2C%20Study,reach%20%E2%80%94%20even%20if%20it's%20off.

Philip Durbin (Oct 11 2024 at 00:57):

Yeah, those newborns are a productivity killer :sweat_smile:

Last updated: Dec 12 2024 at 16:47 UTC