You sit down to finish a proposal. Two minutes later, the family WhatsApp group has 47 new messages, somebody tags you on Instagram, your boss pings you on Teams, and a “quick call” turns into 40 minutes. By 5pm, you’ve been busy all day, yet the proposal is still half-done. You’re not lazy. Your attention has simply been cut into tiny pieces.
Deep work is focused, distraction-free work on cognitively demanding tasks that push your abilities to their limit. The term was popularised by computer science professor Cal Newport in his 2016 book Deep Work. He argues that the ability to concentrate deeply is becoming rarer at the same time as it is becoming more valuable, which makes it a real competitive advantage.
Key takeaways
- Deep work produces high-value output. Shallow work (emails, admin, chats) is necessary but easy to replicate.
- Switching between tasks leaves “attention residue” that lowers performance.
- Schedule deep work blocks, remove distractions and train your focus like a muscle.
Why focus is so hard today
Notifications, WhatsApp groups, open offices and endless feeds constantly compete for your attention. Research by Sophie Leroy found that when people switch from one task to another, part of their attention stays stuck on the previous task. She called this “attention residue”, and it lowers performance on the new task. Each time you check your phone mid-task, you pay this cost.
Deep work vs shallow work
- Deep work: writing a strategy, coding a feature, studying for an exam, designing a product, analysing data.
- Shallow work: answering routine emails, scheduling, most meetings, social media updates.
Both matter, but deep work is what moves your career and business forward.
8 ways to do more deep work
1. Schedule it
Block 60–90 minutes on your calendar for one important task. Start with one block per day.
2. Define the task clearly
“Work on report” is vague. “Draft sections 1 and 2 of the Q3 report” is clear.
3. Remove your phone
Put it in another room or use Focus mode. Even having your phone visible on the desk may reduce available attention, according to some studies.
4. Close unnecessary tabs and apps
Keep only what the task needs open.
5. Create a start ritual
Same place, same drink, same playlist. Rituals signal your brain that it is time to focus.
6. Tell people you’re unavailable
Set a status, close your door, or tell family and colleagues when you’re in a focus block.
7. Batch shallow work
Handle emails and messages in fixed windows so they don’t leak into deep work time.
8. Train boredom tolerance
If you reach for your phone at every quiet moment, your brain struggles to sustain focus. Practise waiting in a queue without scrolling.
Try this this week
Tomorrow, block one 60-minute deep work session for your most important task. Put your phone in another room or on Do Not Disturb, close every tab you don’t need, and let people know you’ll be offline for an hour. Afterwards, notice how much you got done.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of deep work can a person do?
Newport suggests that about four hours a day is a practical upper limit for most people, and beginners may start with one hour.
Is deep work possible in an open-plan office?
Yes, with noise-cancelling headphones, booked meeting rooms, early-morning sessions or agreed “no-interruption” hours.
Related reading
Sources
- Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.
- Leroy, S. (2009). Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 109(2), 168–181.
- Ward, A. F., et al. (2017). Brain drain: The mere presence of one’s own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2(2), 140–154.
Written and fact-checked by the Mindset.ng Editorial Team in line with our Editorial Policy. Last updated: 23 September 2026.
