Bill Gates' productivity hack was really BASIC 😎
Introducing the monthly theme: Productivity.
In 1970, Bill Gates isolated himself from the world for 8 weeks, during which he created the first version of Microsoft (remember BASIC?).
Well, It’s time to keep march-ing ahead and this month, the theme for AtomicIdeas newsletter is Productivity - a topic lot of us struggle with (I certainly do).
But first, a quick announcement:
I mentioned last week that we will slowly start moving out of Substackand today, you will notice a simpler design of the email. We are experimenting with a better email system and would love to get your feedback (just hit the reply button)
Coming back to the topic, here is what I have learnt
Productivity isn’t about getting things done, but getting the right things done (tweet it).
For instance, I switched from maintaining an aggressive TODO list to having a ‘weekly top priorities’ list and derive my TODOs from that.
I attribute this change of attitude towards productivity to the book ‘Deep Work’ by Cal Newport.
In fact, one of the challenges with all these productivity BS gyaan we often see on web or social media is that they force you to keep tickmarking the checklist (to make you feel good, give you that instant gratification), which isn’t even the point.
The point is to go deeper and do things that matter.
Sharing 5 really #BigIdeas from Cal Newport’s “Deep Work’
[1] What is Deep Work
Let’s first answer: What is not a deep work? What’s a shallow work?
It is the low-value work that is done in a distraction-full environment, and most of the time it is done by multitasking.
Low productivity work.
Adds no improvement over time.
May be automated in near future.
What’s Deep Work then?
Professional activities performed in a distraction-free environment that push your cognitive abilities to their limit." Those efforts create new value, improve our skills, and hard to replicate.
Stretches your mind.
Gives meaning to your life
More valuable as it becomes scarce.
If we continue to do more shallow work, then our ability to perform deep work decreases over time. Here we use "business" as a proxy for "productivity."
Methods of Deep Work
There are 4 different methods for Deep Work -
Monastic Deep Work
Bimodal Deep Work
Rhythmic Deep Work
Journalistic Deep Work
Monastic Deep Work
Here you leave everything and go to somewhere you are disconnected from the world - live like a monk to focus only on one thing (just like what Bill Gates did in 70s).
Not everyone can do this :|
Bimodal Deep Work
This type of Deep work is for those who are not able to follow the Monastic Approach.
Here, when you need to perform Deep work you go to a separate place (which must be a different place from where you spend most of your time) and do your work for 12-72 hours (not continuous!) and then come back to your regular life and repeat it until you have finished the work.
J K Rowling finished the last book of the Harry Potter series (Deathly Hallows) in a Hotel. She just went to that Hotel for writing the book.
"Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love—is the sum of what you focus on.”
Rhythmic Deep Work
In this type of Deep work, you block a specific time each day in your calendar to perform Deep Work. At first, it may be 1-1.5 hours, but when you start to do it regularly you can stretch it to 4 hours.
If possible, try to schedule your time for early in the morning because if you complete your main task before doing anything else, then it will give you a confidence boost and also many people feel energetic in the morning.
Journalistic Deep Work
Here you just work like a journalist - whenever any incident occurs you have to go.
That means here, you perform deep work whenever you get free time.
Deep Work Strategies
Decide What is Deep Work for You: Which Task do You Want to in 'Deep work' mode.
Schedule Distractions: In your calendar set the times when you will check your phone or other distractions.
Deep Work Ritual
Make deep work your daily habit. Keep a fixed time when you will do deep work.
Evening Shut Down: In the evening plan your next day and write everything down that needs to do next (from your mind) and say "Shut Down Complete".
Then detach from your work and enjoy the time with your loved one and have a good night's sleep.
Have a great time, finding and doing your 'deep work'!
- Ashish Sinha.