Recently, I shared with you that I was reading “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport and wasn’t sure how I’d like paring down my techno-joy. It did inspire me to become more mindful of where online I’m roaming, so there’s that. I also picked up his earlier work “Deep Work – Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World” and can see how it lays the foundation for digital minimalism.

“Deep Work” looks at how we can achieve better quality work by focusing on it in chunks of time vs. a little bit here and a little bit there. Not everyone has the ability, time, or desire to do that but I can see how focusing on one task at a time not only feels better (that ‘sense of completion’ thing) but when you give your full and undivided attention to something, the quality is likely to reflect that.

Here’s what dawned on me as I was reading this book: the work I do in session with my clients IS that deep work. For one hour, nothing else exists but you and me (and your helpers in Spirit). There are no distractions (phones, internet, etc) and you have my undivided attention. That depth is what allows us to have the kinds of transformative calls that really create change.

Deep work has its place and while I acknowlege that not everyone has the space/time to do it, maybe give some thought as to what even 20 minutes of solid concentration on something could do for the quality of that work. (Transparency: every time I got stuck on what to write here, I started to wander off to Twitter or something. I gently reminded myself to focus on what I was doing, even if I didn’t know exactly what was next. We are ALL works in progress, yeah?)

Here’s your challenge: this week, look at how much multi-tasking you’re doing and ask yourself where space exists to add in deep work. Could you take 15-20 minutes and dig into something (reading, writing, painting, exercising ….) that would yield some benefit to you (and your brain!)?