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Welcome to The Introverted Path!
Happy Thursday! Hope everyone has had another great week.
We have reached the final part of this series highlighting one introvert super power each week.
If you missed the first three weeks, be sure to check them out below:
So, without further ado…
Part 4: Deep thinking and working
In today’s email:
Deep thinking and working
Why this can be an introvert superpower
Links to other content I enjoyed this week
Let’s dive in 🤙
Why is deep thinking and work important?
There is a great book by Cal Newport titled “Deep Work - Rules for Success in a Distracted World.”
In it, he defines deep work as:
Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.
Compare that with shallow work, which is defined as:
Non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend to not create much new value in the world and are easy to replicate.
Think about the work you do on a daily basis. This can be a full or part-time job, but it can also be hobbies or creative outlets you enjoy.
What percent of that falls in deep work versus shallow work?
We have invented tools and technology that make our lives “easier”, but they take value away from other areas.
One of these is deep work.
We find ourselves spending more time on admin tasks, email, or providing status updates on various projects.
Which takes away from distraction-free work where we can focus completely on the task at hand.
A front-and-center example of this for me is writing this newsletter.
Whenever I try and write it in my living room, I find myself constantly getting distracted by the TV or urges to reach for my phone.
I’ve found I do my best work when I walk to the local coffee shop, separate myself from my normal environment, and focus in on the writing.
Creating space for deep work and thinking is only going to get harder.
That is why this skill can be a superpower for introverts.
Strengths that come from deep thinking and working
1. Creativity
Many jobs these days consist of many hours of shallow work.
But in order to come up with novel inventions or ideas that make an impact, you need to give yourself space to think.
The same thing applies with any creative pursuits - writing, art, crafts.
By creating an environment free of distractions, you can come up with outputs far greater than if you remained in that shallow work space.
2. Improve your efficiency
People are starting to recognize that outputs are more important than the time you put in.
By being able to engage in deep work, you can accomplish more in less time.
The Pomodoro Technique has people work in 25-minute sprints with a 5-minute break after.
This can be a great way to break down complex tasks, or do knock out a few smaller tasks in batches.
3. More enjoyment outside of work
If you engage in more deep work and provide better results in a shorter amount of time, this leads to fulfillment and confidence.
This can compound on itself and give you tons of momentum.
And in turn, this can lead to feeling more fulfilled outside of work.
This can be because you are engaging more deeply, but also because it can free up additional time for a better work/life balance.
Links that I enjoyed this week 💥
Best,
BG