The Complete Guide to Deep Work

How to master the #1 job skill that will never be obsolete

Learn How to Practice Deep Work

Choose Your Deep Work Strategy

The four deep work scheduling philosophies: monastic, bimodal, rhythmic, and journalistic

Build a Deep Work Routine

Carefully consider your deep work routine

Execute a Grand Gesture

Choose a deep work grand gesture in your budget

Work Collaboratively With Others

Separate deep work and intentional collaboration

Operate Like a Billion Dollar Company

App callout note: Product Tip: Use the Todoist Favorites feature...

Product Tip: Use the Todoist Favorites feature to pin your most important projects in Todoist so they’re always top of mind.

App callout note: Product Tip: During your productivity reviews, view...

Product Tip: During your productivity reviews, view completed tasks or access your Activity Log in Todoist to reflect back on everything you accomplished in the last week.

Prioritize Downtime

App callout note: Productivity Tip: Implement a “shutdown ritual” that...

Productivity Tip: Implement a “shutdown ritual” that gives your mind a clear signal that work is done for the day and your mind can go into processing mode. For instance, run through your to-do list for the day and close your laptop.

Enhance Your Ability to Do Deep Work

Make Focus Your Default Mode

App callout note: Product Tip: Use site-blocking apps like Self...

Product Tip: Use site-blocking apps like Self Control and Freedom to access the internet at set intervals. If you need the internet for deep work like research, you can curate lists to block websites like Twitter and Facebook and allow websites like Google Scholar and JSTOR.

Add distracting websites to your domain blacklist in the SelfControl app

Add the Pressure of Time

Increase deep work intensity by adding a time limit to a task

Make Space for Deep Thinking

Watch out for distracting thoughts and mental looping during productive meditation

Practice Memory Games

Eliminate Digital Distractions

Choose Your Digital Toolset Wisely

Apply the Craftsman Approach to Network Tools to your apps and digital tools

Delete social media apps from your phone during your 30 day digital declutter

Find Replacements for Internet Entertainment

Choose high quality leisure during your downtime

Purge Shallow Work From Your Life

Schedule Your Day Methodically

Cal Newport's <a href="http://www.calnewport.com/blog/2013/12/21/deep-habits-the-importance-of-planning-every-minute-of-your-work-day/">daily scheduling</a>

Schedule every hour of your day with intention

Assign Shallow and Deep Grades to Your Work

App callout note: Product Tip: Use Todoist labels to tag...

Product Tip: Use Todoist labels to tag your tasks as “deep work” or “shallow work”. Having to physically switch between the two task views is a helpful reminder of where to put your time and attention.

Get Your Boss on Board With Deep Work

App callout note: Product Tip: If your workplace Slack group...

Product Tip: If your workplace Slack group is a source of constant distraction, suggest that your entire team could benefit from moving from team chat to an asynchronous communication tool like Twist.

Limit Your Workday

Make Yourself Inaccessible

Try the process-centric approach to email

Don’t Respond

Start Your Deep Work Practice

Get started with deep work using this Todoist template

Fadeke Adegbuyi

Fadeke is a writer and marketer. She's passionate about telling stories of better ways to live and work.

Productivity