5 Ways I Achieve Focus as a Knowledge Worker
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
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I was inspired to make this video while reading Cal Newport's new book "Slow Productivity" and listening to him discuss the book in his podcast "Deep Questions." I recommend both the book and the podcast! The audiobook is read by Newport himself. And most of his examples are based on writers' work routines, if you're into that!
✨TIMESTAMPS✨
0:00 - What is Knowledge Work?
2:06 - Try Scrintal!
4:02 - Work in the Morning
5:45 - Turn off Notifications
7:35 - Body-Doubling
9:27 - 50-10 Format
11:11 - Task Timelines
14:13 - Conclusion
LIBRARY MENTION!!!! I spend so much time in libraries, I think I've forgotten how to study at home, haha. Also, if you have the urge to borrow anything (even if you don't read it), it will help the library's stats and keeps them thriving
Omg, I always borrow books I don't read! :P It also keeps me from BUYING books I don't read!
Absolutely right. The intellectual work is slow and not very visible to the outside eye. We see the finished text, but not the making off. And, in my context, Latin America, people usually see the manual work as the most important (and it's understandable to a certain extent... I have mixed feelings... 😅).
In the book Cal defines a knowledge worker as a person who use their education and experience to produce a work item with economic value.
Literally just came back home after needing to catch a breath due to overwhelm. Very interested in what your techniques are here. As always, thanks so much for the great content that always seems to come at exactly the right time.
Great tips. I would add having a drink of water to stay hydrated. I realized that on some days, I would be so focused that I forgot to drink water for couple hours. Now I use the podomoro breaks to ensure I drink water/green tea. It really helps your energy levels.
Have you tried blue light glasses for all the reading/ writing on computer screens?
You have this energy that is intense but in a calming & reassuring way. Thank you for sharing this!
Aw, that is so sweet. I love the description of "reassuring intensity"!
She’s back!! Needed this video during finals ❤
Did Morgan leave? Must have blinked. ; ))))))
@@timbushell8640 hahaha I was being dramatic like two weeks were excruciating (they were)
It's amazing that you've made it this far with notifications on!
I'd always been hesitant about involving other people in body doubling. I liked the idea, but the activation energy was too much. I love the idea of using prerecorded ones. Thanks!
And this video has 10/10 ad integration!
Haha, thank you! Honestly, sometimes the virtual body doubling works better for me even, because they work SO diligently and consistently when they're a recording 😝 Plus you don't lose energy to planning a co-work session, for sure.
My focus have suffered since 2023 started due to limerence ,otherwise i enjoy studying a lot, but i do not know how to solve this particular problem. If the context stays same and is not stressing then our habits evolve automatically ,Wendy wood also makes this point in her book. But if something stressful happens then it can damage our habits and their development.
Yes a new Newport to digest...
Csikszentmihalyi seemed to have it cracked.
Pomodoro... fifty mins is a long chunk. Develop the habit over a week or two, incrementing the twenty-five to fifty mins and increasing the breaks from five to ten mins... plus maybe no more than three sessions back-to-back per day even. BUT note, I found this "habit" easy to loose when my work cycles away from desk or other solo work, to a more team or group work... 'they' need more breaks.
Yes, I definitely didn't start with 50 minute work sessions. I have found that over time I'm able to focus on writing/research for longer and longer chunks of time. I think focus is a trained skill, not something I mentioned in this video, but probably should have!!
@@morganeua ... it is clear it needs practice. And re-establishment as the 'work' style fluctuates as projects evolve and progress.
So in part, I see that Cal's new book will replace the 'planned' reread of 'Deep Work' this year. [And also likely to push Csikszentmihalyi book back again. : ))) ]
Amazing video! Needed to hear these tips as I am working on my PhD dissertation. You have a new subscriber. Plus, I'm a recent Newport fan and I hope to read his books after my PhD defense. :)
Excellent video ❤❤❤
As aways -- great video, Morgan. Do you still use Obsidian? Has Scrintal replaced Obsidian or do you use them in conjunction with each other? Would love to know more about your system has evolved with this tool. I'm intrigued with Scrintal -- but feel vested in Obsidian. Ha!
Thank you for this wonderful and informative video!! I love all your videos!
Aw, thank you 😊
As always, your content Morgan seems to be very timely. I had no idea there were videos to Study with me, with a Pomodoro approach. Especially being a knowledge work that works at home, I'm hoping these tips will give me the focus I tend to get in an office environment. Thank you!!!
Amazing! I feel like most of my own tricks to focus are pretty basic, but they work for me!
Thank you, Morgan. You've made another great and inspiring film as usual. Some of the topics were familiar to me, while others you helped me recall. Why did you resign from Obsidian? It's terrible... ;)
I haven't left Obsidian, I just also use Scrintal because they are a sponsor to the channel! Obsidian is still where I do my thinking and note-taking (sorry 😝) and Scrintal I find better for this kind of planning work.
@@morganeua That's good. I got scared for a moment ... ;) Looking forward to more workflows from Obsidian. Good luck with your doctoral thesis writing!
I don't disagree with Newport necessarily, but his latest book left me cold. Unless you are you're own boss, you're not going to be able to institute his ideas.
This is true. And most of his examples came from writing and art, so it might be hard to move his ideas from those highly creative disciplines to others. As a PhD student, though, his points often resonated! But I suspect it'll resonate less if you have to work on deadlines and submit work to people who are relying on you.
Out of place comment but, I have a brief recollection of you mentioning a specific model of paragraph writing and I thought I saved it somewhere, but now I can't find it. Any clues?
It's part of a vlog!! "Editing my first chapter, phd vlog 5", take a look at it! (I just watched it :P)
@@sthrwars Thank you so much. I skimmed a bunch of recent videos and didn't see it. I'll go looking!
@@sthrwars Found it at 6:58 of the video. Blink and you'll miss it. It's James Hayton's guide to PhD Thesis Writing
Yes! Sorry for not seeing this sooner, but James Hayton - yes :)