Bill Gates is known to go for retreats twice a year which he calls Think Weeks, during which he isolates himself to do nothing but reading, do deep work, and think big thoughts.
It’s this ability to do ‘Deep Work’ that Cal Newport in his book with the same title, defines as “Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”
Right from the 16th century, philosopher Michel de Montaigne to modern psychologist Carl Jung, they isolated themselves for long stretches of time while they produced their most important works.
From Bill Gates to J.K. Rowling, you’ll find that commitment to ‘Deep Work’ is a common theme.
In a world of distraction, how you organize your time and days makes an enormous difference.
Let this week be a Think Week.
I am trying out the Think week concept this week for myself. Why don’t you attempt something similar soon? Organize yourself, do ‘Deep Work’, and stay blessed forever.