Many modern knowledge workers now spend most of their brain power battling distr
action and interruption, whether because of the incessant pinging of devices, no
isy open-plan offices or the difficulty of deciding what deserves your attention
the most. When Cal Newport coined the term 'deep work' on his popular blog, Stu
dy Hacks, in 2012, he found the concept quickly hit a nerve. Most of us, after a
ll, are excruciatingly familiar with shallow work instead - distractedly skimmin
g the surface of our workload and never getting to the important part.
