What is Deep Work?
Deep work means focusing on a cognitively demanding task with distractions reduced. Cal Newport popularized the idea through his 2016 book Deep Work and earlier writing. Sitting for a long time or silencing notifications alone is not enough: first decide what you will think through or produce.
Examples here include developing an argument, evaluating design options or working through an unresolved problem. An email or meeting can also require substantial thought. Distinguish tasks by the thinking they need, rather than judging their value from the app or activity name.
Cal Newport’s definition and book introduction
Updated September 9, 2026. The author develops Simple Memo. The worksheet and trial below are practical suggestions from this site, not evidence that a particular app improves concentration or productivity.
Distinguish the work before choosing the duration
| Type of time | Example | Decision to make |
|---|---|---|
| Demanding work | Comparing arguments, designing an approach, solving a difficult problem | Choose an output and a stopping point for this session |
| Coordination and routine work | Scheduling, routine checks, necessary communication | Acknowledge the need and agree when to handle it |
| Rest | Stepping away, resting, preparing for the next activity | Do not judge the session only by uninterrupted minutes |
Deep work concerns the kind of thinking; timeboxing sets the period for doing it. You can combine it with a timed method such as Pomodoro, but starting a timer does not by itself make the work deep.
Five steps for one focused work session
- Choose one output. If the task is reading, decide whether you will leave a comparison note or a list of questions.
- Set a start, finish and break. For example, try 30 minutes and adjust for the task and your energy; 30 minutes is not a research-established optimum.
- Open the needed material and working file first, and reduce unnecessary tabs and notifications. Agree how time-sensitive contact will be handled.
- Park an unrelated thought in one line and decide later whether to investigate it. When leaving the task, note where you stopped and the next action.
- At the end, review the output, reasons for interruption and next action. Choose one adjustment for next time, such as the duration or environment.
A brief break is not a failed session. Newport explains that deep work does not require maintaining peak concentration for hours without stopping. Take a break with a plan to return and adapt the session to the task.
What interruption research does and does not show
Sophie Leroy’s 2009 paper examined attention residue in two experiments: thoughts about one task can persist after switching to another. It does not establish that writing a note removes all cognitive load or guarantees a return to concentration within a fixed number of seconds.
Leroy (2009): attention residue during task transitions
Leroy and Glomb’s 2018 paper studied a brief plan for resuming interrupted work across four studies. Its main outcomes concerned attention and performance on the interrupting task. Do not reinterpret this as proof of improved performance after returning to the original task, or of the effectiveness of a particular notes app.
A worksheet for starting and resuming
This is an original worksheet inspired by the ideas above, not the form used in the studies. Use paper or your usual editor if you prefer. A short record that makes the next action clear matters more than filling every blank.
Start and resume worksheet
# Focused work: starting and resuming
## Before starting
- Date / planned start / planned finish:
- Task for this session:
- Output to leave at the end:
- Required sources and files:
- Break plan / handling contact:
## Thoughts for later
- One-line note:
- When to review it:
## When interrupted
- Where I stopped (heading, file or question):
- What I have established:
- Unresolved issue:
- First action on resumption:
- Planned return:
## After the session
- Actual output:
- Reasons for interruption:
- One change for next time:
With Simple Memo, you can capture a note and defer inbox processing until later. Sending and switching screens are still interruptions. Choose paper if it is easier for you, and set a later review time if you use email or a configured Obsidian destination.
Frequently asked questions
What is deep work?
How long should a session last?
Are all emails and meetings shallow work?
What if an unrelated idea occurs?
What should I record when interrupted?
Do I need a notes app?
