Ep. 304: Seinfeld on The Deep Life
Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Practicing Concentration Skills at Work
The best way to enhance concentration at work is to directly practice concentrating on work tasks. This involves setting specific time intervals for focus, gradually increasing the duration, and restarting if attention wavers. It is more effective to concentrate on work-related tasks and confront workplace distractions directly rather than relying on unrelated activities like meditation or games. Similar approaches apply to improving other skills: challenging oneself with tasks slightly above current abilities fosters growth. Optimal practice projects should have stakes and accountability, meaning the work matters and has consequences if not done well, as well as a level of difficulty that pushes one's limits but is not overly ambitious. By consistently practicing on work tasks tailored to individual skill levels, one can effectively enhance concentration and overall job performance.
