Naveen asked me to write for him. Reposting my response here. Below is his note to me.

Surya, I understand you like the work of Cal Newport on Deep Work which you have been for quite some time. I was wondering if you can share your experience with us which I think can be quite beneficial for anyone reading it. To start off, I've listed three simple questions, you can add more details if you'd like to.**

My response to it is below.

In short, how do you define Deep Work?

• Planned 0-distraction pomodoro sessions on a single task. Many tricks on how to do it effectively are shared in the book which are quite helpful. (ex. making grand gestures, having a shutdown routine, tracking progress during session, maintaining a scorecard, pomodoros, etc.)

What are the preparations you do before hand for this?

• I plan (but not as much as I should yet). I minimize distractions– turn off internet block software, keep water next to me, eat sometime if I’m hungry, turn off my phone. If I’m feeling lazy/tired, I follow Spencer Greenberg’s Cool Reboot strategy to feel more active.

Can you please your experience so far and how helpful it has been? (If you can add one or two specific experiences that’d be great)

• It’s been a wonderful experience, I’m happy that I’m experimenting with these ideas. I have good and bad sessions. In good sessions, I go into the experience of flow (which is the most pleasurable experience in life). In bad sessions, I kinda push myself to make it through. Still figuring out and experimenting to understand what leads to good and bad sessions.
• Somedays, due to external factors, a complete 0-distraction is not possible. It’s okay, just try to minimize them as much as you can and keep going. Doesn’t always have to be deep work.