One challenge I’ve set for myself this year is to tackle some books that are on my reading list (or have been on the list for too long. *ahem*). As I write this, we’re only two months into the year, but I have three books on this list either read or currently reading. The most recent one I finished was Deep Work by Cal Newport.
Newport’s book discusses how distractions, like social media, hinder meaningful work, emphasizing the importance of dedicated “deep work” time.
As I process this concept of deep work and what it might look like for a busy home educating mother of 4, I could feel discouraged. There are many people and things pulling on my time and attention; how can I possibly get some good, “deep” work in, whatever that may be? This couldn’t possibly work for me. Yet, maybe it can because deep work will look different as a mother than it will for others in more typical workplaces. My husband is a good example of this: he has this ability to tune out everything and everyone around him when he gets deep into work. The noise and chaos don’t bother him, and if it does, he goes somewhere else and sometimes locks the door. In contrast, I’m constantly interrupted by my children needing my attention every 15 minutes.
Young Mother Sewing
Mary Cassatt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
After learning about the theory of deep work, I started thinking about how it could look practically. To my surprise, I discovered that many daily rhythms already offer opportunities for deep work. This is might be a slightly unpopular opinion amongst some home educators, but we have set hours for school work. This helps us prioritize our learning and avoid scheduling conflicts. We’ve done this for a couple of years now, and it proves to work with a little flexibility. Our commitment to set school time limits us to outside school hours for appointments, but this keeps our time sacred. We don’t allow ourselves to be bombarded with too many other outside activities and appointments. I wish I could say that our sacred school time has protected us from all distractions, but that is not the case. Technology, despite how useful it is in our home education rhythms, still has a distraction we all battle.
There are other ways to carve out time for deep work. I’ve locked myself in my room to write this post, for example. Getting time alone and undistracted to think and process and write is invaluable. Using technology means some distractions remain, but helpful focus tools are available. Other places I’ve found for deep work are on my (occasional) walks alone and at the gym, if I’m intentional about my thoughts during those times. While walking, I often listen to a podcast or book to give myself something to think about; other times I don’t to listen to anything and let my mind wander to think and pray. My gym routine is similar, but it’s more difficult when I need to count reps, remember which side I just exercised, or add up how much weight I need to use—It’s still deep work.
Deep work is not for everyone. Not everyone wants to make the mental space to think and work deeply, and that’s ok. Some would rather be told what to do. Some would rather allow distractions to keep their minds off of whatever it is they’re going through (believe me, I’ve been there…). These things are ok in moderation, but I believe that we’ve lost the ability to think deeply over the years and thus, lost the ability to work deeply. The concept of deep work fits into all areas of life, not just productivity. It’s something I hope to explore throughout this year. Would you care to join me?
