In the book Deep Work, author Cal Newport touches on ideas that would push the reader to become more focused and stay on task. Hence the name "Deep Work," throughout the book Newport mentions ways to strengthen one's work habits and accomplish something as quick and efficiently as possible. To strengthen a worker's deep work, Newport discusses an obstacle that may prevent a worker from performing their hardest. Newport splits the book into separate ideas and rules, informing the reader - step by step - how to get into "deep work." Third on the list of rules in Deep Work would be "Quitting Social Media."
Newport discusses how social media can lead to someone becoming "hyper-addictive" to social media applications. Now, Newport argues that many seem to be self-aware that social media is taking up most of their time, but soon still end up using it. While discussing this topic, Newport describes social media as a "network tool," as many seem to be using it constantly. Newport states that people often believe that one tiny positive aspect of a "network tool" automatically justifies the need for social media applications, showcasing how users tend to ignore the negative aspects of these tools. He relates this to a farmer's hay baler, as it provides food for animals but does not support the soil. Newport also states that although social media may seem very harmful, its happiness and entertainment seems to bring people towards it. This makes social media very hard to quit, yet he then follows with an approach to tell the reader to take hold of another tool where its positive impact supersedes its negative impact.
When work comes to play, Newport provided ways to help prevent social media from interfering with your work ethic. One example is to figure out your goals, then follow up with finding "tools" to reach that goal. If what you came up with was too specific or too generic, then it should be crossed off your list. You must then decide whether or not your uses of the tool would have a positive or negative impact. If the positives outweigh the negatives, you may continue using that tool. Otherwise, it becomes obsolete.
Other than these examples, Deep Work provides many opportunities to take hold of to help build stronger work ethics and encourage hard work. Newport's ideas and arguments were provided to combat procrastination that still lurks in our distracted society.
Real deep work or deep thinking is rare nowadays due to the distraction of social media as Newport claims. In order to really assess the mind’s full potential to work, all distractions must be absent in order for someone focus entirely. Social media encompasses an array of attractions such as videos, messaging, pictures, games, and they provide users with brief instances of entertainment. Intrigued by social media’s “happiness” users fall into this virtual reality where they can feed themselves on cat videos, in order to distract themselves from the real world and that blogpost they have to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how today's society is distracted by numerous reasons. I agree with Raqsmey on how deep thinking is rare nowadays because of how social media has distracted us. Many people procrastinate because of so many distractions that are placed into our lives and this prevents us from doing our deep work.
ReplyDeleteDeep work is rare and is not real in today's society most people try to cut corners and try to cheat the system instead of putting genuine work into what they need to. For example, APUSH is a main example of a way to cut corners. Many students get answers from others only because those resources are available to them.
ReplyDeleteThis is very relevant to today's times considering that everything revolves around social media. Social media is great for the user, but it prevents people from performing "deep work."
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