Comments on: On the Value of Hard Focus http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/ Decoding Patterns of Success Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:53:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pikavippi http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26983 Pikavippi Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:09:22 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26983 It seems to work but the data is not so accurate! IMHO It seems to work but the data is not so accurate! IMHO

]]> By: Study Hacks | To Be A Good Dad http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26775 Study Hacks | To Be A Good Dad Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:12:29 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26775 [...] of Cal’s many points that he emphasizes is that proper focus is the key to attaining success in anything. Granted his posts are written for students, college [...]

[...] of Cal’s many points that he emphasizes is that proper focus is the key to attaining success in anything. Granted his posts are written for students, college [...]

]]> By: Pikavippi http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26466 Pikavippi Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:14:53 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26466 <blockquote>What are your thoughts on the pomodoro technique? 25 minutes of “hard” focus followed by a 5 minute break and taking an extended 20 minute break after 4 sessions? http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/</blockquote> That works pretty good what i have noticed. The breaks really make a difference.

What are your thoughts on the pomodoro technique?

25 minutes of “hard” focus followed by a 5 minute break and taking an extended 20 minute break after 4 sessions?

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

That works pretty good what i have noticed. The breaks really make a difference.

]]> By: Kevin http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26267 Kevin Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:00:30 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26267 About 2 weeks ago, my research groupmate I set out in search for the ultimate in timing our work. We found SlimTimer and immediately took a liking to it as it is all web-based. It is not feature-rich, but it serves the primary purpose of providing external motivation to stay focused -- knowing that that's the only way to complete pre-determined blocks of time and populate the work-week or workday appropriately, if anything. About 2 weeks ago, my research groupmate I set out in search for the ultimate in timing our work. We found SlimTimer and immediately took a liking to it as it is all web-based. It is not feature-rich, but it serves the primary purpose of providing external motivation to stay focused — knowing that that’s the only way to complete pre-determined blocks of time and populate the work-week or workday appropriately, if anything.

]]> By: Yora http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26148 Yora Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:56:03 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26148 I decided to do a trial in focusing. The idea is to time myself for an hour or longer and mark all distractions during hard focusing. Depending on the number of times I do it on a given day there will be a variation in the number of distractions per time. I am hoping to plot it to see the direction. Now, what would be interesting to do, is to have the same data available from the readers of this blog so that we have N>1 for sample size, and then one could do some meaningful analysis on this. If anyone is interested in having their data combined for analysis, email me: vhe7@yahoo.com I can send you the table Ive created and you can either use that or add other points to it. I decided to do a trial in focusing. The idea is to time myself for an hour or longer and mark all distractions during hard focusing. Depending on the number of times I do it on a given day there will be a variation in the number of distractions per time. I am hoping to plot it to see the direction. Now, what would be interesting to do, is to have the same data available from the readers of this blog so that we have N>1 for sample size, and then one could do some meaningful analysis on this. If anyone is interested in having their data combined for analysis, email me: vhe7@yahoo.com I can send you the table Ive created and you can either use that or add other points to it.

]]> By: Kenny http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26067 Kenny Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:44:39 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26067 What are your thoughts on the pomodoro technique? 25 minutes of "hard" focus followed by a 5 minute break and taking an extended 20 minute break after 4 sessions? http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/ What are your thoughts on the pomodoro technique?

25 minutes of “hard” focus followed by a 5 minute break and taking an extended 20 minute break after 4 sessions?

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

]]> By: Martynas Kriunas http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26012 Martynas Kriunas Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:31:53 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-26012 Interesting article. I am also practicing working for 2-3 hours continuously as being in the state of flow enhances productivity, but it's damn hard to keep focused for 2-3 hours. Interesting article. I am also practicing working for 2-3 hours continuously as being in the state of flow enhances productivity, but it’s damn hard to keep focused for 2-3 hours.

]]> By: Donna http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25424 Donna Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:57:42 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25424 Think Daniel (June 14th) got it right--go to the point where there's a little in reserve. I find too much hard focus and pushing just makes me anxious and ill. There's an interesting alternative approach to productivity One of the greats in advertising, copywriter Claude Hopkins, said that his method for productivity was this: set a timer for a certain amount of time, doesn't matter if it's 15 minutes or 30, you decide. Then work flat out for that period of time. When the timer stops, immediately stop what you are doing, get up, and go do something, anything, for 5 minutes. Come back, and do it all again. I haven't tried it, but he was very successful... Think Daniel (June 14th) got it right–go to the point where there’s a little in reserve. I find too much hard focus and pushing just makes me anxious and ill.
There’s an interesting alternative approach to productivity One of the greats in advertising, copywriter Claude Hopkins, said that his method for productivity was this:
set a timer for a certain amount of time, doesn’t matter if it’s 15 minutes or 30, you decide. Then work flat out for that period of time. When the timer stops, immediately stop what you are doing, get up, and go do something, anything, for 5 minutes. Come back, and do it all again. I haven’t tried it, but he was very successful…

]]> By: Kes http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25165 Kes Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:33:32 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25165 Is there a good method to train yourself for hard focus? For instance, marathon runners keep diligent track of their times and such and how they've progressed. What's the most efficient way of training yourself to focus hard? I'm guessing we would have to calibrate our current level of hard focus, and work of that basis. Then work incrementally to increase our focus time or intensity. We'd need a clear baseline of how hard is hard focus as well. We'd need to clearly define that for ourselves. Perhaps someone should take the time to do all this and compile it in a plan. I'll try if I have time. Is there a good method to train yourself for hard focus? For instance, marathon runners keep diligent track of their times and such and how they’ve progressed. What’s the most efficient way of training yourself to focus hard? I’m guessing we would have to calibrate our current level of hard focus, and work of that basis. Then work incrementally to increase our focus time or intensity. We’d need a clear baseline of how hard is hard focus as well. We’d need to clearly define that for ourselves. Perhaps someone should take the time to do all this and compile it in a plan. I’ll try if I have time.

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Procrastinating Caveman: What Human Evolution Teaches Us About Why We Put Off Work and How to Stop http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25101 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » The Procrastinating Caveman: What Human Evolution Teaches Us About Why We Put Off Work and How to Stop Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:52:33 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-25101 [...] put much thought into their study habits, so your plan is likely vague and haphazard, rife with distraction, pseudowork, and passive [...]

[...] put much thought into their study habits, so your plan is likely vague and haphazard, rife with distraction, pseudowork, and passive [...]

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