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 Tue, 22 May 2012 11:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sähkötupakka http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-27907 Sähkötupakka Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:37:55 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-27907 I use "to do" list everyday. This list only includes three to five tasks and I need to finish them at the end of the day. I follow that list strictly and don't do anything else. That is the only way for me to be very effective and focus on right things. I use “to do” list everyday. This list only includes three to five tasks and I need to finish them at the end of the day. I follow that list strictly and don’t do anything else. That is the only way for me to be very effective and focus on right things.

]]> By: We are what we do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. | Kareem Mayan Blog http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-27244 We are what we do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. | Kareem Mayan Blog Sun, 11 Mar 2012 03:08:38 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/06/22/on-the-value-of-hard-focus/#comment-27244 [...] not cultivate the habit of hard focus to be excellent? This entry was posted in tumblr, Uncategorized by kareem. Bookmark the [...]

[...] not cultivate the habit of hard focus to be excellent? This entry was posted in tumblr, Uncategorized by kareem. Bookmark the [...]

]]> 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…

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