Comments on: Focus Hard. In Reasonable Bursts. One Day at a Time. http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Preparing for Your Semester Teaching Assistantship | History in the Digital http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26884 Preparing for Your Semester Teaching Assistantship | History in the Digital Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:52:22 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26884 [...] I have my own rule of doing no more than three extra projects in a given semester so I can focus hard rather than lose focus.  This fall, for example, will include my three classes, my TA position and [...]

[...] I have my own rule of doing no more than three extra projects in a given semester so I can focus hard rather than lose focus.  This fall, for example, will include my three classes, my TA position and [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How I Used Deliberate Practice to Destroy my Computer Science Final http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26701 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How I Used Deliberate Practice to Destroy my Computer Science Final Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:43:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26701 [...] “I actually studied pretty hard for that exam, but obviously failed to make the distinction between ‘hard work’ and ‘hard to do work’.” [...]

[...] “I actually studied pretty hard for that exam, but obviously failed to make the distinction between ‘hard work’ and ‘hard to do work’.” [...]

]]> By: Jen http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26351 Jen Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:03:47 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26351 This is excellent, and so true. I'm in the final days before submitting my dissertation. Apparently I'm supposed to be more stressed out than this- at least, that's what I'm told. Yes, it's many years of laboratory research condensed into one big document. In the past year I've written up and published one of my three projects in a journal and continued experiments on the other two. I completed an off-site internship in the meantime, which means that I will have an extra certificate with my PhD. A few months ago, I interviewed for and lined up a postdoc with two years of guaranteed funding. I've been wondering why I don't feel more stressed out, and I think it's because I've spread out the write-up. I have been compiling data and making final figures for the past year. I've had to present my work thrice since then and have received useful feedback each time. I've been taking the dissertation a piece at a time and making myself take breaks, leave work at work, and when I work from home, stop working after an 8 hour workday or so. It hasn't been easy work, but it's been deeply satisfying, and I'm grateful that I've been able to slow down and somewhat enjoy the process. This is excellent, and so true. I’m in the final days before submitting my dissertation. Apparently I’m supposed to be more stressed out than this- at least, that’s what I’m told. Yes, it’s many years of laboratory research condensed into one big document. In the past year I’ve written up and published one of my three projects in a journal and continued experiments on the other two. I completed an off-site internship in the meantime, which means that I will have an extra certificate with my PhD. A few months ago, I interviewed for and lined up a postdoc with two years of guaranteed funding. I’ve been wondering why I don’t feel more stressed out, and I think it’s because I’ve spread out the write-up. I have been compiling data and making final figures for the past year. I’ve had to present my work thrice since then and have received useful feedback each time. I’ve been taking the dissertation a piece at a time and making myself take breaks, leave work at work, and when I work from home, stop working after an 8 hour workday or so. It hasn’t been easy work, but it’s been deeply satisfying, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to slow down and somewhat enjoy the process.

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » If You’re Busy, You’re Doing Something Wrong: The Surprisingly Relaxed Lives of Elite Achievers http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26298 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » If You’re Busy, You’re Doing Something Wrong: The Surprisingly Relaxed Lives of Elite Achievers Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:03:28 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26298 [...] This study sheds some light on this paradox. It provides empirical evidence that there’s a difference between hard work and hard to do work: [...]

[...] This study sheds some light on this paradox. It provides empirical evidence that there’s a difference between hard work and hard to do work: [...]

]]> By: Links for People Studying Stuff | Lynley Stace http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26231 Links for People Studying Stuff | Lynley Stace Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:17:07 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-26231 [...] There’s a difference between hard work and hard to do work: [...]

[...] There’s a difference between hard work and hard to do work: [...]

]]> By: Preparing for Your Semester Teaching Assistantship | Jason Heppler http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-15437 Preparing for Your Semester Teaching Assistantship | Jason Heppler Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:19:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-15437 [...] I have my own rule of doing no more than three extra projects in a given semester so I can focus hard rather than lose focus.  This fall, for example, will include my three classes, my TA position and [...]

[...] I have my own rule of doing no more than three extra projects in a given semester so I can focus hard rather than lose focus.  This fall, for example, will include my three classes, my TA position and [...]

]]> By: The Fun Tragedy — OwlSparks | Carlos Miceli http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-14997 The Fun Tragedy — OwlSparks | Carlos Miceli Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:39:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-14997 [...] the addiction culture of entertainment. Here’s Cal Newport on the construction of passion and the importance of hard focus. My posts on the limits that context imposes on us and the mistaken priority of [...]

[...] the addiction culture of entertainment. Here’s Cal Newport on the construction of passion and the importance of hard focus. My posts on the limits that context imposes on us and the mistaken priority of [...]

]]> By: Deepthi http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-14132 Deepthi Sat, 22 May 2010 12:53:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-14132 Hey! :) I was randomly surfing the net and I happened to stumble across your blog. Serendipity much? I've been reading your blog and I'm getting tons of these AHA! moments! So I went ahead and I purchased your book! Your blog is great! Can't wait to get my hands on the book! Unfortunately since I live in India it'll take quite some time though. :( Thank you so much for this wonderful wonderful blog! Hey! :) I was randomly surfing the net and I happened to stumble across your blog. Serendipity much? I’ve been reading your blog and I’m getting tons of these AHA! moments! So I went ahead and I purchased your book! Your blog is great! Can’t wait to get my hands on the book! Unfortunately since I live in India it’ll take quite some time though. :( Thank you so much for this wonderful wonderful blog!

]]> By: brainypirate http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-11864 brainypirate Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:28:35 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-11864 I was fortunate in that by the time I was ABD, I already had written about half my dissertation in the form of final papers for my courses. (I'm in literature--maybe it's easier to do this in my field.) All my professors were happy to let me work on a diss chapter that fit into their respective course topics. I tell all the grad students I meet to do this: start writing towards the diss from the first semester. It will be a lot easier to revise and polish those chapters in the final year than it will be to try writing them from scratch. Moreover, by the time you get to being ABD, you have an idea of how your chapters will look, so the new ones already have a template. I was fortunate in that by the time I was ABD, I already had written about half my dissertation in the form of final papers for my courses. (I’m in literature–maybe it’s easier to do this in my field.) All my professors were happy to let me work on a diss chapter that fit into their respective course topics.

I tell all the grad students I meet to do this: start writing towards the diss from the first semester. It will be a lot easier to revise and polish those chapters in the final year than it will be to try writing them from scratch. Moreover, by the time you get to being ABD, you have an idea of how your chapters will look, so the new ones already have a template.

]]> By: paurullan http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-10304 paurullan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:55:31 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/20/focus-hard-in-reasonable-bursts-one-day-at-a-time/#comment-10304 In the software engineering field the «work hard for a long period» is usually a consequence of what we call a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_march_%28software_development%29" rel="nofollow">Death March</a>. Hint: they almost never end well. In the software engineering field the «work hard for a long period» is usually a consequence of what we call a Death March. Hint: they almost never end well.

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