The topic is very important to me, and I believe it should be important for any learner. I read Deep Work and loved it, but I think it is just one step in the right direction. We need to think more about it. How to lose yourself with the book or in your work. That skill that became very rare. I am assuming that there is knowledge out there somewhere that could help. So do you have any tricks for that other than the usual (like quitting social media)?
Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
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Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#2My best bet on getting into a flow when I am working or learning is having a routine that puts me in a state of mind that I am showing up to something instead of sitting through whatever I am going to do.
That means you're probably not going to experience any flow when you're just starting on something.
Anecdotally, I find it a very transferrable skill, which, once acquired from one subject or activity, would boost your capability to apply in another.
I suppose that's why meditation and yoga have been all over the place these days, as it goes along the same line of logic. On that note, perhaps just mediate and do yoga.
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#3I’ve tried many things (sticking to a routine, creating a plan, creating an accountability system) but at the end of the day:
1. Getting into flow state on a conscious level implies that you are already there on a subconscious one.
2. Practically speaking to get into flow you need two components: Passion (you have to be driven by whatever it is you’re going to; “because I have to” won’t cut it. It won’t click.) and discipline (basically keeping temptations under control.)
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#4My best bet is throwing on some noise cancelling headphones and putting on some ambient music like lofi or acoustic. It doesn't always work but I'd say it increases the probability of getting into a deep work session by ~25%. But sometimes it just doesn't happen, the important thing is to sit down and try.
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#5Deadmau5 - Pets 1 & 2, on repeat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v61qetbCLU0
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#6[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#7If I can't get into flow it's because the problem I'm working on isn't interesting enough.
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#8Breaking through barriers to get into flow while not working helps me get into flow on demand at work.
Cardio helps me get into flow state. At 15-20 mins my body goes on autopilot and my mind begins to go in and out of flow.
Meditation. I’m still new at this but it helps clear my head and allows me to silence my brain.
Practicing these two disciplines has made huge improvements to my cognitive function.
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#9Here's a trick that works for me that's totally impractical, but is a hint/roadmap to finding a repeatable system:
I've been doing a lot of travel to Europe lately, and the return flight has become my greatest deep work experience ever. I enjoy it so much that I actually look forward to it now and wish I could do it more than ~4 times a year.
I fly either Zurich or Frankfurt to SFO on United and get an economy bulkhead seat (nobody in front to recline). Wifi is solid. In-seat power. It's a ~12 hour day flight (leave around 1pm CET, land 4pm PT). It's dark since many people sleep so they turn the lights off and close the shades. There's enough ambient noise to be calming without annoying. There are zero distractions otherwise. The are regular coffee refills on-demand.
Every time I've done this flight (I've done it 6 times now) I get into a solid and excellent flow state. I've accomplished more on various coding projects in that one flight than sometimes in a week or two of regular at-home time.
Obviously as I said it's not practical to fly around the world to get work done :) But I try to use that as a roadmap for setting up an environment at home to emulate it as much as possible.
Re: Ask HN: What is your trick to do deep work or study?
#10My best bet is throwing on some noise cancelling headphones and putting on some ambient music like lofi or acoustic. It doesn't always work but I'd say it increases the probability of getting into a deep work session by ~25%. But sometimes it just doesn't happen, the important thing is to sit down and try.
chilled cow playlist on spotify with ANC headphones.