You ever try to do something that actually requires, like, your full brain—and then your phone pings with some random meme your cousin sends to the family WhatsApp group? Suddenly you’re knee-deep in a thread about whether pineapple belongs on pizza (it does, fight me), and two hours later, that thing you swore you’d “just focus on” is still untouched.
Yeah. That’s my life. Or it was.
That’s why I got obsessed with this idea of deep work—you know, the kind of work where you’re not just half-distracted, but you’re actually in the zone, like a wizard casting spells, or at least like one of those kids in school who didn’t get distracted when the janitor started vacuuming mid-test.
And look, I’m not some productivity guru with 17 planners and a fountain pen habit. I’m just a Queens guy with too many tabs open—both in Chrome and in my brain.
But somehow, learning to practice deep work has been the closest thing to superpowers I’ve found.
My First (Failed) Attempt at Deep Work
So, I read about deep work in Cal Newport’s book. (Yes, I actually finished it. No, I don’t always finish books. My “to be read” shelf looks like a library clearance sale gone wrong.)
Anyway, I got inspired. “I’m gonna do deep work,” I told myself.
Day 1: I sat at my desk, phone in another room, all serious. Fifteen minutes later, I was googling “how long does deep work take before you get smart.”
Day 2: tried again. Five minutes in, the ice cream truck parked right outside. Playing that Do Your Ears Hang Low song on repeat. Focus = obliterated.
Day 3: success-ish. I worked for, like, 90 minutes straight. No distractions. Then I stood up and realized I’d forgotten to eat lunch and my stomach was auditioning for a horror movie.
Moral of the story? Deep work isn’t a magic switch. It’s practice. It’s awkward. It’s messy. Kinda like dating in your 30s.
What Even Is Deep Work?
Okay, real quick, in case you haven’t heard the term: deep work basically means focusing without distractions on something that requires real thought. Not answering emails. Not reorganizing your Spotify playlists. Actual meaningful stuff.
It’s the opposite of “shallow work”—aka busywork. Like filling out forms, pretending to be productive on Slack, or, my personal favorite, color-coding my Google Calendar when I should actually be writing.
Deep work is when you shut out the noise and actually use your brain like it was meant to be used. And the crazy thing? It feels so rare now, it’s like discovering a hidden superpower.
How I Stumbled Into a System That Works (For Me, Anyway)
Look, I didn’t become a monk. I still get distracted. My phone still wins sometimes. But I did find a few tricks that actually helped me start building a deep work habit.
1. The Queens Library Trick
I tried working at home, but between my cat and my neighbor’s “DIY music studio” (read: loud karaoke machine), it wasn’t happening. So I started camping out at the Queens Public Library.
Something about being around other people pretending to be productive helps me fake it till I make it. Plus, free AC.
(Image Suggestion: shot of a cozy public library desk with someone’s notes spread out, coffee tucked away on the side. Filename: queens-library-deep-work.jpg)
2. The Fake Deadline Game
I tell myself, “You’ve got one hour. Pretend your laptop will explode after.” Sounds dramatic, but hey—it tricks me into focusing.
3. The Ritual Thing
Not like candles and chanting (though no judgment). For me, it’s making coffee in the same chipped mug, putting on headphones, and starting with lo-fi beats. It tells my brain: “We’re doing this now.”
The Weird Stuff That Happens During Deep Work
- Time warp. Suddenly it’s 3 hours later and you’re like, “Did I just teleport?”
- Bad ideas turn into good ones. You sit with a problem long enough, and suddenly the solution pops up like, “Hey, sup.”
- You forget your phone exists. Until you check it after and have 27 missed group texts arguing about fantasy football.
Honestly, when I hit that state, I feel like my brain is finally stretching its legs. Like it’s been sitting cramped in coach, and now it’s in first class with extra legroom.
When Deep Work Actually Saved My Butt
Quick story: last year, I had this project at work that was… let’s just say doomed. Tight deadline, too many moving parts, everyone stressed.
Normally I’d juggle 15 things at once, half-answering emails while working on the report. But I decided, “Nope. Deep work mode.”
So I blocked off two hours, closed Slack (scary, I know), ignored everything else, and just went in.
By the end, I had not only finished the draft but also found a mistake in the numbers that could’ve totally embarrassed us in front of the client.
Did I get a gold star? No. But I did get respect. And also pizza. (Team ordered pizza. That counts as victory.)
Why It’s Hard (But Worth It)
- We live in distraction central. Phones, ads, endless notifications—it’s like trying to meditate in Times Square.
- It feels uncomfortable at first. Your brain resists. Like, “Wait, we’re not checking Twitter every 5 minutes? Are you trying to kill me?”
- You feel guilty. Like you should be “available” all the time. Spoiler: being constantly available makes you terrible at your actual job.
But once you get a taste of that flow state? It’s addictive. It makes shallow work feel like eating cardboard after having steak.
Some “Messy but Real” Tips That Helped Me
- Turn off just one notification instead of all of them. Baby steps.
- Use noise-canceling headphones even when there’s no noise. Psychological trick.
- Tell your friends, “I’ll text you after my deep work block.” (They’ll still text you memes. But at least you warned them.)
- Don’t aim for perfection. One hour of deep work beats five hours of fake multitasking.
Random Tangent
Back in 8th grade, I wore two different shoes to school. Not, like, stylishly mismatched. One sneaker, one black dress shoe. I only noticed when a kid pointed it out in gym.
Why am I telling you this? Because deep work kinda feels like that. At first, you feel ridiculous. Out of sync. Like everyone else is doing something different. But eventually, you realize—you’re still walking forward. Maybe even faster. And honestly? No one else notices as much as you think.
Resources If You’re Curious
- Cal Newport’s book Deep Work (the OG guide).
- Mark Manson’s blog—not specifically about deep work, but his no-BS style keeps me motivated.
Final Ramble Before I Go
I’m not saying mastering deep work will solve your life. You’ll still get distracted, still fall into YouTube holes, still eat chips over the sink at midnight (maybe that’s just me).
But deep work? It gives you a fighting chance. It lets you actually use your brain for the stuff that matters—career goals, creative projects, even just writing an email that doesn’t sound like a robot wrote it.
So if you’re in Queens like me—or wherever you are—try it. Close the noise for an hour. Get lost in something real. See what happens.
And if you fail? That’s fine. Tomorrow’s another chance. One deep work session at a time.
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