in the stillness: chasing deep work in a distracted world and why it matters for reading and writing

So, today I recommended three obvious but powerful productivity books on Instagram—one of them was Deep Work by Cal Newport. And, in the caption, I asked people how we could apply some of those principles to improve productivity in writing and reading. Because, really, isn’t that the goal? To actually do the work that matters instead of getting stuck in the shallow stuff that feels productive but isn’t?

And I asked myself and everyone why it matters so much. Why do we need to focus more when we’re writing or reading? And the answer’s kind of obvious but easy to forget: both require us to be fully present, fully engaged.

Like, writing isn’t just about putting words on a page. It’s about creating something meaningful, and you can’t do that if your mind is constantly jumping from one thing to another. Newport talks about this idea of deep work, right? The stuff that really pushes your brain, the stuff that moves the needle in your life. That’s what we should be aiming for.

When it comes to writing, it’s not about squeezing out a paragraph here or there while checking Instagram or replying to emails. It’s about setting aside real, focused time. That’s why Newport’s so big on time blocking. You carve out specific chunks of your day just for deep work—writing or reading, whatever it is—and you protect that time like it’s sacred. No distractions. You get into the flow, and that’s where the magic happens.

Same goes for reading. Sometimes we think we’re reading because we’ve got a book in hand, but half the time, aren’t we just skimming? Or stopping every few minutes to check our phones? Newport would say that’s shallow work. Reading demands the same focus as writing if you want to get something out of it. Active reading demands focus. And when you’re really engaged, you actually absorb what you’re reading. That’s where the real value is.

I love how he talks about rituals too. As a writer, or even just as someone who loves reading, building a routine around when and where you do your writing or reading can make all the difference. It’s like a trigger for your brain: this is the time to focus. This is the time for deep work. Once you have that routine, it’s not such a fight every time you sit down to work.

And we can’t forget about attention residue. I think this is something a lot of us don’t realize is happening. You switch between tasks—like you’re writing, then you stop to scroll through your phone, then you come back—and your brain’s still stuck on whatever you were looking at on social media. You’re not fully present anymore. It’s like you lose part of that mental clarity that deep work requires. That’s why the constant switching is so bad for productivity, whether you’re writing or reading. You can’t fully dive in when your mind’s still hanging on to the last thing you did.

Then there’s the idea of boredom. I know it sounds strange, but Newport says boredom can actually be good for us. We’re so used to filling every second with something—usually our phones—but when you let yourself get bored, your mind starts to wander in a productive way. Writers especially need this. Some of the best ideas come when you’ve got that quiet space, when there’s nothing pulling your attention away. And for reading? Letting yourself engage with a difficult text, even when your brain is craving an easier distraction, builds mental stamina.

And, of course, the elephant in the room—social media. Newport’s pretty blunt about it. Either use it strategically, or don’t use it at all. It’s not that we have to quit it entirely, but if we’re honest, most of the time it’s just another distraction. If you want, I can be the first to admit having spent (or wasted) at least one hour of my day watching so many short videos that I lost count of how many. Is it helping us become better writers, better readers? Or is it pulling us away from the things that actually matter? It’s worth thinking about. Depending on the content you consume, maybe it’s good. But the whole habit has been showed more harmful than beneficial for me, I must say.

So, yeah, when I recommended Deep Work today, I realized how much we can apply those principles to the things we care about most: our writing, our reading. It’s not just about doing more, but doing the kind of work that’s meaningful. And that’s why productivity in those areas is so important. It’s what helps us get to the heart of what we’re trying to create or understand.

If you wanna take your writing and reading productivity to the next level, start by setting aside just one hour each day for deep, focused work—no distractions, just pure concentration. Try it for a week and see the difference it makes.

And I know that one hour can seem like a lot, and if you think so, then you should take a look at the other book I recommended today, Atomic Habits. It shows how small, consistent changes can build up to huge results over time. So, basically, you might wanna start with 15 or 30 minutes (25 minutes is my personal go-to time) and gradually work your way up.

Now, think about this: what would your writing or reading look like if you could truly focus without interruptions? What kind of progress could you make if you gave yourself permission to dive deep?