How Deep Work Can Improve Lawyer Well-Being

Lawyers typically face diverse types of challenges in their day to day routines (processing of large volumes of information, interruptions by other employees or clients, tight deadlines, complexity of certain types of tasks, to name just a few).

The specific issue that I want to look at here is how to stay focused on complex work, without giving in to the many distractions around us in our environment. The answer may very well involve two words: Deep Work.

Today it seems we are constantly connected, a fact that has been found to actually hamper our productivity. It’s no secret that modern technology has affected our ability to carve out the time and space we need to produce what we want and to consistently achieve our goals.

So, how do we stop ourselves from becoming overly distracted? Do we simply quit social media? How do we win back the space for us to do this kind of highly focused work?

One tool, that I have found really useful over the last years related to this issue is the Deep work. This term was coined by productivity expert Cal Newport in his book “Deep Work: Rules for Success in a Distracted World” where he defined the concept as:

“Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”

How does it work?

Newport interestingly describes this concept as “flow”, which he sees as putting oneself in the zone and perfect balance between intellectual challenge, achievement and breakthrough.

Remember those essays or research projects where you just kept working through the night not looking up for hours without even realising? This is what we are talking about here.

To start practicing Deep Work you take the following simple steps:

Identify a task that requires your full concentration and focus. This could be a complex legal brief, a challenging research project, or any other cognitively demanding task.
Create a distraction free workspace, turning off notifications on the phone or computer and use noise-cancelling headphones, if necessary (tip: completely remove your phone from your field of vision, or even better from the space you are in).
Block off a specific amount of time to work on the task (e.g. 25 or 50 minutes). Set a timer for this duration.
During the allotted time, focus solely on the task at hand, avoiding any distractions or interruptions. Try to stay fully engaged in the task and avoid multi-tasking.
When the timer goes off, take a short break to recharge and refresh your mind (stand up, stretch, or take a quick walk to help clear your mind).
Repeat the process by choosing another task and repeating steps 2-5. Continue this cycle of deep work and breaks until you have completed your work for the day.

Note that in practicing the above steps, the key to deep work is to prioritise your most important tasks, eliminate distractions, and focus your full attention on one task at a time.

Doing so, can make us more positive and productive in our work. Try it out for yourself, it works!

More generally, a focus on “well-being”, seeking a positive present and future, and identifying the strengths and resources available to you will help you to consistently achieve your goals and also be more positive in your work challenges. If you want to talk more about this idea and how it applies to you just let me know.

+++

Julian Cornelius is an international lawyer based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He works as a consultant and coach, offering a positive external perspective for lawyers and businesses in the legal sector, with the aim of helping them achieve their goals.

I really hope you enjoyed this content. Until next time!