Vol. 34: Deep Work

I’ve been on a Cal Newport binge this week (author, professor, and thought leader - check him out if you haven’t. This newsletter is even named after his bestselling book Deep Work). I watched his recent video on strengthening your mental capacity (i.e. reversing brain rot) and his episode on Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom podcast.

I’ve been trying to use this slowdown period in my life to think more, then think through those thoughts more.

At the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about AI and social media and their negative effects on our brains when interacted with in the wrong way - everything from attention and memory to cognition and critical thinking.

At the same-same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about being more efficient, effective, and productive with my time and energy so that I can be more strategic with my “yes” and have more time to rest and reflect.

It’s never been more important to use your brain than now.

Because it’s never been easier to not use your brain than now:

• Offloading email responses and summarizing articles with ChatGPT and Claude instead of doing it yourself.
• Reading headlines and tweets instead of books and articles.
• Doomscrolling Instagram Reels and TikTok instead of literally anything else.

It’s also never been easier to get distracted than now:

• The near-endless email, Teams, and Slack notifications.
• The multiple tabs open, things on your to-do list, and constant task switching.
• The immediacy of an endless stream of entertainment and content on your phone that never leaves your person.

You're not alone. I am actively in this struggle with you. Trust me.

It’s never been easier to shortcut mental work and be distracted.​
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And that’s dangerous.

Our brain is a muscle. And when we don’t use it, we lose it.

Cal gave a lot of great insight in those videos earlier that I referenced, so I highly recommend checking out the specific tactics, but the main point is this: think longer. Go into deep work.

• Instead of just scrolling TikTok, watch a movie.
• Instead of just having email notifications on, turn them off and check them at scheduled times throughout the day.
• Instead of just reading tweets, read a book.
• Instead of just writing emails, write essays.
• Instead of just listening to music/videos while doing chores, do it in silence and sit with your thoughts.

Do the long form version of these things.

Deep work develops critical thinking, pattern recognition, clarity on your thoughts, empathy, and more.

It requires your brain to work harder. To follow a single thought or story for a longer time. To chew on what’s being presented, string ideas and concepts together, and draw conclusions from what’s in front you.

It’s very easy to run away from this nowadays. Please don’t.

Read. Write. Think. Do deep work.

See you next Thursday, Steppers.

We will succeed,

Grayson

​graysonstepanek.com​

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Song of the Week:

Downfall Noah Kahan PREVIEW   ​

I've been loving Noah's new album The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs and could've picked multiple songs for this highlight, but this one's melody sticks out. This album just feels like cozy fall weekends when the leaves are falling and you've got a candle lit and pumpkin spice coffee in hand. If you've never listened to Noah and love folk music, fall vibes, and good storytelling, check him out.