What is a Mini-Essay?

• A 200-500 word mini-essay in which you free write about an idea or concept you learned or are learning. It helps to reinforce learning through a self-imposed Feynman Technique.
  • It should take about 20 minutes
  • Only covers one distinct Idea.
  • Keep them organized (Using note taking apps like Notion or Obsidian)
  • Write Source / Articles where you learned about the thing at the bottom (For future reference)
  • Make it useful to you.

‍

More Structured Rules According to the video (that you dont have to follow) 

• Do not overwrite
• Link ideas between essays, not directly within the essay.
• Write it like a story, hook a reader in, and have a solid conclusion. - Drop readers into a story - Blend stories and explanations
• Use self-test prompts to make sure your writing makes logical sense.

This is cool for several reasons. First and foremost, you get to store knowledge that you can easily reference back to the past. Awesome. Secondly, it improves your writing, reading, and translating ideas into your skills. All three are lifelong attributes we all want to have. Rad. Finally, it's one of those things where you can make a habit of it on multiple scales that checks a lot of boxes within the habit-making sphere, such as proximity, and it doesn't take that long/isn't a very daunting task. I saw this in a YouTube video, and it was rad. I will do a couple, I might post some here. It's really one of those things that's a no-brainer to do, especially if you want to learn things that aren't formally taught.

Shallow Work:

• Consists of tasks that are non-cognitively demanding and often can be performed while distracted
• Easily replicable - Generally low skill level to achieve 
• Shallow work does not create significant value and can be done by the majority 
• Examples: Answering emails, attending unnecessary meetings, browsing social media, or performing routine administrative tasks.

Deep Work:

• Refers to focused, undistracted, cognitively demanding tasks that push your abilities to their limits
• Leads to long-term and high-quality output that leads to significant personal or professional improvement
• Hard to Replicate - Generally requires a deep understanding of the subject matter
• Examples: Writing a research paper, coding complex software, solving advanced engineering problems, blacksmithing fine blades

‍

Why Deep Work Matters

    In the book Deep Work by Cal Newport, he argues that deep work is becoming rare due to the rise of social media, open office environments, and the culture of constant connectivity. However, it's also becoming more valuable, as those who can work deeply will produce better results, learn complex skills faster, and gain a competitive edge. In this new era, three types of people will become the most successful: 

• 1. Those with rare, valuable, and hard-to-reproduce skills; 
• 2. Superstars with an audience who can influence; 
• 3. Investors and Entrepreneurs who can scale businesses or invest in high-return opportunities.  

Requirements to Go into Deep Work:

• Resisting Distractions 
• System-Based Framework for entering and maintaining Deep Work
• Clarity – In objectives and Processes
• Dedicated Focus and Time 
• Bonus: Dedication to Constant Iteration & Refinement of the Systems and Strategies utilized to go under Deep Work to increase Efficiency and Output 

I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. Getting into Deep Work is a requirement for that. Mastering a skill takes 10,000 hours and can take significantly less time through high-yielding systems and efficiency “hacks,” such as the 80/20 rule. Not to mention, every productivity hack falls under one of the requirements to go into deep work (Read the BlakeBlog about Deconstructing Productivity to Learn More), meaning typically, one won't necessarily work well on its own. Similar to a toolbox, there are many productivity tips and systems. Some are similar, like 10mm vs. a ⅜ inch ratchet, but typically, only one of the variations works for you as an individual. Learning which tools work for you as well as being able to quickly weed out the bad tools that are created only for their monetary gain, can help you excel faster than imaginable. However, it's important to remember at the end of the day the most important thing is to DO THE WORK, and then focus on maximizing your work output while minimizing your work input.

    - 1 Hour School work / Tasks with a deadline
    - 1 Hour Personal Work / Skill Development
    - 30 Minutes (Minimum) Reading
     

I invented this probably last week as a rule of thumb to accomplish inorder to consider the day a productive day. Super rad, Im ahead on all school work and this in assosiation with a weekly planner (to get stressed about everything there is to do + plan the next day) is the ultimate bestest combo for me so far.

    - Journaling method for Habit Forming, Tracking, and Reflecting

    - Super duper easy and fast to setup

    - Still has emphasis on daily entrys - with no particular format besides date

I started this journaling method a week ish ago, as well as got my boy Dom to join, and it is by far the best journaling system. The habit color filling in aspect keeps me wanting to fill it in and while Im there I do the daily entry. After doing the bullet journaling system for a bit I didnt like it because it was kind of a pain to setup + Im not a very planner focused individual (which is the point of the Bullet Journaling System, and if youre looking for a more planner focused Jounraling system I would highly recommend checking out the Bullet Journal Reddit). However this system with a weekly planner I got on amazon covers EVERY aspect I could possibly desire.

• Residual attention of past tasks remains stuck in your brain when moving forward 
• Don’t multitask; do one thing and finish it completely
• Phone notifications / Decorations / Things out and about can trigger/call back to previous attention residue 

Blake Blurb

Concept Background:

• I first learned about the Attention Residue concept in Deep Work by Cal Newport. Amongst his many ideas, I find this one beneficial and pertains to every individual regardless of profession. First mentioned on page 41, and elaborated on in page 42, and created by Sophie Leroy, a business professor at the University of Minnesota, describes it as “when you switch from some Task A to another Task B, your attention doesn't immediately follow – a residue of your attention remains stuck thinking about the original task.” (Newport 42). The point of all this is that you should do one thing at a time and complete it. Dont multitask. 

Long Term Attention Residue 

• However, this concept goes much further than a task to another task; everything we see can trigger attention residual flashbacks. By maintaining a clean lifestyle and being specific with what you have lying around can cause you to pour more attention into beneficial or unfavorable habits/thoughts. 

Real-Life Blake Implications:

• For example, I have my journal and weekly planner out on my desk, making it super easy to remember to not only fill it but add ideas to it throughout the day. On the other hand, I have random notifications that pop up on my phone that could suck me into an unnecessary 20-minute bender that may or may not include funny Instagram reels. 

‍