Deep Work vs Shallow Work
- Mr Smyth
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Most people spend a lot of time working.
Very few people spend a lot of time:
deeply working.
There’s a massive difference.
Top performers understand that high-level results usually come from:
focused effort
difficult thinking
deep concentration
uninterrupted practice
Not from constantly being:
distracted
multitasking
scrolling
or pretending to work.
The 99% Club is about doing the extra things most people avoid.
And deep work is one of the biggest advantages you can build.
Main Problems
1. Most students confuse being busy with being productive
A student can spend:
3 hours “revising”
but actually spend most of that time:
distracted
checking notifications
daydreaming
switching tasks
watching videos passively
Time spent does not always equal progress made.
2. Students constantly break their focus
Every time you:
check your phone
switch tabs
reply to messages
interrupt yourself
your brain loses momentum.
Deep focus takes time to build.
Most students never stay focused long enough to reach their best thinking.
3. Most people avoid difficult thinking
Deep work feels uncomfortable because it requires:
concentration
sustained effort
struggle
mental energy
Shallow work feels easier.
That’s why most people stay there.
But difficult thinking is usually where the biggest growth happens.
Action 1: Understand The Difference
Shallow Work:
passive revision
rereading notes endlessly
distracted studying
multitasking
half paying attention
“fake productivity”
Feels busy.Produces little.
Deep Work:
focused problem solving
active practice
difficult questions
full concentration
pushing through confusion
no distractions
Feels harder.Produces massive improvement.
Action 2: Create A Deep Work Environment
Your environment shapes your focus.
Before revision:
put your phone away
close unnecessary tabs
remove distractions
clear your workspace
decide exactly what you’re working on
Top performers protect their focus because they know:
attention is valuable.
Action 3: Work In Focus Blocks
Most people cannot deeply focus for hours immediately.
Start smaller.
Try:
20–30 minutes
of full concentration.
No phone. No scrolling. No distractions.
Then:
short break
repeat again
One hour of deep work often beats:
three distracted hours.
Action 4: Lean Into The Hard Part
Deep work often feels uncomfortable at first.
That feeling usually means:
your brain is growing.
The moment most students want to quit is often the exact moment deep learning is beginning.
Stay with difficult thinking slightly longer than normal.
That’s where improvement happens.
Action 5: Ask “Am I Actually Thinking?”
During revision, constantly ask:
“Am I deeply thinking right now?”
Or am I:
avoiding challenge?
staying comfortable?
pretending to revise?
Top performers are honest with themselves.
Deep work requires:
intensity,
not just time.
Action 6: Build The Ability To Focus
Focus is like a muscle.
The more you practise deep concentration:
the stronger it becomes
the easier it becomes
and the longer you can sustain it
Most people never train this skill.
That’s why deep focus becomes such a huge advantage.
The 99% Club is not about doing more random work.
It’s about doing:
higher quality work
than most people are willing to do 😊
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