My notes from Deep Work

by Cal Newport

Hypothetical salaryman

Has little more than sixteen hours left in the day beyond work-hours.

The great and profound mistake which typical salaryman makes in regard to his day is looking upon work-hours as "the day" and hours preceding and following as prologue and epilogue - utterly illogical and unhealthy.

Use this time as an aristocrat would - to perform rigorous self-improvement.

Put more thought into your leisure time. For relaxation, dedicate advance thinking to how do you want to spend day within a day.

It's crucial that you figure out in advance what you are going to do with your evenings and weekends before they begin.

If you give your mind something meaningful to do throughout all your working hours, you'll end the day more fulfilled and begin the next one more relaxed, than if you instead allow your mind to bathe for hours in semiconscious and unstructured web surfing.

Give your brain a quality alternative.