In his latest book, Cal Newport (author of Deep Work) suggests knowledge workers should take the afternoon off once a month and go see a movie. He thinks it’s a great way to unplug and take a well-deserved break.
Like Cal, I enjoy movies. I used to watch a lot of them at home. But these days I prefer going to the theatre.
(I don’t own a TV so if I watch at home I have to do so on my laptop — and this opens me up to a world of distraction. And then of course there’s my phone sitting close by, tempting me.)
A movie theatre is a treasure. It’s one of the few places left in our world that's specifically designed to minimize distractions so you can focus.
It’s dark, limiting external stimuli from catching your eye. There’s a massive screen leaving you little option but to stare at it.
And of course there are the unwritten rules of movie theatres: You’re not supposed to talk during the movie, nor should you be checking your phone (although I must admit I see the latter happening more often these days, and it kills me inside).
Couple all of this with the fact that many movies these days are well over two hours long (and oftentimes over three), and you’ve got a great training ground for focus.
Tell anyone you’re going to a movie and they’ll be perfectly accepting not hearing from you for a few hours. Which means you can really relax.
So I agree with Cal: Find time each month to go to the movies.
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Practice: When was the last time you purposely left your phone at home when going out? Give it a try this weekend. Do this regularly and you'll develop much greater presence — and presence is the heart of focus.
If the thought of leaving home without your phone gives you anxiety, try it for just a short walk around the block. Then later do it for awhile longer.
Soon you'll be going on long drives out of town with nothing but a paper map and the wind at your back.
