[_yb2s]

Indeed, I think the "right way" to use advice like his is to understand the index card version and apply it. Spending a lot of time following everything he writes isn't really consistent with the concept of deep work.

Ruthlessly optimizing life to squeeze every inch of productivity doesn't make for a great life, unless it happens automatically without even thinking about it, because you are already so passionate about what you are doing that you don't have time for much else. If it's just to win the rat race, it will suck, and then suck for everyone once everyone starts doing it.

The flip side of that is that critically evaluating how you spend your time and cutting out things that you don't really need or appreciate can make life a lot more relaxing and fun.

My main criticism of the Deep Work concept is that it ignores peoples internal emotional state, and treats people like robots. Most of peoples work issues come from things like self sabotage due to trauma, imposter syndrome, etc. and can't be fixed with a more optimized schedule or anything like that.