I learnt the difference between deep work and flow
flow comes from applying a honed skill to a difficult task- it is a pleasurable state.
deep work on the other hand, may not be pleasurable.
you need deep work in an area to eventually be able to achieve flow states in that same area.
if we compare them using Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s 5 criteria for flow states, deep work may lack the skill/challenge match and fast feedback components.
Some experiments:
I started keeping a list of open questions that I repeatedly come back to. e.g. “who are my greatest intellectual influences?”
This is in tandem with another list of twelve favorite problems and questions