Importantly, the quote doesn’t require abandoning society; it points to selective separation. Many people make the move through small, enforceable rules—scheduled deep-work blocks, notification pruning, or designated times for messaging—so the day contains protected islands of attention.
Over time, these choices create a visible contrast: the distracted norm is constant availability, while the focused alternative is intentional accessibility. The transformation Newport describes is ultimately the lived difference between being pulled by the world and choosing where your mind goes—again and again, until it becomes your standard. [...]
