Mindful Tasking as the Currency of the Future in an AI World
Why is the ability to focus becoming the currency of the future in the age of AI?
In 2012, sociologist Jonathan Crary wrote about “24/7 capitalism”—a reality without sleep, rest, or silence. Ten years later, his vision has come true: mental work no longer has a clear beginning or end. We check Slack before bed, Teams between meetings, and our focus time dissolves into endless notifications. How can we create something meaningful in such an environment?
Faced with digital overstimulation and constant availability, the concept of deep work introduced by Cal Newport is no longer just an idea—it has become a survival skill.
What is deep work — and why can’t we do it anymore?
Deep work is a state of intense concentration, free from distractions, in which the mind can perform at its highest capacity—coding, designing, building strategies. Newport contrasts this with shallow work—reacting, replying, staying busy but rarely being truly productive.
According to the Microsoft Work Trend Index 2025:
- The average worker receives 117 emails and 153 messages daily
- 57% of meetings happen ad hoc, without an agenda
- On average, every 2 minutes our work is interrupted by a notification
These are not conditions for focus. These are conditions for burnout.
The neurobiology of deep work
Deep work activates the central executive network—the brain’s hub for analytical thinking, decision-making, and creativity. But to engage it, the brain requires cognitive continuity. Even a single “quick glance” at a notification can trigger the task-switching penalty, reducing efficiency by up to 40%.
Psychologist Gloria Mark has shown that regaining full concentration after an interruption can take up to 23 minutes. This hidden cost is one we pay every day.
Can AI protect us from… itself?
Paradoxically, AI could help us rebuild our ability to focus—if designed and used wisely. Increasingly, AI-powered tools support digital minimalism by:
- intelligently scheduling blocks of deep work (based on energy rhythms),
- automatically filtering and prioritizing notifications,
- boosting creativity with AI assistants that generate drafts, analyses, or data summaries.
Research from MIT Sloan School of Management shows that when used to manage time and focus, AI can increase perceived productivity and reduce stress by over 30%.
But caution: AI won’t do this for us. It’s up to us to design work environments that support thinking—not just doing.
The new productivity: less “more,” more focus
The new productivity isn’t about more automation or efficiency. It’s about balance—between technology and well-being, between availability and focus. It’s a shift from busyness to mindfulness, from reaction to intention.
Organizational psychology now emphasizes the need to redesign not just physical, but also cognitive work environments—spaces for deep work, free from overstimulation, structured with rituals of rest, silence, and creative thought.
Teaching focus as a new area of growth
This is why, at Human+ Institute, we created the module “New Productivity – Human+ Work.” Its goal is not to speed up work, but to restore quality in knowledge work.
The program includes:
- exercises for planning deep work blocks,
- strategies for managing cognitive energy,
- using AI to reduce digital overload,
- micro-interventions that support neuroplasticity and concentration.
Special guest: Dr. Paweł Korzyński, who has been researching digital leadership and the impact of technology on organizations for years.
The future of work: not faster, but deeper
In times when the most valuable resource is no longer information but attention—those who can protect it will thrive. Deep work is no longer optional. It is essential.
Because the future of work is not multitasking, but mindful tasking.