In this classic episode, Cal talks about the surprising myth of doing less. Cal then answers questions about discipline and solving complicated problems. Cal concludes the episode with a review of the books he read back in April 2022.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: The Surprising Math of Doing Less [3:33]

- How do I improve my discipline?  [20:01]
- How do you break down a complicated problem? [31:04]
- CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [34:07]

The Books I Read in April 2022 [40:28]

LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:05:30]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In this classic episode Cal talks about the elements of the Deep Life. He then answers a variety of questions about work, family, and phone distractions.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo 

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia 

Deep Dive: The Elements of the Deep Life [2:31] 

- How should I get started in a new remote work job? [17:39] 
- How I time block a purely reactive job? [22:49] 
- Should I bother capturing tasks that are fast to complete? [26:20] 
- How do I tame multiple concurrent projects? [29:53] 
- How do I schedule optional deep work in an exhausting job? [32:51] 
- How much time is left for family after goals and deep work? [39:56] 
- Is there such a thing as deep fun? [42:44] 
- I am addicted to my phone. What do I do? [44:48] 
- How do I make a big life decision when I have lots of options? [50:35] 

Links: 

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow 

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ 

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

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 Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. 

Oliver Burkeman recently noted that time blocking seems oppressive? In this episode, Cal responds to this reaction in a surprising way. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to this podcast being featured at the recent Apple WWDC event.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive:  Is Time Blocking Oppressive? [2:38]

- Can Cal elaborate on his experience with his Acceptance and Commitment therapy? [26:46]
- How can I sustain my deep life program? [35:03]
- How can I stop my girlfriend from always checking her phone? [38:07]
- How long are your time blocks in your planner? [43:07]
- How do I obsess over quality with filling into procrastination? [47:07]
- CALL: Getting back on track after travel [55:10]
 
CASE STUDY: Adopting principles from Cal’s book to design my life [1:00:11]

CAL REACTS: Deep Questions featured at Apple’s WWDC! [1:10:32] 

Links:

• Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
• Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
• Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51
• shows.acast.com/farewell/episodes/045-the-reason-you-cant-ever-get-through-your-to-do-list-wit
• developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2024/102/

 
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- Interesting Mail Bag [7:10]

- Does walking help or hurt my work? [25:01]
- How do I tame the flow of work from outside teams? [29:10]
- Do performers need an active social media presence? [33:12]
- CALL: Should Robert keep on a writing role? [35:18]
- CALL: Should Robert be worried about his full-time job discovering his side job? [39:18]
- Are newsletters the new blogs? [44:34]
- How can I prevent my law clients from interrupting me so much? [53:33]
- Is Cal’s prediction about the rise of virtual screens a ‘hellscape’? [56:22]

- CASE STUDY: What should I put on my new website? [1:10:46]

- How do I complete things on time? [1:18:04]
- How do I take notes on a complicated project? [1:19:56]
- How can I buckle down and finish my novel? [1:22:17]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- INTERVIEW with Ryan Holiday [10:00]
- Cal and Jesse talk about Holiday interview [1:13:57]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Link to submit questions: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

- Deep Dive: Quiet Quitting [4:00]

- How can I motivate my kids to have Cal’s work ethic? [24:28]
- What are Cal’s tips for writing better articles? [34:48]
- Are someday/maybe lists worth it? [44:33]
- How can a researcher embrace slow productivity? [48:24]
- Why did Cal switch from Roam to Obsidian note-taking software? [53:47]

CASE STUDY: A World Without Email got my team through a crisis [57:01]

- How can I concentrate on work with so many bad things happening in the world? [1:09:31]
- What if I don’t enjoy the deep life I designed? [1:20:16]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: The art of “no” [7:06]

- CALL: Anxiety and timeblock planning [27:38] 
- How do I choose a hobby to master? [37:01]
- Should I leave my job? [43:31]
- How do I break into a knowledge work? [49:00]
- How do I overcome career anxiety? [53:55]
 
CASE STUDY: Closet Office [1:05:10]

- CALL: Thoughts on Monday.com [1:13:38]
- What’s the difference between a quarterly and strategic plan? [1:21:45]
- How do I figure out my values? [1:23:10]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: Will 4-Day Weeks Solve Burnout? [7:01]

- How do I know if I’m doing too much? [24:03]
- Who invented the idea to “follow your passion”? [34:11]
- How can an ER doctor manage his schedule? [41:46]
- CALL: How do you know when it’s time to rest? [45:48]
- Nerd Alert: Is the future of computing more local? [49:59]

- Books Cal read in August 2022 [59:31]

- CALL: What watch does Cal use? [1:16:51]
- How do I create a Feedback Council? [1:25:04]
- Did Jordan Peterson and Bret Weinstein get weirder after leaving academia? [1:28:06]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

- Deep Dive: How does Cal organize his life? [4:47]

- How do I improve my estimates of how long a task will take?  [27:49]
- How does Cal feel about open office spaces? [30:01] 
- Does listening to a podcast count as reading? [40:54]
- How do I plan a wedding without drowning in minutia? [43:40]
- I lost my love for work. Should I try to get it back? [50:03]

- Does Cal struggle with comparing himself to others? [59:18]
- How do I reset my ambitions after buring out? [1:08:06]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Please take a moment to provide feedback on the podcast using this survey:
bit.ly/3zMTLXp

DEEP DIVE: Loops, Networks, and Links [5:32]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I track a long-term project? [30:52]
- How often should I check email? [36:23]
- How do I get my workplace to be less “hyperactive”? [42:14]

LISTENER CASE STUDY: Diane rents an office near her house [46:08]

DEEP LIFE ACADEMY: Lifestyle-centric career planning [53:39]

—

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Click Here To Take Cal’s Survey: https://bit.ly/3zMTLXp

Cal reacts to the news: TikTok and the Fall of the Social Media Giants [3:05]

- How long should I wait for someone to respond to my email? [32:21]
- Do you recommend having multiple email accounts? [35:21]
- Is there a place for “Inbox Zero” in Cal’s productivity system? [38:15]

Habit Tune-Up: Docket Clearing Meetings [44:44]

- How do I balance my many interests after quitting my job? [55:33]
- Why am I stuck in my pursuit of depth?  [1:01:30]
- How can we convince the masses to live deeper? [1:06:57]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Habit Tune-Up: To-Do Lists Are Inhumane [2:03]

- Is distracted deep work the same as shallow work? [18:10]
- How does Cal do quarterly reviews? [23:03]
- What should I include in my quarterly plan? [25:03]
- How do I save my failing productivity system? [27:34]
- Can I sell a book without social media? [36:12]

The Five Books Cal Read in July 2022  [47:56]

- How do I manage the anxiety of not achieving a goal? [1:11:22]
- How do I handle having too many ideas? [1:15:05]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In today’s episode, we try something different: a special two-part conversation in which Cal coaches his longtime friend, comedian and podcast pioneer Jamie Kilstein, through a digital declutter. The first part of the conversation ends with Cal’s prescription for Jamie, while the second part picks up six weeks later to check in on how things actually went.


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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In a recent interview, held to promote his new Netflix movie, Jerry Seinfeld went on a remarkable 10-minute run in which he rattled off one insight after another about deep work, procrastination, and the quest to live an intentional life in a distracted world. In this episode, Cal extracts four key lessons from this segment of Jerry’s interview. He then takes listener questions and ends with a segment in which he apologizes to an internet personality whom he incorrectly associated with the dreaded “hustle culture.”

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive:  Seinfeld on The Deep Life [4:31]

- Do I need to practice outside of work to improve my craft? [30:26]
- Can I tackle learning goals sequentially? [38:44]
- How do I get through “grinding” at work? [43:10]
- How can I build my craft to grow my YouTube channel? [49:56]
- Can Cal talk about being an assistant professor with young kids? [54:49]

CASE STUDY: Using lifestyle-centric career planning to upgrade my job and life [1:00:09]

CAL REACTS: James Scholz studies twelve hours a day [1:05:19]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
youtube.com/watch?v=TXAvkqXD-Fc
youtube.com/c/jamesscholz

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

With Cal away on vacation, he decides to tackle 8 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks!
 
Ian Fleming’s writing process [1:13]
 
- How can I get a tech job without credentials? [8:04]
- How do I make progress on tasks in a chaotic job? [10:52]
- Why do you have a problem with social media? [16:07]
- What should I do to succeed in my first internship? [24:16]
- What does Cal think about YouTube shorts? [26:37]
- Is it possible to avoid studying all the time in medical school? [29:14]
- What do you think of Oliver Burkeman’s work on productivity in Four Thousand Weeks? [37:51]
- Can I maintain a social life if I move to the country? [43:41]
 
 
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles 
for mastering.

With Jesse away on vacation, Cal decides to tackle 10 questions in a row, all in one take, with no breaks, covering everything from complaints about Cal’s inaccessibility, to teaching deep work in schools, to a long pontification (read: rant) on the podcasting industry.

- Finding time to self-study [5:38]
- Why Cal is a bad correspondent [11:44]
- Can everyone become so good they can’t be ignored? [25:32]
- Should temperament affect job choice? [29:06]
- Teaching deep work in schools [33:20]
- When does Cal listen to podcasts? [37:46]
- How do I succeed in podcasting? [38:57]
- Why is Cal so contrarian? [56:22]
- How do I stay a digital minimalist after having a baby? [59:31]
- How do I teach my family and friends about the deep life? [1:02:23]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Cal Reacts: A slow productivity case study [5:19]

- What do you think about planning two weeks out instead of one? [25:52]
- How can I brainwash my little brother to make him not follow his passion? [32:43]
- Improving at deliberate practice with a slow feedback loop [42:33]
- How can I stop overthinking? [49:53]

The Six Books Cal Read in June 2022 [54:48]

- Slow productivity and billable hours [1:20:24]
- What are the key principles of living the deep life? [1:24:21]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts: Journalists and Twitter [3:26]

- When should kids get smartphones? [28:08]
- What age should my kids start coding? [37:51]
- How can a non-native English speaker widen his vocabulary for scientific writing? [46:21]

Habit Tune-Up: Cal’s toolbox for taming meetings [47:25]

- What should I read while waiting in line? [1:08:29]
- Are some people not wired to focus? [1:11:39]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts to the News: TikTok Dismisses Facebook [10:40]

- Should I get a PhD in my 50’s? [32:29]
- Do I need two shutdowns if I work on my side hustle in the evening? [40:21]
- Good life vs. Deep life [44:39]

Habit Tune-up: Process-Centric Email [49:49]

- How can I succeed in an academic profession after a lackluster start? [1:07:16]
- Helping young men live deeply  [1:15:07]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts: Making a Living Online [8:26]

- How do you get over the fear of starting a business? [39:21]
- How can I convince my wife I’m unavailable during deep work sessions? [43:09]
- Struggling to focus because of a personal crisis  [54:49]
- What is the potential of AI in productivity optimization? [1:00:30]

Interesting Mail Bag [1:05:52]

- Can you reduce attention residue? [1:19:01]
- Impact of Cal’s podcast on his idea process [1:22:31]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Feedback Councils [2:58]

- How can you not lose faith if there is always more to be done? [23:22]
- Do you have two shutdowns when you’re working two shifts? [27:04]
- CALL: Decoding the Deep Life [32:13]
- What are some good Deep Leisure activities? [47:32]
- CALL: Looking to write after early retirement [53:16]

Books I read in May 2022 [1:03:13]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Update on Cal’s book writing [ 2:03]

WORK QUESTIONS

- How do I get my family and friends to take my profession seriously? [14:11]
- How should we adjust our work for the arrival of our first baby? [21:33]
- Do maximum deep work durations depend on the type of work? [28:10]
- How do I overcome the sense of being overwhelmed by all of my goals? [31:21]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTION

- What are the most important trends in technology at the moment? [37:25]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Does reading too many books dilute their impact? [1:01:01]
- How do I turn off my ambitious mind? [1:02:35]
- How do I get back on the productivity horse after I fall off? [1:05:05]

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Update on Cal’s book writing [5:11]

- LISTENER CALL: How do I get information out of my inbox? [9:59]
- How do I choose a masters program? (RANT alert) [15:16]
- How do you know what is enough for the next step of your career? [19:47]

HABIT TUNE-UP: Multi-Scale Seasonality (The second principle of slow productivity)  [34:01]

RAPID FIRE CALLS:

- How do I improve my evening wind down routine? [40:36]
- How do you take a Deep Holiday? [42:52]
- How do you organize your books? [46:12]

NEWS: A novel solution to the problems of social media [51:45]

Can I live a Deep Life if I decide to start a family? [57:27]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

The Overlooked Radicalism of Tim Ferriss [13:53]

QUESTIONS:

- Is it time for a career change or do I just lack discipline? [37:30]
- Do occasional leaks mean that my productivity system is broken? [46:02]
- LISTENER CALL: How should this exhausted professorI structure her sabbatical? [50:16]

Habit Tune-Up: The Corner Marking Method [59:03]

- Why use a paper notebook for Time-blocking instead of an app? [1:20:58]
- How can I do longer Deep Work sessions? [1:26:48]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

The desire to cultivate a more intentional and remarkable existence – what we call “the deep life” – is universal. In today’s episode, Cal talks about one of the most common traps in this pursuit: hoping that the achievement of a singular grand goal will make all parts of your life better. Cal discusses the problems with the grand goal approach and argues why the more systematic lifestyle-centric mindset will not only produce better results, but end up leading to remarkable opportunities anyway. He then takes questions and calls from readers and reviews the five books he read in May.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: How to create a deep life [9:55]

- Is it too late to start living deep at the age of 27? [31:29]
- Is it possible to cultivate a deep life at a job that requires full attention? [36:05]
- How come there are different Deep Life Stacks? [38:57]
- How do I cultivate a deep life with small children? [46:40]
- Do I need to “limit my missions” if I have a standard day job? [54:40]
- CALL: Keeping focus after having children [58:28]

CASE STUDY: Finding books to help cultivate a deep life [1:12:18]

FINAL SEGMENT: The 5 Books Cal Read in May 2024 [1:22:47]

Science and Human Values (J. Bronowski)
The Hot Zone (Richard Preston)
Extinction (Douglas Preston)
When the Shooting Stops…the Cutting Begins (Ralph Rosenbaum and Robert Karen)
The Great Partnership (Jonathan Sacks)

Links:

• Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow 
• Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ 

 
Thanks to our Sponsors: 

• This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestions
• zocdoc.com/deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:   youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal reacts to his inbox [7:48]

QUESTIONS:

- How do I manage a two-part workday?  [26:49]
- How do I save my “shut down” ritual? [34:14]
- LISTENER CALL: Should I work on challenging projects or take the easy path? [37:58]

Cal reacts to the news: A Catholic Response to Workism [48:48]

- How do I select projects? [1:10:51]
- How do I tame WhatsApp with my friends and family? [1:20:51]

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia


CAL REACTS: His latest article for The New Yorker [16:06]

QUESTIONS:

- How do I balance my walking ‘modes’ when living a Deep Life? [39:43]
- Why not recommend time-blocking for leisure? [44:09]
- LISTENER CALL: How do I avoid my phone when I’m tired? [46:57]

HABIT  TUNE-UP: WorkingMemory.txt

- LISTENER CALL: How does a manager do Deep Work? [1:10:28]
- Where do you put your extended thoughts about your life? [1:19:52]


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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: The Surprising Math of Doing Less [8:58]

QUESTIONS:

- How do I improve my discipline?  [26:16]
- How do you break down a complicated problem? [37:20]
- LISTENER CALL: Has Cal read “Stolen Focus”? [40:27]

The Books I Read in April 2022 [46:41]

- LISTENER CALL: Playbook for writing in The New Yorker [1:12:37]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

CAL REACTS TO THE NEWS [8:05]

QUESTIONS:

- How do I read more?  [45:35]
- Rapid Fire: TV, Email, and Journaling [54:44]
- Listener Call: How is a weekly plan different than what’s in Trello? [59:33]

HABIT TUNE-UP: Fixed-Schedule Productivity [1:06:07]

- Listener Call: How would Cal design a university? [1:19:47]
- Should college students avoid social media? [1:29:58]


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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: The Crypto Question No One is Asking [1:43]

QUESTIONS:

- Should I be productive or bill more hours? [24:51]
- Can someone with ADHD succeed with Deep Work? [28:44]
- Can I find depth if I have roommates? [33:12]
- How do I track more publications? [37:49]
- I can’t time-block. What should I do? [43:33]
- How do I tame Netflix? [47:19]
- How does Cal come up with ideas? [55:04]
- How do I shorten weekly planning sessions? [58:26]   


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

QUESTIONS:

- How do I stick with just one organization system? [3:38]
- How do I maintain a routine in a job with wildly changing demands? [9:00]
- Cal Reacts to the News: Is Twitter Ruining Society? [23:30]
- How do I apply your ideas to skilled labor? [44:14]
- How do I cure my current feeling of burnout? [49:25]
- Should I focus on process or results-focused goals? [1:01:51]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

CAL REACTS TO THE NEWS : Elon Joins the Twitter Board [1:32]

QUESTIONS:

- Managing idea notebooks [24:19]
- Doctor who wants to learn advanced math  [29:56]
- Obsessed with instant messaging [34:17]
- Tempering a racing mind [47:35]
- Selecting good keystone habits [54:50]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Cal Reacts to the News: The Times Drops Twitter [4:21]

QUESTIONS:

- Is the hyperactive hive mind ever beneficial? [26:52]
- How do I survive a really busy week? [36:49]
- Should I quit my executive job to write a book?  [42:48]
- Do you have suggestions for improving the trade-off between teaching vs. scholarship obligations? [54:11]
- How do you approach complexity? [57:34]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

OPENING SEGMENT: The Books I Read in March, 2022  [2:05]

- Cal’s frameworks [16:48]
- Time blocking beyond work [26:05]
- How to structure all-day studying [33:53]
- Handling boredom [38:16]
- Deep Work vs. YouTube [48:08]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Quick Social Media (Revisiting my Viral 2017 Talk) [4:50]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Does career capital theory assume meritocracy? [30:31]
- Is there a middle ground between shallow and deep work? [34:35]
- What tools can help my 100,000 employees be more productive? [37:38]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Is the Deep Life privileged? [47:17]
- When is “left to right” planning preferred? [1:07:10]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

We talk a lot on this show about how to organize and execute your work, but not enough about where to do it. In this episode, Cal explores the theory and practice of “adventure working,” in which you escape to novel and inspiring locations to tackle your most demanding and interesting cognitive efforts. He then answers reader questions about habits and rituals, before ending with a critical look at a famous football club’s distressing embrace of pseudo-productivity.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Deep Dive: Re-Enchanting Work [5:39]

- What are Cal’s health habits? [31:12]
- What’s the difference between discipline and rituals? [34:08]
- How does Cal read so much? [37:37]
- What are Cal’s writing-related rituals? [40:44]
- Should I go slow in my job hunting? [45:05]
- CALL: Working at a natural pace as a teacher [49:47]
- CALL:  How to navigate the “pull system” [54:31]

CASE STUDY: Organizing files in a household [1:00:57]

CAL REACTS: Manchester’s United’s Pseudo-Productivity [1:11:13] 

Links:

• Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
• Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
• calnewport.com/adventure-studying-an-unconventional-new-approach-to-exam-preperation/
• calnewport.com/bonus-post-an-adventure-studying-case-study/
• instagram.com/p/B1y5dV3HSC9/?igshid=1r2acwbmfztew
• apcc.org/pond-stories-mary-olivers-blackwater-pond-provincetown/
• scottishfield.co.uk/scotland-travel/the-black-heart-of-scots-crime-writer-ian-rankin/
• calnewport.com/the-power-of-the-outdoor-office/
• calnewport.com/deep-habits-my-office-in-the-woods/
• theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/08/sir-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-remote-work-ban-email-traffic
• theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/hybrid-work-attention-productivity/677598/

 

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

- Is “day batching” a good idea? [16:38]
- Sustainable time-blocking [24:28]
- Earning money versus building things [33:45]
- Escaping a dead end career [48:19]
- Reading deeply and quickly [53:42]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Magicmind.co/DEEP (Code DEEP20)
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP DIVE: Is Friction Bad? [5:27]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Should a stay-at-home parent pursue deep work? [21:32]
- How do we combat administrative creep? [29:20]
- Has Cal changed his mind on optimal duration of deep work sessions? [39:00]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Should we all practice Shabbat? [44:05]
- Why do I keep failing to complete my digital detox? [52:13]
- How do I escape filter bubbles? [56:06]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Magicmind.co/DEEP
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

This episode is a replay from July 12, 2021.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia


- Breaking up big projects into small tasks. [5:33]
- The productivity baby steps (epic answer alert). [10:12]
- Taming late night meetings. [27:16]
- Best book of mine for college students. [36:34]
- Shutdown routines with unpredictable schedules. [40:17]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

Blinkist.com/Deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do I “practice” my job? [12:41]
- Does software with too many features distract us? [22:12}
- How can an overloaded minister juggle the demands of people and planning? [31:24]
- Should I stop teaching my stock investing course to get better at investing at stocks? (Bonus rant: why you’re not going to beat the stock market) [43:42]
- What lessons for life can we extract from the military experience? [45:47]

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

Update on Cal’s writing [0:43]

- Tips for preparing for an upcoming training. [19:32]
- Your business model. [24:06]
- Managing guiding documents. [35:26]
- Becoming a better writer. [44:21]
- Curing deep procrastination. [51:02]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia


CORE IDEA: The Case Against Email [2:52]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do I balance writing and marketing? [30:32]
- How do I find time to time an overwhelming work load? [36:10]
- How do I work even deeper? [40:22]
- Should I read before or after I write? [45:51]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Deep living in retirement? [53:07]
- Should I quit my lawyer job? [55:24]
- Does context switching reduce reading comprehension? [1:07:32]
- Does Nicholas Carr’s hyperlink critique hold up? [1:08:15]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Blinkist.com/Deep
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia

- Article challenging Cal’s take on productivity. [17:07]
- Alternatives to Cal’s career capital theory. [29:58]
- Cal’s thoughts on shorter work weeks. [37:53]
- Obsessive reading.  [51:59]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

The Books I Read in February 2022 [4:45]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Can you implement Cal’s productivity tips without time-blocking? [32:46]
- Does technique beat talent? [37:28]
- Do you recommend multiple email accounts for someone who works at different institutions? [43:12]
- Can intense collaborative work be considered deep? [44:52]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Are podcasts good for you? [52:11]
- Can you elaborate on concentration calisthenics? [57:29]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast

Video from today’s episode:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

DEEP DIVE: On Doing Hard Things [4:42]

LISTENER CALLS:

- People who are bad at planning [31:56]
- What did Cal learn from his mom the computer programmer [40:42]
- Students working on weekends [45:49]
- Living a deep life with anxiety (warning: lecture alert) [56:52]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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JUST EGG
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast

Video from today’s episode:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


DEEP DIVE: Is Ambition Worth It? [2:45]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Should you ditch your to-do list with slow productivity mindset? [27:20]
- What should I do while waiting for code to compile? [33:20]
- What do you do when you get tired? [36:26]
- How do I succeed as a postdoc? [39:17]
- What do you eat to support Deep Work? [42:04]
- What is your updated advice about “temporary plans”? [49:53]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- How do I balance deep work personal pursuits? [56:35]
- At what age will Cal allow his kids to have phones and social media? [1:00:11]
- Is Cal’s outlook on the future too optimistic? [1:02:52]
- I followed my passion. Am I screwed? [1:08:51]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In this episode, the proverbial tables are turned, with Cal being interviewed by Jordan Harbinger about time, focus, and the quest for a slower notion of productivity. (This interview originally aired as episode 975 Jordan's can’t-miss podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show).

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia

- INTERVIEW: Cal being interviewed by Jordan Harbinger [1:54]

Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

DEEP DIVE: Is TikTok a Good Thing? [2:47]


CALLS:

- Deep work for sales. [16:10]
- Where to find arguments I disagree with. [20:18]
- Little bets. [25:37]
- Taming information overload. [39:45]
- Minimalism as a med student. [48:56]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

Headspace:  Headspace.com/QUESTIONS
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


CORE IDEAS: The Deep Life [4:55]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Does time blocking work with ADHD? [33:39]
- How should I approach my PhD? [35:38]
- How can I meet other deep workers? [39:40]
- How can I improve Zoom meetings? [44:19]
- How do I shutdown while watching kids? [47:21]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- How do I balance my personal and professional life? [57:12]
- How do I pick a major if I can’t follow my passion? [59:27]
- Is there a place where I can find all of the ideas from this podcast? [1:04:45]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

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JUST Egg  


Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Jesse asks Cal questions about his life.  [2:41]

- Listening to arguments on both sides of an issue. [24:49]
- Designing a fantastic gap year. [33:51]
- Juggling too many hobbies. [42:27]
- Struggling to stay disciplined with home chores. [46:56]
- Cal’s thoughts on the Metaverse. [58:58]


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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.