Ep. 239: On Time and Stress

Imagine a world in which AI could handle your email inbox on your behalf. No more checking for new messages every five minutes. No more worries that people need you. No more exhausting cognitive context shifts. In this episode, Cal explores how close cutting-edge AI models are to achieving this goal, including using ChatGPT to help him answer some real email. He then dives into his latest article for The New Yorker, which explains the key technical obstacle to fully automated email and how it might be solved. This is followed by reader questions and a look at something interesting.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Can A.I. Empty My Inbox? [4:33]- Should I continue to study programming if AI will eventually replace software jobs? [44:40]- Is it bad to use ChatGPT to assist with your writing? [49:22]- How do I reclaim my workspace for Deep Work? [55:24]- How do I decide what to do on my scheduled mini-breaks at work? [1:00:11]- CALL: Heidegger’s view on technology [1:02:48]- CALL: Seasonality with a partner and kids [1:09:11]CASE STUDY: A Silicon Valley Chief of Staff balancing work and ego [1:20:07]Something Interesting: General Grant’s Slow Productivity [1:30:08]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity”at calnewport.com/slow newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/can-an-ai-make-plansThanks to our Sponsors: listening.com/deeprhone.com/caldrinklmnt.com/deepshopify.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 Maalis 20241h 36min

On his recent book tour, Cal found great success using a small notebook dedicated to developing a single idea. In this episode, he explores this “single-purpose notebook” strategy, identifying when it makes sense and why it works. He also takes listener questions about his new book, “Slow Productivity,” and reacts to a recent article about TikTok’s stumbles.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Single-Purpose Notebooks [5:02]- If “pseudo-productivity” isn’t effective, why is it so common? [27:07]- Can you explain the difference between limiting missions, projects, and daily goals? [34:59]- Should everyone buy a $50 notebook? [39:21]- How does “Slow Productivity” relate to mental models and first principles? [48:12]- Should I read your new book slowly? [52:44]- CALL: Does Cal ever stress about work? [55:24]CASE STUDY: Applying lifestyle-centric career planning [1:00:31]SOMETHING INTERESTING: TikTok Falters [1:08:56]Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow bramses.notion.site/bramses/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?v=448bf8afad0740d18f6b109b4bd40d51notebookstories.com/2013/05/06/picasso-sketchbook/anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10788/remembering-bruce-chatwin-the-greatest-travel-writer-that-ever-livednotebookstories.com/2023/12/22/a-notebook-in-the-movie-elf/com/tech/personal-tech/quitting-tiktok-less-swiping-more-sleeping-1e166a39?page=1 newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/tiktok-and-the-fall-of-the-social-media-giantsThanks to our Sponsors: mintmobile.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsnotion.com/calcozyearth.com (Use promo code “Cal”)Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

18 Maalis 20241h 16min

What does the story of the rise of the singing superstar Jewel teach us about escaping busyness in our knowledge work jobs? In this episode, Cal makes the connection, extracting a key lesson about quality as an engine for slowness, and then providing concrete advice and examples for applying this lesson to your own professional life. Also: listener questions and the books Cal read in February.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Doing Better, Do Less [5:00]- Is my job too hard? [38:25]- How do I sell myself better? [42:52] - How do I convince myself to do actual hard work? [45:42]- How do I find time to get better if I'm busy? [48:46]- What is the values plan? [53:23]The 5 books Cal read in February 2024 [1:01:45]The Sabbath (AJ Heschel)Making Movies (Sidney Lumet)Killer of the Flower Moon (David Grann)Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)The Good Shepherd (CA Forestor)Links:FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: shopify.com/deepdrinklmnt.com/deepmybodytutor.comblinkist.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11 Maalis 20241h 8min

One of the most common strategies for achieving a powerful ideal lifestyle vision is to leverage entrepreneurial activities to find a stable source of income that allows autonomy and flexibility. To help understand how to succeed in such ventures, Cal interviews the entrepreneur and author Noah Kagan about his new book, "The Million Dollar Weekend." Recording on the road as part of his book tour for "Slow Productivity," Cal also shares some lessons about what he's been observing.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaINTERVIEW: Marketing guru Noah Kagan [11:06]Links:Use this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/deepquestionsmauinuivenison.com/deepquestionszocdoc.com/deepexpressvpn.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 Maalis 20241h 31min

How did we end up tyrannized by our inboxes? How is this related to Tyrannosaurus? What was it like working at a high-tech company at the exact moment email was introduced? In this episode, Cal weaves together all these questions into a story about the unexpected ways technology impacts our lives and what we can do after the fact to make things better.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  https://youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: The Email Catastrophe [3:47]- How do I deal with email overload in a government job? [45:34]- How do I deal with an employer who demands constant responsiveness?[55:36]- How can I concentrate when coding when I need to use my web browser? [58:27]- How do I overcome my fear of missing important emails? [1:02:35]- CALL: Can slow productivity work for an academic? [1:06:38]CAL REACTS: Reader Comments on his NYT Op-Ed [1:17:47]Links:newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-diedpnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1817407116newyorker.com/magazine/1994/01/10/e-mail-from-bill-gatesblog.rescuetime.com/communication-multitasking-switches/nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/creative-work-productivity-seasonality.htmlUse this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow  Thanks to our Sponsors: zocdoc.com/deeppolicygenius.com/deepquestionsblinkist.com/deepmoshlife.com/deepshopify.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 Helmi 20241h 31min

We’ve become so used to our phones in our lives that we’ve stopped realizing how arbitrary and unusual the content we’re watching really has become. In this episode, Cal looks closer at what we’re really spending time doing on our phones, then provides step-by-step instructions for healing this relationship. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Confronting Your Phone [4:30]- What does Cal think about Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves To Death”? [28:35]- Can you pursue high quality leisure after a day filled with deep work? [33:14]- Can commercial breaks be used for high quality leisure? [37:24]- Will digital minimalism work in an age of augmented reality? [40:34]- How can a full time YouTuber practice digital minimalism? [46:53]-CALL: How to share content online? [52:38]CASE STUDY: Cost-benefit analysis of technology usage [1:00:39] CAL REACTS: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Search for Depth [1:06:43]Links:twitter.com/explore/tabs/trendinginstagram.com/explore/tags/popular/?hl=entiktok.com/foryou?lang=ennewcriterion.com/blogs/dispatch/the-consolations-of-fantasyUse this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: ladderlife.com/deepmybodytutor.comrhone.com/calmintmobile.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19 Helmi 20241h 14min

A deep life requires that you encounter and make sense of a large amount of incoming information, from narrow data relevant to a professional project, to broad insights into your purpose. How do you keep track of all of this? In this episode, Cal proposes a minimalist approach aimed at minimizing the friction required to keep tabs on what matters.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: How to track information that matters [2:55]- How should I make use of non-cognitive time? [27:37]- Can people with ADHD become better at learning? [32:49]- What does Cal think of Gloria Mark’s “4 myths of attention span”? [36:31]- How can I concentrate on my dissertation when I have a full-time job? [47:04]- How can I stop wasting my afternoon time blocks? [53:20]- CALL: How can I better organize my idea notebooks? [1:01:38]CASE STUDY: Avoiding the hyperactive hive mind to work more efficiently [1:05:46]   CAL REACTS: Is it bad to be slow? [1:13:46]Links:dailystoic.com/try-not-to-be-so-slow/gloriamark.com/attention-spanUse this link to preorder a signed copy of “Slow Productivity”: peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE download excerpt and 2 Bonuses for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: grammarly.com/podcastdrinklmnt.com/deepcozyearth.com (promo code “cal”)expressvpn.com/deepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12 Helmi 20241h 21min

A key step in cultivating a deep life is reflecting on what matters to you and the best strategies for pursuing it. This, in turn, requires that you engage in the consumption of some manner of self help. It’s here that many people sell themselves short, limiting this intake to short videos and the occasional advice guide. In today’s episode, Cal talks about cultivating a much richer approach to self-help in which you’re able to take in wisdom from a variety of sources of various levels of sophistication.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: Rethinking Self Help [3:21]- How can I prevent hard tasks from derailing my productivity systems? [38:47]- Should I get ahead in my career with a project that I hate? [47:54]- How can I make progress on my novel when my day job drains me? [52:39]- Is there such a thing as too much deep work? [59:32]- CALL: Will short deep work sessions work to write effectively? [1:12:17]CASE STUDY: Reducing stress with slow productivity [1:18:40]  The 5 Books Cal Read in January 2024 [1:30:22]  Links:https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/preorder-slow-productivity/ FREE Download  for “Slow Productivity”: www.calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.grammarly.com/podcasthttps://www.drinklmnt.com/deephttps://www.shopify.com/deepThis show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestionsThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Helmi 20241h 43min