Ep. 239: On Time and Stress

One of the more interesting realities of people who live remarkable lives is that they are often much less busy than the rest of us. In this episode, Cal explores three ideas that help explain why this is true, then explains how we can use these ideas to reduce our own workloads.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: The Productivity Paradox [7:31]- How does a weekly plan work? [32:26]- Do errands or reading count toward fixed schedule productivity? [36:55]- How should a graduate embrace slow productivity? [40:11]- If I embrace slow productivity, how can I be sure I’m doing enough? [41:54]- Did Cal follow Slow Productivity in his 20’s? [47:45]- CALL: Uprooting a good planning system? [53:23]CASE STUDY: Playing video games with intention [58:05] CAL REACTS:  How to Have a Productive Year [1:06:34]Links:calnewport.com/if-youre-busy-youre-doing-something-wrong-the-surprisingly-relaxed-lives-of-elite-achievers/newyorker.com/culture/office-space/how-to-have-a-more-productive-yearFREE Download  for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: mauinuivenison.com/deepquestionsblinkist.com/deepmoshlife.com/deeppolicygenius.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.

29 Tammi 20241h 15min

Call talks with Ali Abdaal about his journey from doctor to YouTube sensation, and then dives deep into Ali’s new book, “Feel-Good Productivity,” and the possibilities of making accomplishment something enjoyable. 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: YouTube Star Ali Abdaal [3:41]Cal Reacts: Dissecting Ali’s YouTube career path [1:32:27]Links:FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slowThanks to our Sponsors: expressvpn.com/deeprhone.com/cal shopify.com/deepnotion.com/calThanks 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.

22 Tammi 20241h 42min

What is the correct first step in transforming your life into something deeper? Traditional advice says to start with a clear vision of what you value. Cal has been arguing that it’s instead more important to develop a foundation of discipline. In this episode, he explores a more specific variation of this idea: perhaps the best way to prepare to pursue the big is to first learn how to control the small.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 organize your life [2:31]- How do I “stay deep” when facing major changes? [36:37]- How do I relax when I’m always so busy? [39:13]- What is the difference between rituals and routines? [43:09]- Can playing video games be part of a deep life? [51:27]- Can deep life buckets connect to strategic plans? [57:39]- CALL: Juggling multiple priorities to live a deep life [1:01:39]CASE STUDY: Becoming organized to prevent overwhelm [1:07:32]CAL REACTS:  How many books did you read in 2023? [1:13:47]Links:https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/05/how-many-books-did-you-read-2023-see-how-you-stack-up/FREE download for “Slow Productivity”: calnewport.com/slowThanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepmintmobile.com/deepcozyearth.com (promo code CAL)mybodytutor.com  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.

15 Tammi 20241h 20min

During the New Year season it is common to talk about how to be more productive. But what about the downtime between your major pursuits? In this episode, Cal argues for rewiring your brain to crave slow distractions over their faster (often digital) alternatives. The goal here is not to get more done but to transform your life into something slower and more meaningful.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: Slow Distractions [2:25]- How do I work deeply as a stay-at-home parent? [29:12]- Isn’t it myopic not to let young children use smartphones? [36:44]- How do I succeed as a musician without social media? [38:09]- How do I make plans without social media? [48:37]- CALL: How to share ideas without allowing social media to take control [55:02]CAL REACTS: I’m a 33-year old woman without a job [1:05:55] Links:youtu.be/YQLVWficcwc?si=lOIBa23I_0-4sJl6Download a FREE chapter from my upcoming book, "Slow Productivity" HERE: https://www.calnewport.com/slow Thanks to our Sponsors: expressvpn.com/deepnotion.com/calshopify.com/deepgrammarly.com/podcastThanks 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.

8 Tammi 20241h 19min

One of the more important abilities to cultivate for the year ahead is comfort learning complicated (and therefore valuable) new things. In this episode, Cal tackles the myths surrounding mastery and presents a new mental model for internalizing non-trivial information. As he elaborates, there is both good news and bad news when it comes to this topic: you can learn almost anything, but you can’t learn everything.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: Learning Hard Things [2:50]- When it comes to taking notes, what really matters? [29:49]- Can I fit all of my hobbies into my week? [36:02]- Can YouTube teach me to be a better student? [39:40]- How do I figure out what to learn next? [46:09]- How do I learn something fast when I already have a busy schedule? [48:23]- CALL: How does “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” relate to “Slow Productivity”? [55:11]CASE STUDY: Slow Productivity affinity group [1:03:46] The 5 books Cal read in December 2023 [1:13:28]Thanks to our Sponsors: drinklmnt.com/deepzocdoc.com/deepThis show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at 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.

1 Tammi 20241h 27min

The mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks is one of the rare individuals to have both lived a carefully cultivated deep life and written a book on the topic (co-authored with Oprah!). In today’s episode, Cal interviews Brooks, going deep into the details of his unusual and inspiring career and extracting proven rules from his experience.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: Mega-bestselling writer Arthur Brooks [6:39]Cal’s Favorite Completely Unnecessary and Embarrassingly Geeky Things for 2024 [1:16:04]Links:https://www.calnewport.com/slowThanks to our Sponsors: rhone.com/calshopify.com/deepnotion.com/calThanks 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 Joulu 20231h 37min

We talk a lot on this show about getting more done, but what’s the best way to handle the inevitable situation in which you have too much to do? Cal walks through a sensible response to the crazy-making reality of overload.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: Controlling Overload [4:48]- Is building a “second brain” important? [37:53]- How can I bill 40 hours a week without getting overloaded? [43:30]- What book should I buy my department to best increase their work quality? [46:31]- How do I make progress on projects that have lots of overhead? [51:53]- How can my wife deal with her new position and the overload that comes with it? [57:35]- CALL: What is Cal excited to gif this holiday season? [1:06:14]CASE STUDY: Quitting Twitter to build a better life [1:09:55] CAL REACTS: Why did students get dumber starting in 2012? [1:17:31]Links:https://twitter.com/DKThomp/status/1734436486727254218Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.ladderlife.com/deephttps://www.blinkist.com/deephttps://www.hensonshaving.com/calThis 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.

18 Joulu 20231h 26min

One of the most important skills for cultivating a satisfying and high impact life is one we rarely discuss: the art of serious thinking. In this episode, Cal makes the case for serious thinking as an ability to specifically cultivate, then describes five specific practices you can put into place to launch a crash course in developing an effective life of the mind.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: How to Think [4:07] - Does reading count as Deep Work? [38:50]- How do I make sense of the topics I think about? [41:48]- How should I manage boredom in a job without hurting my ability to focus? [45:12]- How can I provide quick answers to management if I’m a slow thinker? [50:40] - CALL: How should I structure my Deep Holiday? [56:44] CASE STUDY: A successful Digital Detox allowing one to think in peace. [59:55] CAL REACTS: Does collaboration make us less creative? [1:07:29]Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.shopify.com/deephttps://www.mintmobile.com/deephttps://www.cozyearth.com (promo code: CAL)https://www.mybodytutor.comThanks 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 Joulu 20231h 21min