Ep. 368: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity?

Ep. 368: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity?

A 22-year-old made a splash recently when he published a Wall Street Journal op-ed claiming that work-life balance makes you mediocre. He went on to brag about how sleeping less than 4 hours a night and gaining 80 pounds helped him become a millionaire. In this episode, Cal wades into the furious debate this article sparked. He argues that once you look past the author’s dorm bro bravado, the kid does actually ask a good question. It’s just that his answers are lacking. Cal then tackles listener questions and reviews the books he read in August.

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: I Want Work-Life Balance. Am I Doomed to Mediocrity? [1:06]

Is it possible to stay focused when having to check my phone for text messages? [42:20]

When did you switch back to your teaching schedule to your summer schedule? [44:05]

How has your deep life evolved since Episode 1? [49:22]

How can I stop obsessively checking my work email? [53:47]

Can you summarize how values and strategic planning documents, birthday projects and lifestyle centric planning combine? [58:14]

CASE STUDY: Organizing household admin [1:01:44]

CALL: How to tame Trello cards [1:06:39]

AUGUST BOOKS: The 5 books Cal read in August 2025 [1:13:26]

Boundless Realm (Foxx Note)
Collisions (Alec Nevala-Lee)
Before the Birds Sang Words (Ken Bruce)
Desperation Reef (T Jefferson Parker)
Shift (Hugh Howey)

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?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX1XHMlX1J0

Thanks to our Sponsors:

ridge.com (use code “Cal”)
drinklmnt.com/deep
shopify.com/deep
calderalab.com/deep

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


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Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?

Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?

In recent years, it’s been hard not to react to the possibilities of generative AI without a mixture of euphoria or dread. But after OpenAI’s lackluster GPT-5 launch, a new, almost heretical-seeming q...

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Ep. 366: How to Reinvent Your Life in 4 Months (Classic Episode from August, 2023)

Ep. 366: How to Reinvent Your Life in 4 Months (Classic Episode from August, 2023)

In this replay of one of the more popular episodes from the Deep Questions archives, originally aired in August ,2023, Cal explores some of his early strategies for cultivating a deeper life.Below are...

18 Elo 20251h 17min

Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)

Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)

Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive tec...

11 Elo 20251h 2min

Ep. 364: Metrics 101

Ep. 364: Metrics 101

When Cal recently returned home from his time spent up in New England he set up a whole new set of daily metrics to track in the fall to keep him pointed toward the deep life. And they failed. Hard. I...

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Ep. 363: Escaping the Digital Doldrums

Ep. 363: Escaping the Digital Doldrums

What does Walt Disney’s malaise in the 1940s have to do with our current struggles with our screens? In this episode, Cal uses a little-known story from Disney’s midlife to identify an effective strat...

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Ep. 362: The Texting Dilemma

Ep. 362: The Texting Dilemma

When we think about unhealthy phone usage, we think about the flashing apps, like TikTok and Instagram, in which billions of dollars have been spent to grab our attention. In this episode, Cal points ...

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Ep. 361: Do You Need an App Blocker?

Ep. 361: Do You Need an App Blocker?

Are you worried that you’re using your phone too much? An app blocker might make sense. But how do they work, and which one is right for you? In this episode, Cal goes deep into the motivation, techno...

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Ep. 360: One-Page Productivity

Ep. 360: One-Page Productivity

Trying to stick to complicated time management systems without any breaks can eventually lead to burn out. But if you stop organizational efforts altogether, your life can become a stressful mess. In ...

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