Ep. 171: Is Slow Productivity the Solution to Burnout?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.WORK QUESTIONS - How do I finish my day strong when time blocking? [5:09] - What should I do to succeed as a new professor? [9:48] - How do I protect deep work even as I become more recognized? [14:38] - What are strategies for handling large ambiguous work tasks? [19:37] - How do I stay productive in a one-bedroom apartment? [24:06]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS - Can ASMR support deep work? [32:44] - Do audiobooks count as long-form reading? [40:21] - Should families use shared task lists? [40:45] - How how I use YouTube while avoiding entertainment black holes? [46:29]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How does one find joy in deep leisure? [50:00] - It Eisenhower Box useful for constructing a deep life? [58:05]  - How do I escape the social media bubble the pandemic trapped me inside? [1:03:44]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8 Feb 20211h 12min

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.  - Handling short tasks. [4:37]  - Time blocking with auto-scheduled meetings. [11:45]  - Taming excessive phone usage. [18:18]  - Hiring yourself as an assistant. [25:05]  - How to avoid losing steam during time off. [36:05]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4 Feb 202141min

In today's episode I interview bestselling author Tim Harford. We talk about his path from economics to writing and broadcasting, his thoughts on using data to make sense of the world (without getting tricked), and his experience working for Malcolm Gladwell's podcasting company.His latest book, called THE DATA DETECTIVE in the US and HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UP everywhere else, comes out this week and is available wherever you buy books.Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1 Feb 20211h 48min

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.- Taking notes in meetings. [3:41]- Switching from Bullet Journal to Trello. [8:42]- Speeding up time blocking. [13:56]- Scheduling daily tasks. [23:41]- Avoiding hard assignments (plus: a comment on YouTube addiction). [28:26]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 Jan 202136min

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.DEEP DIVE: Is productivity good or bad? [4:28]WORK QUESTIONS - How do you extract good career advice from successful people? [19:16] - How do I improve my GRE score? [27:38] - Is there a category of work between deep and shallow? [29:53] - Should high school students time block? [31:53] - How should I search for my first job during the pandemic? [37:33]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS - Can psychedelics play a role in the deep life? [45:19] - What are my favorite single-use technologies? [49:22] - Are AI-based writing suggestions a problem? [52:20] - What social internet technologies deserve a resurgence? [57:34]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How can I work deeply in a small apartment? [1:01:58] - How do I help people who hate self help? [1:08:18] - How can I encourage my friends to be deeper? [1:12:18]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 Jan 20211h 18min

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.- Dealing with boring (but important) work. [8:11]- Best tools for day planning. [18:26]- An insider look at my book research process. [20:31]- Advice for returning to school later in life. [32:46]- Making time for non-urgent pursuits. [38:35]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Jan 202145min

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.WORK QUESTIONS - How do I minimize meetings at my large corporation? [5:01] - Hod do I accomplish deep work in a responsive role? [11:30] - How do I prioritize self-learning when earning a PhD? [15:19] - How do I optimize time spend waiting for data to crunch? [19:27]  - How do I get important work done with kids at home? [21:48] - How do I encourage my teenagers to do deep work? [26:35]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS - Will a digital shabbat make a difference? [31:04] - Is LinkedIn Useful? [35:50]  - Do I worry about a lack of end-to-end encryption on Trello? [40:00]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How I create challenge when my job has become boring? [47:26]  - How an I stay motivated after reaching the pinnacle of success? [54:29] - How do I stay motivated when I'm not good? [57:40]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

18 Jan 20211h 3min

Below are the topics covered in today's mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.- "Thank you" emails and overload. [3:14]- Managing information contained in emails. [5:35]- Dividing time into ten minute chunks. [13:30]- Restarting a drive toward digital minimalism. [26:07]- Personal metrics and weekend planning. [34:21]Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14 Jan 202140min