Ep. 284: Feel-Good Productivity (w/ Ali Abdaal)

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/calnewportmediaDEEP 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:Blinkist.com/DeepAthleticGreens.com/DeepPolicyGenius.comMagicSpoon.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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.

2 Maj 20221h 18min

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/calnewportmediaCAL 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]Thanks to our Sponsors:Zocdoc.com/DeepMagicmind.co/DeepNovo.co/DeepBlinkist.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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 Apr 20221h 34min

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/calnewportmediaDEEP 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:Headspace.com/QuestionsLadderLife.com/DeepAthleticGreens.com/DeepBlinkist.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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.

21 Apr 20221h 2min

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/calnewportmediaQUESTIONS:- 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:Blinkist.com/DeepAthleticGreens.com/DeepLadderLife.com/DeepHeadspace.com/QuestionsThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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 Apr 20221h 4min

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/calnewportmediaCAL 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:MyBodyTutor.comExpressVPN.com/DeepWorkable.com/PodcastGrammarly.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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.

14 Apr 20221h 2min

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/calnewportmediaCal 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:MyBodyTutor.comExpressVPN.com/DeepWorkable.com/PodcastGrammarly.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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 Apr 20221h

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/calnewportmediaOPENING 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:Workable.com/podcastPolicyGenius.comBlinkist.com/DeepAthleticGreens.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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.

7 Apr 202255min

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/calnewportmediaDEEP 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:Workable.com/podcastPolicyGenius.comBlinkist.com/DeepAthleticGreens.com/DeepThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro 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 Apr 20221h 16min