Ep. 303: The Problem with Grand Goals

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 WORK QUESTIONS - How can I get others to accept a deeper work environment? [6:16] - How can I escape meeting overload? [10:12] - How can I ready myself for a deep work sessions? [18:00] - Should I hire an assistant to help me with my emails? [22:14] - How should indie authors use social media? [27:10] - How do I stop being so distracted at work? [35:11]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - What is my (Cal) next book going to be about? [42:26] - How do I preserve energy for home projects? [44:43] - What do you (Cal) find valuable in the work of Abraham Joshua Heschel? [50:02] - What is my (Cal) favorite Neil Postman book? [53:06] - Can I write a novel if I'm a full-time computer programmer? [56:20] - Nina how do you choose what to work deeply on? [58:56]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.

17 Maj 20211h 3min

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.  - Managing a "waiting on" list. [2:57] - Emotion-driven attention residue. [9:40]  - Drifting from time block schedules. [15:29] - Relationship Counseling: Batching dirty dishes? [20:48] - Organizing research. [25:39] - Emotions, energy, and productivity. [32:20]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.

13 Maj 202138min

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 WORK QUESTIONS - What challenges will I face switching to time-block planning for the first time? [3:43] - How do I time block very long days? [8:20] - How do I move external colleagues and clients away from email collaboration? [11:10] - How do I manage multiple email addresses? [18:57] - How do I avoid Slack FOMO? [20:21]  - How can I avoid Twitter if it's where important updates are posted? [25:49] - RANT ALERT: What do I (Cal) think about big tech data collection? [28:45] - How do you hit a bestseller list without social media? [35:57] - What were my (Cal's) early blogging habits? [40:21]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - Do I (Cal) listen to audio books? [50:10] - How do I (Cal) remember thoughts from my walks? [51:31] - Will social media usage go down oner time? [54:10] - How do I be a digital minimalist in a maximalist family? [58:30] - What are the drawbacks of working more seasonly? [59:52] - How do I maintain the will to do deep work? [1:07:55]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.

10 Maj 20211h 13min

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.  - Productivity with a chronic illness. [4:28] - Coordinating strategic plans with a partner. [12:44] - Getting your boss to bother you less. [17:56] - High quality leisure for students [25:59] - Feeling overwhelmed by Facebook Groups. [29:58]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.

6 Maj 202135min

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: What happens if you stop using your phone for a year? [3:55]WORKING DEEPLY: - How do I avoid the hyperactive hive mind in a new job? [11:36] - How can the author of A WORLD WITHOUT EMAIL have an email list? [14:02] - When did personal productivity become a thing? [16:25] - Am I overcommitted or bad at time management? [25:47] - How do I decide on roles for my task boards? [29:23] - How can I become established as a content creator? (Or, the perils of "checklist productivity") [33:16] - Recreating the water color in a world without email? [38:44]LIVING DEEPLY: - What are some good biographies for deep life inspiration? [46:38] - What are my top 3 recommendations for someone looking to live deeper? [49:12] - Can a commute be contemplative? [54:50] - Where do I (Cal) write about "the deep life" in my books? [58:51]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.

3 Maj 20211h 5min

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast. - Time block specificity (coercive versus collaborative productivity). [6:24]  - Balancing time spent on different types of work. [11:34] - Project priorities. [18:34] - Building a social life during a pandemic. [26:57] - Making use of unexpected free time. [33:27]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.

29 Apr 202137min

I'm joined in today's episode by Greg McKeown, author of the mega-bestseller Essentialism, and his new book, Effortless.We talk about the massive success of Essentialism, decoding why it did so well and discussing how it changed his life. We then get into the origin of the ideas that became Effortless, and use some of my own attempts to make essential work easier as a case study.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.

26 Apr 20211h 23min

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.Behind the Curtain: My Current Scheduling Setup [0:22]Book Recommendation: The Unspoken Rules [9:34]Listener Calls: - Perfectionism and time-block schedules. [12:58] - Constructing effective student schedules. [18:56] - Organizing the tasks that make up a project. [26:58] - Optimal task structure. [35:47] - RANT ALERT: social media and danger of algorithmic attention. [40:32]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.

22 Apr 202151min