Ep. 303: The Problem with Grand Goals

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about selling your first book (and end up accidentally ranting about publishing industry misconceptions), going deep when your spouse is defiantly shallow, and day dreaming about my ideal schedule, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS * Planning unpredictable work [2:27] * On the supposed upsides of procrastination [12:02] * Cutting back on academic obligations [14:43] * Dropping out of grad school [18:02] * Publishing your first book (rant alert) [21:07] * Getting serious about personal productivity [30:35]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS * A look at my own phone usage [37:36] * On cannabis and deep work [40:16] * When your spouse is mad at you for reducing technology [47:12] * Rethinking education post-pandemic [53:09]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS  * Dream schedules for lovers of depth [1:01:01] * Staying motivated when school is online [1:03:51] * FIRE and the deep life [1:09:3]Links to Special Offers from our Sponsors: - blinkist.com/DEEP - magicspoon.com/CALThanks 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.

2 Nov 20201h 20min

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Notebooks for personal reflections vs. business organization. [5:50]* Elite quarterly planning tactics. [10:18]* Diminishing distracting day dreams. [18:37]* Combating burn out. [32:58]Special Offer Links from Sponsors: - magicspoon.com/CALThanks 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.

29 Okt 202053min

In this episode of DEEP QUESTIONS we're joined by a guest host: David Epstein.David is the New York Times bestselling author of THE SPORTS GENE and RANGE. I probably get asked questions about RANGE more than any other book by listeners of this podcast, so I knew we had to get David on the show to share his wisdom.We talk about his career, his (short-lived) public feud with Malcolm Gladwell, and his research habits, but most importantly, we go deep on his breakthrough ideas about skills, practice, and meaning in careers -- answering many of your questions as well as a few of my own.You can find out more about David at https://davidepstein.com.To submit your own questions for this podcast, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com.Thanks to our sponsor Magic Spoon (use magicspoon.com/CAL to receive free shipping).Thank you 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.

26 Okt 20201h 45min

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * The difference between daily and weekly planning [10:08]* Fighting shallow work in medicine. [16:44]* On the value of taking off a work day each week. [24:14]* Maximizing home offices. [30:29]* Scheduling deep work with a chronic illness [43:08]* Taming jobs with large hour demands. [49:32]Special Offer Sponsor Links: - grammarly.com/DEEP - indeed.com/QUESTIONS - foursigmatic.com/DEEPThanks 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.

22 Okt 202055min

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about avoiding the planning fallacy, my thoughts on Inbox Zero, and the limits of the ethical technology movement, among many other topics.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:OPENING: The three stages of hard creative work.WORK QUESTIONS* Cutting back on meetings. [23:06]* Improving your coworkers habits (without them knowing). [26:44]* Teaching depth to kids. [39:52]* Choosing between graduate school and a job. [46:30] * Scheduling side hustles. [48:55]* Career capital theory for parents. [49:44]* Avoiding the planning fallacy. [52:21] TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS* My thoughts on Inbox Zero. [54:08]* Preventing short breaks from derailing depth. [57:47]* Reading on book per week. [1:04:04]* How much a serious college student should read. [1:12:33]* Digital minimalism for college students. [1:13:32]* On the limits of ethical technology (sermon alert). [1:20:20]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS* Planning for family in the deep life. [1:36:02]* Fostering depth later in life. [1:41:00]* Living deeply during pandemic homeschooling. [1:44:12]Special Offer Sponsor Links: - grammarly.com/DEEP - foursigmatic.com/DEEP - indeed.com/QUESTIONSThanks 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.

19 Okt 20201h 52min

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.I also officially announce my new Time-Block Planner! Available for pre-order everyone you buy books. Find out more about the Time Block Academy event I'm holding for those who pre-order at calnewport.com/blog.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover:  * Trello versus Workflowy for task management. [9:08] * Integrating life admin into your work day. [12:54] * Finding time for deliberate practice in an unpredictable work day. [18:46] * Rekindling a reading habit lost to distraction. [30:10] * High-tech metric tracking. [36:46]Offer links from this episode's sponsors: * Optimize.me/deep * ExpressVPN.com/deep * Purple.com/deep10Thanks 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.

15 Okt 202046min

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about deep work for managers, life without Facebook, and original thought in an age of information overload, among many other topics. I also continue our ongoing discussion of household productivity by sharing systems sent in by readers.To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewportPlease consider subscribing (which helps iTunes rankings) and leaving a review or rating (which helps new listeners decide to try the show).Here’s the full list of topics tackled in today’s episode along with the timestamps:WORK QUESTIONS * Optimizing deep work retreats [17:57] * Pomodoro versus longer focus sessions [23:02] * Timeblocking in advance [24:55] * How to choose a new career [26:42]  * Balancing quality and quantity in research [32:44] * Deep work for managers [37:31]TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS * Online information gathering without distraction [45:35]   * Tracking academic papers [48:53] * P vs NP [52:24]  * Life without Facebook [58:30]BACKSTAGE PASS: Meeting Tristan Harris and HQ updates [1:06:49]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS * Deep work and leisure activities [1:14:30] * Non-digital interaction in the age of COVID [1:18:49] * Deep work when dealing with mental health issues [1:25:19] * Thinking for yourself in an age of information overload [1:32:34] Offer links from this episode's sponsors: * Optimize.me/deep * ExpressVPN.com/deep * Purple.com/deep10Thanks 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.

12 Okt 20201h 46min

In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity and work habits in a moment of increased distraction and disruption.You can submit your own audio questions at speakpipe.com/calnewport.Here are the topics we cover: * Productivity chimera's and processing captured tasks [9:53] * Thoughts on OmniFocus [16:37] * Taming a team's early email habit [21:39] * Finding time to write in a busy life [25:09] * Struggling to write even when you have the time [32:30] Special thanks to our sponsor Blinkist. For a 7-day free trial and 25% off a subscription, go to blinkist.com/DEEP.As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please considering subscribing or leaving a rating/review.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.

9 Okt 202040min