The Cal Newport Show

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:  tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

CORE IDEAS: Is Slow Productivity the Solution to Burnout? [2:58]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How does Cal manage information?  [35:56]
- What notebooks does Cal use? [38:52]
- What’s the deep approach to job searching? [44:20]
- What did Cal’s readers learn about deep work? [48:00]
-Can I work deeply for more than 4 hours a day? [55:46]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- How should Cal’s time management advice be adjusted for students from underrepresented backgrounds? [1:04:58]
- How do I survive college admissions craziness? [1:09:47]


Thanks to our Sponsors:

Policy Genius:  Policygenius.com
Centered:  centered.app/deepquestions
Magic Spoon:  magicspoon.com/cal
ExpressVPN:  expressvpn.com

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


CORE IDEA: Don’t Follow Your Passion   [3:07]

- Dividing time between multiple pursuits. [17:38]
- Implementing ideas from A World Without Email in small businesses. [22:17]
- Estimating the tie required to complete tasks. [27:42]
- Organizing household space for productivity. [34:12]
- Tips for passing a highly competitive exam. [43:01]


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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


CORE IDEA:  Time Management  [4:37]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- What does deliberate practice look like for computer programming? [30:15]
- Is it rational to quit your job if it implies a potential harm to society? [36:04]
- When is deep work not the most important metric? [39:04]
- Should I stay a job where the management actively tries to stifle productivity? [42:46]
- What are your (Cal’s) tips for a mother of two small kids getting her masters? [51:15]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Is raising kids part of the deep life or an obstacle to achieving it?  [1:00:22]
- Is listening to audiobooks just as beneficial as reading hard-copy books? [1:04:55]
- How do I accomplish a digital detox when all of my leisure involves my phone? [1:06:07]
- How can high school students excel without SATs? [1:11:06]
- Should I worry about social media getting me fired from my job? [1:12:21]


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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Videos of today’s questions: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How should we use a ticketing system?  [4:15]
- Should I resign after my boss does? [9:19]
- Are breaks to rest your eyes considered context switching? [13:10]
- How do you time block long but ambiguous intellectual activity?  [21:49] 
- How do you get back to scheduling after a vacation? [24:57] 


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Is it okay for a one activity to fit into two different deep life buckets? [29:51] 
- How do I live deeply with a demanding job (i.e., should I quit my law partner job?) [33:51]

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Videos of the podcast are now live! (You can find then here: https://tinyurl.com/b2rkctfj


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- How do I decide how much work is enough? [13:35] 
- How do I eliminate post-shutdown anxiety? [28:15]
- How do I get back to work effectively after a lunch break? [37:43]
- Why don’t you (Cal) use Zettelkasten? [40:09]
- How do I limit activities that aren’t important for my long-term success a new job? [46:20]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- How do you (Cal) stay focused on campus when surrounded by “woke-ness”? [52:44] 
- How do you (Cal) keep sane as a published author? [58:31]
- How do you “count” time that is between deep work and deep leisure? [1:02:24]

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.


OPENING DISCUSSION: How I schedule podcasting

LISTENER CALLS:

- My thoughts on psychedelics and the pursuit of awe. [8:38]
- Time-block planning for the visually impaired. [19:07]
- Struggling to escape a job. [23:24]
- Concerns about book editors. [33:26]
- My blog writing process. [43:41]
- The deep life vs. the good life [48:49]





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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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: Why Are We Burnt Out?  [1:31]


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

- Should I exercise before or after deep work?  [20:28]
- Why plan every quarter instead of every month or year? [23:56]
- How do I master a hard technical skill?  [26:12]
- What does my (Cal) knowledge management system look like? [30:17] 


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:

- Are my (Cal’s) online courses applicable to people with ADHD?  [40:37]
- How do I apply deep work to my busy life?  [45:10]
- How do I balance work, school, and kids?  [49:45]
- What are my (Cal’s) thoughts on sleep?  [52:36]
- How do I (Cal) think about earnings and personal finance? [56:23]


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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.

LISTENER CALLS:
- Optimal amounts of advanced scheduling. [6:46]
- Recommendations for not going overboard with strategic planning. [14:31] 
- Training for hard intellectual work. [19:12]
- Convincing students to limit social media (rant alert). [28:30]
- Keeping eyes healthy. [43:45] 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

OPENING CHAT: The Books I Read in December 2021

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:
- How do I handle insecurity about my writing ability? [35:39]
- How do I balance non-work and work activities? [39:51]
- How can I take regular breaks to avoid eye strain? [43:53]
- How can I reduce anxiety around long term projects? [45:43]
- How should academic handle paper rejections? [48:36]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:
- What are your (Cal’s) thoughts on fasting and deep work? [54:59]
- How should I maintain a healthy body posture while at the computer? [01:00:56]
- How do I stick with habits for more than a couple days? [01:01:55]
- How does a digital minimalist find interesting books to read? [01:04:57]

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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.

LISTENER CALLS:
- Getting better vs. selling harder. [3:29]
- Convincing a girlfriend to use less social media [9:15]
- Time-blocking tips [20:29]
- Ambition and the deep life [26:17]
- Advice of an ideal desk set up [32:56]

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices