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.


DEEP WORK QUESTIONS

 - Should I maintain a day free from all work? [3:55]
 - How do I take notes on a Kindle? [9:06]
 - How an I integrate accountability with my time-block planning? (Bonus rant on making workloads transparent.) [11:31]
 - How do I avoid over-structuring my life as a student? [19:49]
 - What is my (Cal) computer science research about? [21:35]
 - What is the best productivity system for someone who manages hundreds of tasks across numerous projects? [25:26]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

 - How do you decide when to commit to a new role or project? [34:07
 - Are my (Cal) ideas on passion in stark contrast to most philosophers? [39:44]
 - Have I (Cal) started a new book yet? [44:25]
 - Should I spend time on investing or my side project? [45:07]
 - What is the role of productivity in the deep life? [51:19]


Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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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. 

 - Dealing with time blocking overload. [4:13]
 - Planning household admin. [9:04]
 - How theoreticians schedule proof work. [16:24]
 - Retyping notes (or not). [27:57]
 - Becoming a better conductor. [34:15]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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: How Can I Significantly Reduce Email? [6:30]

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:

 - How do I account for transition time between time blocks? [20:20]
 - Rant Alert: How do I creeping combat corporate complexity?[21:58]
 - How do I identify processes to optimize? [29:58]
 - How much should one rely on technology to think? [33:10] 
 - How important is memorization in deep work? [36:07]
 - Should I move to Sweden or make more money? [38:09]  
 - Should I take a promotion that requires lots of shallow work? [46:50]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS: 

 - Would people use Facebook if it cost money? [52:54]
 - Do you (Cal) identify with philosophy of Ayn Rand? [57:56]
 - How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in leisure? [59:03]
 - What's the best way to prioritize which books to read? [1:03:18]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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. 

 - How long to keep items on a "done" list. [2:09]
 - When is it worth spending money on productivity software? [4:57]
 - Troubleshooting time blocks. [14:33]
 - Scheduling short breaks (or not). [19:30]
 - Avoiding distractions during planning. [30:04]
 - Helping young people figure out their career. [33:31]

Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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 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.

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. 

 - 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.

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 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.

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. 

 - 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.

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: 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.

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.

 - 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.

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