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 Dive: Executing Big Projects [10:18]


WORK QUESTIONS

 - Is pairing a problem for programmers? [20:21]
 - When do you review past time block schedules? [25:46]
 - How do I force myself to execute my plans? [29:48]
 - How do you figure out what projects to pursue? [36:38]
 - Should you take personality traits into mind when choosing a job? [41:39]
 - Organizing rapidly expanding research rabbit holes. [47:27]
 - How do I pursue depth surrounded by toddlers? [54:53]


TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

 - Why do I use Overleaf as my LaTex editor? [59:40]
 - How do I stay informed about current events without falling into the "Twitter Trap"? [1:02:26]
 - What is the deal with Zettelkasten note taking? [1:09:10] 


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

 - Should I time block personal time? [1:16:54]
 - Should I relax between college and my first job? [1:20:39]
 - How can I develop curiosity? [1:22:38]


Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

- Reflections on productivity during distracting events. [3:35]
- Trouble getting started. [12:09]
- Dealing with cognitive exhaustion after hard periods. [18:01]
- Avoiding tool overload. [27:10]
- Focused work that's not demanding. [32:01]
- Metric tracking tune-ups. [39:58]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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


WORK QUESTIONS

- Preparing for deep work. [6:41]
- Keeping on top of everything when you have many roles. [12:32]
- Is it possible to time block without a clock? [18:25]
- Overcoming graduate student procrastination. [24:18]
- Predictable schedules with unpredictable children at home. [29:36]


TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Scheduling asynchronous classes. [34:49]
- Plain text productivity using Markdown. [36:57]
- Long Term storage of promising ideas. [49:59]
- Overcoming fear of what other people will think. [58:49]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Sports as a distraction. [1:02:55]
- Leisure that’s very similar to your work. [1:06:19]
- Why be productive? [1:09:55]


Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this mini-episode, I answer audio questions from listeners asking for advice about how best to tune-up their productivity 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:

- Struggling with organizing tasks. [7:41]
- Advice for becoming a fantastic graduate student. [14:18]
- My research workflow. [19:43]
- Book writing basics. [31:14]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about solidifying your shutdown routines, taming overflowing inboxes, and tuning core values, among many other topics. We also conclude our deep dive into the topic of the deep reset.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please 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:


DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 5


WORK QUESTIONS

- Advanced preparation for deep work blocks. [14:52]
- Time blocking chaotic sales jobs. [18:07]
- Being supportive of peer success. [20:11]
- Shut down ritual troubles. [24:21]
- Building the ideal home office. [27:31]
- Dealing with deep work dips during busy periods. [31:29]


TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS

- Are podcasts distractions? [35:00]
- Dealing with an overflowing inbox. [41:10]
- Time blocking household activities. [50:11]
- Remembering what you read. [54:06]


DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS

- Updating core values and productivity roots. [57:02]
- When productivity swamps out everything else. [1:01:06]
- The deep life versus maximizing success. [1:05:54]


Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

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:

 - Using task boards to plan big projects. [2:49] 
 - Academic Twitter. [8:31]
 - Time block breaks + Workflowy vs Trello. [13:04]
 - Deep work while traveling. [19:46]
 - Setting aside time for big projects. [26:02]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about working deeply with shallow teams, taking action on vague goals, and reducing screen time during a pandemic. We also celebrate reaching the million download milestone for this podcast.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please 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:

DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 4

WORK QUESTIONS
 * Overcoming failure to launch with self-help advice [12:19]
 * Time blocking unpredictable events. [16:34]
 * Working with people who are the opposite of deep. [18:60]
 * Deep work for sales jobs (or managers, or support staff). [26:13]
 * Juggling multiple big projects. [31:14]
 * Pursuing vague goals. [33:55]

TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
 * Distraction withdrawal symptoms. [37:41]
 * My tech setup. [45:12]
 * Achieving video-game level concentration. [50:11]
 * Learning algorithms on your own. [52:34]
 * Building a brand without social media. [59:17]
 * My podcast ingestion strategy. [1:01:42]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
 * Digital minimalism and human connection during lockdowns. [1:03:08]
 * Scheduling free time. [1:13:24]
 * How to review metrics. [1:16:36]
 * Overcoming deep work avoidance. [1:17:42]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

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:

 -  Clarifying capturing and configuring. [2:09]
 -  Time blocking for teachers. [9:24]
 -  Starting from scratch on a hard professional challenge. [15:20]
 -  Building professional skills as a stay-at-home parent. [25:35]
 -  Bottom up versus top down when reorganizing your life. [32:04]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

In this episode of Deep Questions I answer reader questions about Stephen Covey's quad systems, the quixotic quest for a "perfect" productivity system, and reducing laziness, among many other topics.

To submit your own questions, sign up for my mailing list at calnewport.com. You can also submit audio questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/CalNewport

Please 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:


DEEP DIVE: The Deep Reset, Part 3

WORK QUESTIONS
- Why did I become a scientist? [13:50]
- Time blocking scrum teams. [18:27]
- Stephen Covey’s quad systems. [22:50]
- Is an MS essential? [27:28]
- Time blocking the night before. [28:52]
 
TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONS
- The futility of perfecting productivity systems [31:41]
- Thoughts on pair programming. [41:44]
- Keeping track of novel connections between ideas. [52:14]
- Forced social media use [55:15]

DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- Deep living for stay-at-home parents. [1:02:02]
- Dealing with people not interested in personal development. [1:08:56]
- Reducing laziness. [1:12:51]


Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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

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:

 * Capturing ideas outside the office. [4:31]
 * Prioritizing leisure. [9:08]
 * Coping with pandemic-induced shallow work. [11:58]
 * Succeeding with a side hustle [21:59]
 * Deep work at the organizational level [28:45]

Thanks to listener Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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