Ep. 302: Re-Enchanting Work

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

We talk a lot on this show about how to organize and execute your work, but not enough about where to do it. In this episode, Cal explores the theory and practice of “adventure working,” in which you escape to novel and inspiring locations to tackle your most demanding and interesting cognitive efforts. He then answers reader questions about habits and rituals, before ending with a critical look at a famous football club’s distressing embrace of pseudo-productivity.
Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
Deep Dive: Re-Enchanting Work [5:39]
- What are Cal’s health habits? [31:12]
- What’s the difference between discipline and rituals? [34:08]
- How does Cal read so much? [37:37]
- What are Cal’s writing-related rituals? [40:44]
- Should I go slow in my job hunting? [45:05]
- CALL: Working at a natural pace as a teacher [49:47]
- CALL: How to navigate the “pull system” [54:31]
CASE STUDY: Organizing files in a household [1:00:57]
CAL REACTS: Manchester’s United’s Pseudo-Productivity [1:11:13]
Links:

• Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
• Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
• calnewport.com/adventure-studying-an-unconventional-new-approach-to-exam-preperation/
• calnewport.com/bonus-post-an-adventure-studying-case-study/
• instagram.com/p/B1y5dV3HSC9/?igshid=1r2acwbmfztew
• apcc.org/pond-stories-mary-olivers-blackwater-pond-provincetown/
• scottishfield.co.uk/scotland-travel/the-black-heart-of-scots-crime-writer-ian-rankin/
• calnewport.com/the-power-of-the-outdoor-office/
• calnewport.com/deep-habits-my-office-in-the-woods/
• theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/08/sir-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united-remote-work-ban-email-traffic
• theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/hybrid-work-attention-productivity/677598/

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

Chapters

1. Ep. 302: Re-Enchanting Work (00:00:00)

2. Deep Dive: Re-Enchanting Work (00:05:39)

3. What are Cal’s health habits? (00:31:12)

4. What’s the difference between discipline and rituals? (00:34:08)

5. How does Cal read so much? (00:37:37)

6. What are Cal’s writing-related rituals? (00:40:44)

7. Should I go slow in my job hunting? (00:45:05)

8. CALL: Working at a natural pace as a teacher (00:49:47)

9. CALL: How to navigate the “pull system” (00:54:31)

10. CASE STUDY: Organizing files in a household (01:00:57)

11. CAL REACTS: Manchester’s United’s Pseudo-Productivity (01:11:13)