Ep. 318: Take a Break

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

One of the more viral suggestions from Cal’s recent book, SLOW PRODUCTIVITY, was to occasionally skip out of work to see a movie. In this episode, Cal dives deep into criticisms of this advice and decodes what this tells us about where knowledge work is faltering and how we can make things better. He then answers questions from listeners and reacts to some productivity advice given from a well-known CEO.

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: [7:47]

- Can I work deeply in my chaotic job? [27:17]

- Can I use my inbox as a task list? [31:36]

- How do you look at travel within your plans for a deep life? [35:12]

- How can I get my partner to stop talking about work? [41:14]

- How do I practice slow productivity with health issues? [44:54]

- CALL: How can I decide on what career path to pursue? [49:14]

CASE STUDY: Switching careers after a 20 year law stint [56:11]

CAL REACTS: The CEO Who Swears by Time Blocking [1:05:04]

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/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

cnbc.com/2024/05/09/want-to-boost-your-productivity-hit-the-movies-during-work-expert-says.html

cnbc.com/amp/2024/09/09/whole-foods-ceo-swears-by-time-blocking-to-boost-productivity.html

Thanks to our Sponsors:

mybodytutor.com

blinkist.com/deep

cozyearth.com/deep

rhone.com/cal

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

Chapters

1. Ep. 318: Take a Break (00:00:00)

2. Deep Dive: (00:07:47)

3. Can I work deeply in my chaotic job? (00:27:17)

4. Can I use my inbox as a task list? (00:31:36)

5. How do you look at travel within your plans for a deep life? (00:35:12)

6. How can I get my partner to stop talking about work? (00:41:14)

7. How do I practice slow productivity with health issues? (00:44:54)

8. CALL: How can I decide on what career path to pursue? (00:49:14)

9. CASE STUDY: Switching careers after a 20 year law stint (00:56:11)

10. CAL REACTS: The CEO Who Swears by Time Blocking (01:05:04)