Why You're Always Tired & Exhausted (No Matter What You Do) | Cal Newport

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Cal Newport talks about why are you tired in Episode 267 of the Deep Questions podcast.

Knowledge workers increasingly describe themselves as exhausted and burnt out. Why is this happening? In this episode, Cal argues that some of the obvious answers aren’t enough to explain the phenomenon. The real answer is both less expected and perhaps more fixable than we expect.

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0:00 Tiredness and the ability to produce work
25:57 How can I read more without falling asleep?
30:11 Is screen time before bed killing my sleep?
35:57 How can I still have fun while being productive?
42:05 Is discipline an identity or a tool?
48:19 How do I find my way back to the deep life?
52:58 CASE STUDY A magazine editor integrates projects into a deep life
1:26:53 Lauren Groff’s slow productivity

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About Cal Newport:
Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal's particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives.

Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He's also the creator of The Time-Block Planner.

The videos are considered to be used under the "Fair Use Doctrine" of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don't use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies.

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I used to stay late when I had a difficult task to work on. Continuity really helps. Getting 3 hours uninterrupted each work day would be amazing.

shoshanakirya-ziraba
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Thanks for this. I’ve been working on this problem for a while. I’m an IT guy but my idol is the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He was 38 when he took his post as the head of church music in Leipzig Germany. He had to provide music for the town’s churches for Sunday service in the form of a cantata, a multi-movement work for instruments and voices. Most composers would have brought a catalog of past work and “networked” with fellow composers by swapping cantatas with them which would have reduced the composition load. Bach had to do things like teach Latin to the kids at Thomas School, audition musicians, teach them, rehearse etc. But from his son we know that during this period he did his composing on Mondays. Maybe a little bit on Tuesdays, but the master had to be at copyists on Wednesday for rehearsal on Thursday and performance on Sunday. In his first year in Leipzig, he wrote more cantatas than there are Sundays and that includes St John’s Passion, one of the masterworks of Western Classical Music. Your video touches on Bach’s solution. I’m sure in his household (he fathered 20 children in all) the rule was, “Don’t bother your dad while he is composing!” No doubt he spent Mondays in his man cave.

HDougMatsuoka
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@Cal Newport. Thanks for your video!I want to mention that there also may be health reasons why people are tired and exhausted. For example I was wondering about myself why I was so often feeling so tired and was unable to focus. I tried many self-improvement tips, and they helped, but again and again I had streaks of weeks were I was incredibly tired.
After years of trouble and after a sleep study I now found out that I have sleep apnea (while I am young and not overweight). So if people here struggle with tiredness – even if they are doing everything right – I suggest they get a check up, and possibly do a sleep study.

expectair-wuqk
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I was listening to a podcast that said it’s important to live life by design over emotions. Basically as humans we tend to default to our negative emotions and avoid challenges. Developing a routine is key for maintaining well-being, especially when dealing with mental health (OCD for me).

For me, adopting activities like exercise, journaling, and studying, involved embracing a strategy of consistent mediocrity. This helped me build discipline and avoid burning out, and self hate. Sharing my progress on YouTube has been a way to hold myself accountable and track my journey.

Historically I had a habit of going too hard, not being able to sustain the Herculean effort, giving up and hating myself. So now I’m trying to give consistent mediocre effort frequently. And it’s crazy how it adds up.

risika
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Cal is ignoring the obvious...these people he gives as examples in the video enjoy their work and have control over what they of us work as knowledge workers for Corporate, hate our jobs, have no control of our time....and hence tiredness/exhaustion

MM-owmd
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12:10 It helps a lot to frame the approach as an Absolute Commitment to avoid context shifting even if it is not always avoidable. Bullets are not always avoidable in battle but every soldier is absolutely committed to avoiding them.

zenmasterx
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🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:13 😴 The psychological exhaustion that knowledge workers often feel is not just due to lack of sleep but more complex underlying issues.
01:11 🔋 The common notion that "work volume" is draining our energy like a battery may not be the full explanation for constant tiredness.
01:38 📈 Examples like Maria Popov and Robert Caro, who have high work volumes but aren't exhausted, challenge the idea that work volume alone is the problem.
04:36 ⏱️ Survey data suggests that most knowledge workers aren't working as many hours as they think, further questioning the "work volume" theory.
05:19 🔄 The real issue seems to be "context switching"—constantly moving between different tasks—which is mentally exhausting.
08:44 📚 Research by Sophie Leroy indicates that "attention residue" from switching between tasks impairs performance and contributes to exhaustion.
11:33 🗂️ The solution is to seek "sequentiality" in work: focusing on one thing at a time and reducing context switching.
12:54 ⏳ Time block planning and accepting that you can only productively push fewer things in a day can help in reducing context switching.
15:53 📧 A specific tip is to "single-thread your inbox": tackle emails by context to minimize context switching and make the process less exhausting.
19:35 🚀 The conclusion is that it's not the volume of work but the constant context switching that is the main source of exhaustion for knowledge workers.
21:40 🧠 Therapy is recommended for managing racing thoughts and ruminations, especially for knowledge workers whose brain is their main tool.
22:21 🤔 The logistical challenges of finding a good therapist can be daunting, but online services like BetterHelp offer a flexible solution.
25:26 🪒 Emphasizes the economical and efficient use of Henson razors, suggesting that paying more upfront can lead to long-term savings.
26:10 📚 For building reading stamina, interval training and choosing interesting books are key; also avoid constant smartphone checks.
30:09 💤 If you're getting 8 hours of sleep and still feel exhausted, consider limiting screen time and focusing on sleep hygiene.
33:14 📝 Improving daytime work organization, capturing tasks in trusted systems, and having a good shutdown routine can also improve sleep.
36:16 ⏳ Feeling stressed during leisure time may be due to the lack of a plan; sketching out a light plan for non-work hours can help.
38:22 🔄 The stress from work is often not due to having a plan but due to what is in the plan. Changing what you do can make a huge difference.
40:08 😐 Boredom is a strong emotional signal in humans, driving them to do things. It's part of what makes humans innovative.
41:57 📖 A Benedictine monk disagrees with the notion that discipline is an identity, arguing that it is a tool for developing an identity.
42:24 🤔 The concept of discipline in personal development is often misunderstood. Discipline serves as the foundational layer of efficaciousness, empowering individuals to take meaningful action towards their goals.
43:34 🏋️ "David Goggins style philosophy" focuses on extreme feats of discipline, which may be too intense and not sustainable for everyone.
45:25 ⚙️ Discipline isn't the end goal but serves as a catalyst that allows you to focus on what really matters in your life. It's about building a foundation of efficaciousness.
46:50 📚 Cal Newport suggests a two-step approach: 1) Build a foundation of discipline and control, 2) Get serious about defining depth and values in your life.
48:11 💡 Cal Newport is exploring new frameworks for personal development that involve both discipline and depth, cautioning against focusing on one without the other.
51:09 🎯 Even small progress counts. Consistency is key, even if it means writing just one sentence or 20 words a day.
58:56 ⏰ Time-blocking and protecting mornings proved to be the most effective strategy for writing a book while maintaining a full-time job.
01:02:08 🪣 The "slow and steady" approach works. Consistent, daily efforts accumulate over time, filling the "bucket" of larger goals.
01:02:50 ✒️ Leaving something half-finished the day before can serve as a momentum booster for the next day's work session.
01:03:04 📝 Use placeholders like "TK" (To Come) to maintain writing momentum, filling in details later.
01:04:01 🌈 Life events such as having a child, especially one with special needs, can dramatically impact your productivity and priorities.
01:06:09 💪 Coping mechanisms like sheer willpower and "faking it till you make it" helped get through tough periods.
01:07:32 🔄 Life's unpredictability calls for flexibility in work projects; it's okay to slow down or put something on hold.
01:09:09 📆 Giving yourself permission to have a non-productive month is okay; in the long-term, it's a mere blip.
01:10:45 ⏰ Having children can paradoxically make you more efficient due to a more constrained schedule.
01:12:23 🧠 Investing in research assistance can help focus your efforts on the most important tasks, minimizing context switching.
01:14:25 🎛️ Work isn't a monolith; it's a mix of activities, sequences, and systems that can be adjusted for better efficiency.
01:17:36 🌞 Changing your sleep schedule can open up productive hours you didn't think you had.
01:18:05 📜 Committing to a contract can force you to figure out how to get things done, even if you don't yet know how.
01:19:00 🗓️ The "90-minute rule": Protecting just 90 minutes a day for focused work can lead to significant accomplishments over time.
01:24:08 🛒 Discussing the seamless experience provided by Shopify for online businesses.
01:25:34 🌐 Shopify's global reach, powering e-commerce in over 170 countries.
01:26:58 🗞️ Introduction to a New York Times article about writer Lauren Groff.
01:28:19 📚 Lauren Groff's unusual productivity in literary writing, publishing a book roughly every two to three years.
01:29:14 🏢 Groff uses different spaces in her office for different writing projects to maintain cognitive separation.
01:29:43 📝 Groff's unique writing process involves creating a handwritten draft that she never revisits, focusing on what "sticks."
01:31:07 ⏰ Groff maintains a strict writing schedule, working from 5 am until early afternoon.
01:32:30 🕰️ Emphasizes the value of "slow productivity, " focusing on what matters and allowing time for ideas to mature.
01:33:51 🌲 Lauren Groff's lifestyle includes physical activity and spending time outdoors, contributing to her work-life balance.

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natanribeiro
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I Love this man. I so grateful to read his books, infact I'm going to re-read his books again and again to understand his philosophy more. Thanks Cal and I love you man 🫶 you books and podcasts are changing my life.

engineeringmadeasy
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The brain actually uses more energy to switch between one task and another, which is why we crave sugar (glucose) when we switch between many tasks...so this checks out.

rubaa.
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I loved to do things one thing at a time, working in the corporate world I was told this was a bad thing and I needed to multitask. I am trying to get my mind reset from that world back into my art studio. Thanks so much for your book.

NCWildHeART
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Came upon this seeking, and I suppose hoping to find a way with fatigue. 12 mins in, IMO, what Cal is drawing up here is possibly more relevant to those of us who are doing relatively well. Commenting this to share with others who might fall outside of that.

That the tiredness experienced is set in context of a personal ‘trauma’ history. It’s a weariness that when itself is in contact with Cal’s idea of the “hive mind” just becomes evident, it becomes evident that perhaps one has been holding their breathe through life all this time.

Not much in the way of a solution but hope this comment offers some solace to anyone who might resonate with it

u
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This is so very true. I’m a low level team lead, but I have become a bottleneck where my techs throw every little minute problem with our ERP or labeling issue at me to solve. All I do is transition from doing work to troubleshooting 8 hours a day, and it’s gotten to the point where I’ve seriously thought about quitting and getting a lower level job somewhere else.

BayStatePrepper
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Just had my coffee)) I just feel this jolt of excitement for mathematics and computer science that usually tends to lead to nowhere during that moment, I need slow down and get into the flow state

theencryptedpartition
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I love your show! Such great, useful advice!....and much needed. :)

arianeelsammak
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This is assuming the employee has control over how received work is scheduled. With budget cuts in some industries also require employees to be responsible for more than one activity within the scheduled work shift.

genealotech
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Thanks for all your videos. They are 😃 great.

ariadnarivero
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from writer of productivity to a full life COACHING.
I approve this development.

lucaskazama
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cal man this was so awsome, so many practical tips, dude, , My work is day trading ( price action ), its basically like chess, and I just started it so I wanted to learn the ins and outs of it ( still learning ) but last year I rented a studio and basiclly locked my self in there for like 8, 9 months for a couple months I didnt seee anyone, just strangers I would see on my way to the gym, people like that, not my friends or my family ( my parents came and visited after 2 months or so, ever one or 2 weeks then ) but the work was all i did, altho i was studying and not very efficntly, altho I would do recal as well but it wasnt 4, 5 hours of deep work where my brain is fully working type of studying altho the work part of my work is like that and its still hard becuase its like imagine playing chess for 6 hours ( the more focused u can stay the more u get paid, if you know your stuff ) and then I still gottaa study to get better at my craft after and I dont know how to balance that out with going to the gym, or having a girl friend ( i dont, i literly dont know how i can time that ) I use to think every minute even during eating consume some content regarding my work, but your approach is like be deliberate, put in that 4, 5 hours and then stop becuase youll get a bigger bang for your buck, but my only problem with that is my work is 6 hours, like Its litelry 9:30 to about 4 which is cognatvily demanding like playing chess basiclly and then I have to study later in the day to still get better at it, I if i dont watch a lecutre or some content regarding work I dont know when I can do the work, becase after work ( at 4 ) I eat lunch then go to the gym and come home sometimes Its really late and I eat again so Im thinking I quite the gym or go like twice a week i dont know how i can fit studying for my business in, let alone family time or a girl friend

kasratrading
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Really enjoyed the case study & discussion. It's a nice format.

donlowry
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typical knowledge worker have managers actively messing with any continuous focus

Arkansya