What To Do When You Feel Like Doing Nothing (Unmotivated, Burnt Out & Unproductive) | Cal Newport

Cal Newport talks about finding focus in distracting times in episode 311 of the Deep Questions podcast.

In our current digital world, distracting world events have a way of completely destabilizing our ability to focus on work that matters. In today’s episode, Cal provides advice for escaping these destabilizing attention environments and regaining some sense of mental peace and depth. He then answers questions, takes a call, and reports on some fun sightings of his book Deep Work out in the wild.

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0:00 Finding focus in distracting times
27:42 How can I convince my boss to stop interrupting me?
34:47 Should I switch jobs?
37:06 How do I integrate unpredictable calls into an otherwise structured schedule?
40:51 What’s the ideal reading ratio of difficult to easy books?
44:09 I just turned 30. Am I too late to apply the slow productivity principles?
50:28 Using lifestyle-centered career planning to improve work and pursue a hobby
55:33 Switching roles to an unstructured team
1:05:09 Two Wild Deep Work Sightings

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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.

#CalNewport #DeepWork #DeepLife #DeepQuestions #TimeblockPlanner
#WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast

[cmetcalf]

I've never watched the news and it hasn't bit me yet. Anytime there is something very important, I always hear about it. Even then it's rarely actually important. The media is very good at controlling what we think about.

[timetoarrive]

Great advice!

On a technical note from a sound engineer, I think the voices can sound better. Even if the SM7B are great mics if you could EQ the tracks and take out about 4 dB of 100 - 300hz and maybe raise 3k about 2 - 4 dB the podcast would sound a lot better and be more intelligible! Hope it helps

[timjasper]

When is your chat with Oliver Burkeman?

[dole-kftg]

I set up website blockers (the same kind of tech used for kids phones) on my phone and laptops. I am an adult so I can unblock myself if I really want to, but seeing the blocked page helps me snap out of it.

[CaliforniaUnitedSoccerClub]

Isn't the undisclosed location, New Hampshire?

[reginaldphillips]

Honestly, everyone should care less about politics. If you already know who you’re going to vote for, just do that when the time comes and spend your life focusing on the things you can have an impact on.

[soundsless]

Anyone noticed Cal has a "podcast" day shirt ? 👀