Do Fewer Things | The Minimalists Ep. 435

Discussed in this episode:

Intro (00:00)

What are the three principles of slow productivity? (01:40)

Should The Minimalists quit social media? (27:18)

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#TheMinimalists #Productivity #SocialMedia

[TheMinimalists]

Do you feel more productive when you’re busy or when you have room for contemplation?

[pinkribbon]

Doing fewer things builds a sense of appreciation for everything. It builds anticipation and doing things slowly sets a feeling of serenity.

[JureJerebic]

This might be one of the most important episodes you've ever done

[myoaklee]

The discussion about social media tasting like junk food is so true. I left Facebook for 2 years and returned a few months ago to use it for Groups and my mindset on relationships changed so drastically within that period away. No relationship felt genuine or realistic through social media, and I felt more lonely because it didn’t feel like a place of authenticity. It was like an evolution for me to see things differently and see the low quality relationships that exist. Cultivating relationships is difficult with people who are addicted to social media, and it’s also difficult to find people who are likeminded in that aspect.

[LSChestersMom]

I love not doing too much and having space- alot of it- around all I do. Game changer.

[Epp]

If you turn your watch history off like I do on YT, there is no homepage and it won't recommend shorts beyond 2 or 3 videos so you can't mindlessly scroll.
Only subscriptions and then carefully curate them to be useful. Obviously it does suggest follow up videos to the ones you watch, but you can turn autoplay off.

[garamvolgyiandi]

I translated both of your and Cal's book into Hungarian ❤

[natashyas]

This is fascinating. Factory versus true knowledge work. Gives me hope for my life! I haven't "produced" much, but I have tried to focus what's most important - raising my kids, reading to them every day, daily family dinners to preserve connection. Hoping that focusing on quality of life with them, ingraining our values in them - will "produce" more depth and goodness in the world than just running them around from activity to activity...

[HananBenNafa]

Thank you for having Cal, he added a lot of value 🥰

[cherylwestbrook]

Personally I dispise social media and refuse to start. I see how people get so sucked into it. I use YouTube and love your videos. I can listen without looking at the screen as I take care of my home and de clutter.

[HananBenNafa]

I needed to hear this. I've recently started being more gentle with myself and taking annual leave to have slower mornings and being in nature rather than going on trips, spending money and coming back even more overwhelmed. As a sensitive person, weekends are not. enough for me to decompress, so I usually take 2/3 days a month to check in with myself and keep sane.

[upnorth]

I love to see my favorite people interviewing my favorite people 💗

Highly recommend Digital Minimalism and So Good They Can’t Ignore you by Newport.

[TamaraJoy]

Absolutely fantastic podcast ! This episode was so pertinent to everyone who uses the internet, no matter who you are, how much you use it, of what for. The discussion made me think very deeply about my own life, and how and why I interact with social media. It also really resonated with my work as a school teacher. I see my students struggling so much with business, over-full schedules and trouble completing homework to a good standard.
Many Parents enrol their children in multiple after school activities and the kids really suffer from anxiety and not having enough down time. They are busy but not productive. As the old saying goes, they become a Jack of all trades but a master of none. It’s so frustrating and unfair to the kids!

[andreastockton]

I left Instagram and FB about 4 years ago and my life is so much richer and I am more present in my days with my kids. I do often catch your podcasts here, but I would happily switch to audio if y'all decided to simplify!

Thank you to your guest! Fantastic interview, and I can't wait to try a few ideas at work and in "life admin"! ❤

[dragonflywater]

Everything he is saying is what I experienced after I did process improvement training and started applying that to my job, including my boss thinking I wasn't doing anything because I was less busy but yet in the long run I changed entire programs for the better that had been mismanaged for over 40 years! I did knowledge work and state government.😊

[HananBenNafa]

I first discovered your podcast through Youtube and for the past 6-7 years, I mainly followed your content here (the most suitable outlet for me because I see you and I feel I have a relationship with you because I hear and see you every week) and less on Twitter where I like to see the maxims once every 2 days maybe.

[ArleneAdkinsZell]

Oh this has helped me more than any other episode, saved it to listen again from time to time.

[kllecyhannah]

Greetings from Brazil. Thanks for the podcast

[whalingwithishmael]

For what it’s worth, I definitely appreciate the podcast a lot and the writing on the website. The rest of the content isn’t as important to me.

[Jacy]

great episode, thank you. Being mindful, grateful for each moment, savoring what is important in my life.