The Cognitive Costs of Task Switching

A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner that addresses a simple question: when will AI begin to automate most of my work?

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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: The Workload Fairytale [3:39]

- How would you rewrite A World Without Email to account for Slack? [18:16]
- How should I manage multiple deadlines? [22:14]
- How does Values-Based Lifestyle Centric Career Planning relate to Rutger Bregman's concept of Moral Ambition? [27:28]
- How can I avoid burnout and use my career capital to find a less demanding job? [34:24]
- Should I do my weekly plan on Sunday night to avoid the scaries? [40:32]

CASE STUDY: A lawyer argues in front of the New York Court of Appeals [42:57]

CALL: What exactly is considered task switching? [47:15]

TECH CORNER: When will AI automate my job? [56:04]

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?
bbc.com/news/business-57724779
theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/21/four-day-week-uk-trial-success-pattern
dw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885
calnewport.com/ai-and-work-some-predictions/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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