Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 208: To-Do Lists Are Inhumane

424 snips
Aug 8, 2022
Discover the troubles of overwhelming to-do lists and find effective strategies to tackle them. Explore the crucial differences between deep and shallow work, and learn how to streamline productivity. Delve into innovative marketing tactics for books beyond social media and hear about fascinating connections between gambling strategies and finance. Unpack methods to manage creative anxiety and maintain a healthy balance between idea generation and execution, ensuring a fulfilling professional life.
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ADVICE

Overcoming Task Freeze

  • Group similar tasks together when facing a long, diverse to-do list.
  • This allows your brain to plan and execute more effectively, overcoming task freeze.
INSIGHT

The Neuroscience of Task Freeze

  • Task freeze occurs because our brains struggle to plan for many diverse tasks simultaneously.
  • The brain's planning apparatus freezes, hindering motivation and progress.
ADVICE

Breaks Between Task Groups

  • Take breaks between tackling groups of similar tasks.
  • This lets your cognitive context dissipate, allowing your brain to refresh for the next group.
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