The Zack Arnold Podcast Becoming a 'Digital Minimalist' | with Cal Newport
Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University, and he’s also the author of six (amazing) books including Deep Work and So Good They Can’t Ignore You. You will NOT find Cal on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platforms. And if you’re wondering why, you’ll learn a lot more in today’s interview when we discuss his brand new book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life In a Noisy World.
In my previous conversation with Cal we did a deep dive into his area of expertise: Deep work. And what Cal discovered after publishing that book is that one of the main distractions keeping people from regularly getting into ‘the zone’ and accomplishing deep work was social media. This led him down the path of learning more about how social media affects our lives, our attention spans, our emotions, and our psyche. And what he has discovered is not good.
Beyond simply breaking down in very clear terms the detriments of spending too much time on social media, Cal has taken the step of creating a philosophy for technology use that has already improved the lives of thousands of people that have implemented it.
If you have the nagging suspicion that your smartphone and social media are commanding far more of your time, energy, and attention than you would like, perhaps adopting a little digitial minimalism isn’t such a bad idea. Learn how to drastically reduce your addiction to social media and your smartphone and live a more calm, distraction-free, and present life from the expert himself in this interview.
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Here's What You'll Learn:
- Creating a philosophy of digital use, not just tips & tricks
- Is there still a healthy place for social media?
- Do you need to digitally declutter or digitally detox?
- How to do a 30-Day declutter
- Maximalist vs. Minimalist view of embracing technology
- The mental health detriments of social media
- How to healthily reintroduce technology into your life
- The designs and intentions of social media companies
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude
FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century
Our Generous Sponsors:
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Guest Bio:
Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of six books, including Deep Work and So Good They Can't Ignore You. You won't find him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, but you can often find him at home with his family in Washington, DC, or writing essays for his popular website calnewport.com
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
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