Deep Questions with Cal Newport Ep. 105: Should I Read the News?
Jun 14, 2021
Discover strategies for integrating deep work into shallow job roles while negotiating for a more fulfilling experience. Learn how batching emails can help combat communication overload and boost productivity, and explore the importance of focusing on sequential work processes. Delve into effective stress management techniques for high-pressure environments and the benefits of taking breaks from news consumption to enhance critical thinking and personal well-being. Gain insights into parenting techniques that support focus and growth.
01:04:51
Sequential Work
- Focus on sequentiality in your work, completing one task before starting another.
- This approach optimizes brain function and reduces cognitive fatigue, regardless of deep or shallow work.
Batching Email's Flaw
- Email batching is a superficial solution to email overload. It fails because it doesn't address the underlying problem of constant, ad-hoc communication.
Client Communication
- Trade accessibility for clarity with clients by setting office hours, phone calls or dedicated email channels.
- Clients often crave structure, not constant access. This approach reduces cognitive burden and improves efficiency.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Navigating Deep Work Within Shallow Job Structures
04:01 • 4min
Mastering Focus in a Distracted World
08:15 • 25min
Navigating Deep Work and Academic Momentum
33:36 • 6min
Balancing Research and Parenting: Strategies for Growth
39:29 • 2min
Leading by Example in Adulthood
41:20 • 6min
Navigating Stress and News Consumption
47:47 • 17min
#51801
Land
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#46344
The Whiteness of Wealth
Dorothy A. Brown
#27
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R Covey
This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives.
The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7).
The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw.
Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement.
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The book traces the family's history from their early success with tranquilizers like Librium and Valium to the devastating impact of OxyContin, which contributed significantly to the opioid crisis.
Keefe's work is based on extensive research and exposes the family's ruthless business tactics, their influence on medical and governmental bodies, and their attempts to evade accountability for the harm caused by their products.
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The book combines stories of top performers with scientific insights into cognitive and neurochemical factors that enhance performance.
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The authors provide practical advice on managing stress, prioritizing rest and sleep, and setting meaningful goals to avoid burnout and achieve peak performance.
#42
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Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport
In 'Digital Minimalism', Cal Newport argues that we need to be more intentional about the technologies we allow into our lives.
He proposes a philosophy of digital minimalism, where individuals focus their online time on activities that strongly support their values and ignore the rest.
The book highlights the negative effects of behavioral addictions created by technology, such as solitude deprivation and the fleeting nature of social media satisfaction.
Newport suggests a 30-day 'digital declutter' process and other practices to help readers integrate digital minimalism into their lives, emphasizing the importance of optimizing technology use to support personal goals and values.
#12
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In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth.
The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results.
The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.
#70
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A World Without Email
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Cal Newport
In 'A World Without Email', Cal Newport argues that the constant digital communication, which he terms the 'hyperactive hive mind', has become a productivity disaster.
He contends that this workflow, driven by email and other messaging tools, reduces profitability, slows economic growth, and makes workers miserable.
Newport proposes a workplace where clear processes, not haphazard messaging, define task management.
He advocates for each person working on fewer tasks but doing them better, with significant investment in support to reduce administrative burdens.
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#6
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Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport
In 'Deep Work', Cal Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work—professional activities in a state of distraction-free concentration—is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part explains why deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, while the second part presents four rules to transform your mind and habits to support this skill.
These rules include 'Work Deeply', 'Embrace Boredom', 'Quit Social Media', and 'Drain the Shallows'.
Newport provides actionable advice and examples from various successful individuals to help readers master the skill of deep work and achieve groundbreaking results.
DEEP WORK QUESTIONS
- How do you apply deep work when your job is entirely shallow? [4:37]
- Is batching emails a few times a day a good practice? [12:20]
- Why are some tips for managing the flow of emails and texts from clients? [19:54]
- What am I (Cal) working during my teaching sabbatical this spring? [26:45]
- What are the ideal ratios for writing, thinking, and reading in a day? [29:47]
- Can I (Cal) elaborate on how I track deep work? [34:17]
- How do you avoid easing up on the gas after tenure? [35:58]
- How do I teach my kids to appreciate career capital? [40:08]
DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS
- How does Cal Newport handle stress? [46:44]
- how much news should I be reading? [51:55]
- Is there a connection between Stephen Covey's saw and Newport's buckets? [57:59]
- How do you (Cal) deal with failure and setbacks? [1:00:21]
Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.
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