Ep. 356: How Much Should We Work?

1211 snips

Jun 9, 2025

The podcast dives into the rising exhaustion and burnout among knowledge workers, exploring the impact of technology on productivity. An insightful discussion reveals lessons from history, particularly Thoreau's thoughts on attention and mental fatigue. Listeners get practical advice on developing rare skills, creating personal dashboards, and the importance of career coaching. The challenges and ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence are also tackled, alongside a humorous look at AI's unpredictable behaviors. Brace for a mix of wisdom and actionable insights!

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INSIGHT

Brain Renting Model is Exhausting

Knowledge workers can't sustain focused attention for eight hours daily like industrial labor demands of the body.
This unnatural constant brain usage is exhausting and drives burnout today.

INSIGHT

Tech Amplifies Brain Rental Pressure

Technology increased surveillance and workload granularity, making it impossible to fake full brain rental in office work.
This amplifies exhaustion as workers are expected to be cognitively engaged constantly without natural breaks.

INSIGHT

The Thoreau Schedule Concept

The Thoreau schedule optimizes for the brain's natural attention limits: 2-3 hours of deep work, ample breaks, then administrative tasks.
This schedule reduces burnout risk without necessarily reducing long-term productivity.

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iRobot

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