Deep Questions with Cal Newport cover image

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Ep. 278: How to Think

Dec 11, 2023
In this podcast, Cal Newport discusses the importance of serious thinking and provides five practices to cultivate an effective life of the mind. Topics include deep work, managing boredom in a job, providing quick answers as a slow thinker, structuring a deep holiday, the benefits of collaboration, and minimalism in the digital world.
01:21:19

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Quick takeaways

  • Serious thinking is a crucial skill that can be cultivated through specific practices for a more effective life of the mind.
  • In-person collaboration promotes longer and more focused thinking sessions, facilitating the production of original and valuable ideas.

Deep dives

Summary

This episode discusses the importance of becoming a serious thinker and provides practical ways to improve thinking skills. It emphasizes the need to give sustained attention to complex information, cultivate comfort with boredom, improve concentration, strengthen working memory, and practice engaging with ideas. The episode also emphasizes the value of lifestyle-centered career planning and warns against grass is greener syndrome. Lastly, it offers advice on dealing with the pressure to provide quick answers by leaning into slowness and addressing perfectionism and imposter syndrome.

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