Deep Questions with Cal Newport Ep. 222: Did Cavemen Use To-Do Lists?
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Nov 14, 2022 Exploring whether cavemen used to-do lists offers a humorous take on productivity. The discussion dives into the stark contrasts between ancestral work and today’s tasks, advocating for focused work methods. There's a deep dive into the challenges of balancing work, life, and academic commitments, plus insights into the effects of rapid email responses as talent markers. A case study on freelancing reveals strategies for achieving freedom and satisfaction, while the podcast tackles the impact of smartphone bans on youth mental health.
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Caveman Work
- Compare modern knowledge work to the work of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
- Differences may reveal sources of frustration in our modern work lives.
Immediate Return vs. Delayed Gratification
- Hunter-gatherers lived in an immediate-return economy.
- Modern knowledge work involves juggling multiple long-term projects with delayed rewards, causing friction.
Work Intensity
- Hunter-gatherers experienced varied work intensity with frequent breaks.
- Modern knowledge work follows a factory model of continuous high intensity, conflicting with our natural rhythms.
