One of the most important skills for cultivating a satisfying and high impact life is one we rarely discuss: the art of serious thinking. In this episode, Cal makes the case for serious thinking as an ability to specifically cultivate, then describes five specific practices you can put into place to launch a crash course in developing an effective life of the mind.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvoVideo from today’s episode:  https://youtube.com/calnewportmediaDeep Dive: How to Think [4:07] - Does reading count as Deep Work? [38:50]- How do I make sense of the topics I think about? [41:48]- How should I manage boredom in a job without hurting my ability to focus? [45:12]- How can I provide quick answers to management if I’m a slow thinker? [50:40] - CALL: How should I structure my Deep Holiday? [56:44] CASE STUDY: A successful Digital Detox allowing one to think in peace. [59:55] CAL REACTS: Does collaboration make us less creative? [1:07:29]Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.shopify.com/deephttps://www.mintmobile.com/deephttps://www.cozyearth.com (promo code: CAL)https://www.mybodytutor.comThanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

We talk a lot on this show about remaining organized in a digital workplace that drowns us with incoming obligations. In this episode, Cal focuses on the key question of how you get *started* toward this goal. What do you do, in other words, on day one of your quest to find depth amidst the shallows.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: Getting organized in a distracted world [6:46]  - How do I get more excited about my work plans? [45:55] - How do I get my classmates to get better about time management? [53:59] - How should I organize my deep work blocks? [1:00:13] - How do I account for contingencies in my quarterly plan? [1:05:11] - When does Cal find time to read? [1:05:50] - CALL: How to train Deep Focus muscles [1:11:06]  CASE STUDY: Investing concentrated time [1:17:04]  The 5 books Cal read in November 2023 [1:24:08]  Thanks to our Sponsors:  expressvpn.com/deep blinkist.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal zocdoc.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

One of the most common types of messages sent in from listeners of this podcast are self-recriminations about laziness. But what does “laziness” actually mean? In this episode, Cal takes a deeper look at the common terms and sees that it’s often used to describe two unrelated phenomena. He then gives a big idea for overcoming each.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: Overcoming laziness [4:00]  - How should I track small projects? [39:39] - How do I find time to bodybuilder when I have a demanding job? [44:56] - How do I remain motivated to work after graduation?[53:12] - How do I make the shift from warehouse work to web development? [59:20] - How do I deal with decision fatigue? [1:03:18] - CALL: Implementing advice from pragmatic non-fiction books [1:07:53]  CASE STUDY: Pursuing a life of depth [1:11:31]  CAL REACTS: Algorithms act as conveyor belts [1:22:51]  LINKS:  jonathanhaidt.substack.com/p/algorithms-hijacked-my-generation  Thanks to our Sponsors:  rhone.com/cal moshlife.com/deep grammarly.com/podcast This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhlep.com/deepquestions  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

 How you accomplish important goals: The type that can transform your life in remarkable ways? In this episode, Cal breaks down the common mistakes we make in pursuing hard goals and then details the reverse goal setting strategy he has found to work much more consistently.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Today’s Deep Question: How do I follow through on transformative goals? [2:18]  - How do I prepare for an upcoming change to my professional life? [42:26] - How do I schedule abundant free time? [49:43] - Should I feel guilty that I’m so efficient I barely work? [53:47] - How do I avoid doing too much? [1:00:27] - How do I time block work of unknown durations? [1:07:31] - CALL: Pursuing a career with two different paths [1:13:52]  CAL REACTS: Joe Rogan and The Rock Talk Passion [1:21:35]  Thanks to our Sponsors:  shopify.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal mybodytutor.com blinkist.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Based on extensive feedback from listeners and new research, Cal is ready to unveil his new and improved version of the Deep Life Stack, his foundational approach for transforming your life from shallow and distracted to deep and remarkable.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: The Deep Life Stack 2.0 [4:40]  - Does prioritizing deep work grow your task list? [38:02] - Does deep work impede the development of soft skills? [41:04] - How do I shut down work without clean stopping points? [46:31] - CALL: Intrusive thoughts while doing deep work [52:29] - CALL: How does Cal organize his working memory.txt [57:49]  CASE STUDY: Using slow productivity to build a house [1:00:30]  CAL REACTS: Should you “burn the boats” to motivate ambitious action? [1:08:00]  Links:  amazon.com/Burn-Boats-Overboard-Unleash-Potential/dp/006308886X  Thanks to our Sponsors:  rhone.com/cal mintmobile.com/deep cozyearth.com ladderlife.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

A viral video making the rounds recently argues that the key to promoting learning is to deliver education in apps that are equally addictive as social media. Cal takes a closer look at the brain science behind this claim and argues why it is fundamentally impossible to beat attention engineered apps at their own game. We shouldn’t, however, give up hope, as our brain has a completely unrelated motivation system, built on a behavior called episodic future thinking (EFT), that we can leverage to make deep activities like learning seem more rewarding than the short term distractions beckoning from our phones. Mastering the EFT system is indeed critical to cultivating a deep life.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: Can we make learning as addictive as social media? [2:33]  - Can I be happy in a job that doesn’t require me to learn? [33:44] - How can I fight deep procrastination to learn better? [40:52] - How can I identify the school for my kid to learn better? [47:11] - How can I reflect on work concepts without feeling the urge to work? [51:48] - How does Ultralearning apply to Slow Productivity? [55:36] - CALL: Recommendations on learning [58:02]  CASE STUDY: Designing a system to learn [1:00:50]  The 5 books Cal read in October 2023 [1:10:14]  Links:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo youtu.be/wmdG-uZk6JY?si=2_S6Mer1VnBJE3Wv&t=120 sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/ calnewport.com/the-father-of-deliberate-practice-disowns-flow/ ideas.ted.com/mental-time-travel-is-a-great-decision-making-tool-this-is-how-to-use-it/   Thanks to our Sponsors:  zocdoc.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal blinkist.com/deep expressvpn.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

In this episode, Cal reviews what he believes to be the four essential tools for feeling on top of everything you need to do. If you’re missing one of these, you might struggle. If you use all four, you’re probably safe never thinking about “productivity” again. Cal is then joined by friend of the show, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein, to answer listener questions about their personal struggles to take control of their lives.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: The Productivity Toolkit [2:30]  - What is the most underrated productivity superpower? [35:05] - Should I journal? [43:59] - How do I build a system to help me remember things? [48:23] - Can I use a split-day strategy to time block a reactive job? [52:01] - Help! I’m stuck at age 30. How do I get unstuck? [54:42]  CAL REACTS: How can we make learning as addictive as social media? [1:16:06]  Links:  youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo  Thanks to our Sponsors:  rhone.com/cal grammarly.com/podcast policygenius.com/deepquestions mybodytutor.com  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Much of the advice we discuss is about how to improve things right now. But what are the right strategies for ensuring that we’re happy about where we are five or even ten years in the future. How do we ensure, in other words, that we won’t look back at major swaths of our lives with regret? In this episode, Cal discusses three big ideas for playing the long game when it comes to cultivating a deep life.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  https://youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: What can you do now to stay content later? [3:30]   - What habits help you escape complacency? [25:51] - How do I know if I need a major change to my life? [31:00] - How can I rediscover my drive to live deep with a boring (but stable) job? [36:08] - CALL: Avoiding the stress of having a large “to-do” list [41:07]  CASE STUDY: Designing a deep work t-shirt to be productive [47:22]  CAL REACTS: Is Social Media a Collective Trap? [56:03]  Thanks to our Sponsors:  This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/deepquestions https://www.hensonshaving.com/cal https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

An increasing number of people are suffering from “super distractions” that rise above the level of harmless diversion and instead start to actively hold them back in their life. Some of the common culprits cited include social media, online pornography, and alcohol. In this episode, Cal takes a closer look at what creates super distractions and uses this insight to come up with an effective game plan for fighting back.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive:  Taking control of your life from super distractions [8:09]  - How can I stay productive while in between goals? [36:24] - Will I become depressed from a dopamine fast? [40:46] - How can I overcome negative thoughts? [44:01] - Are there rituals to help me handle shallow work more efficiently? [50:19]  CASE STUDY: Success with an electronic detox [58:27]  Cal Reacts: NPR left Twitter and the effects are negligible [1:06:59]  Links:  niemanreports.org/articles/npr-twitter-musk/  Thanks to our Sponsors:  mintmobile.com/deep cozyearth.com blinkist.com/deep ladderlife.com/deep  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

After an episode in which Cal reviewed ancient wisdom on cultivating a deeper life, he turns his attention back to more recent advice. Focusing on three of the more unconventional but unambiguously effective ideas that he has proposed in his twenty years of professional writing on these topics.  Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo  Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia  Deep Dive: Getting started is overrated [6:29]  - How can I become more confident in social settings? [36:15] - Is it ok to be an ordinary person? [40:52] - Is it important to have friends? [46:41] - I took a pay cut to become a teacher again. How can I better organize my life to prioritize craft? [49:36] - Is it ok to use YouTube to discover new ideas? [57:28]  Reader’s React: Is Productivity Natural? [1:05:04]  Links:  calnewport.com/dangerous-ideas-getting-started-is-overrated/ calnewport.com/treat-your-mind-as-you-would-a-private-garden/ calnewport.com/should-you-work-like-maya-angelou-or-eric-schmidt/ calnewport.com/on-tire-pressure-and-productivity/  Thanks to our Sponsors:  moshlife.com/deep zocdoc.com/deep hensonshaving.com/cal mybodytutor.com  Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Mark Miles for mastering.