Never Feel Burnout Again with Cal Newport (#61)

Kevin Rose sits down with Cal Newport a New York Times best-selling author, to dissect productivity fundamentals, including three core principles: doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. They explore the historical context of productivity, the impact of technology on work habits, and the role of AI in productivity. Cal shares insights from his latest book, Slow Productivity, and gives practical tips for maintaining deep focus.Guest Bio and Links:Cal is an MIT-trained computer science professor at Georgetown University who also writes about the intersections of technology, work, and the quest to find depth in an increasingly distracted world. Cal is known for his unique stance of not using any social media. This decision underscores his deep work philosophy and adds an intriguing layer to his productivity and digital wellness expertise.Listeners can learn more about Cal Newport at https://www.calnewport.com/, on YouTube - / @calnewportmedia Resources:Kevin's Newsletter: https://www.kevinrose.comRise and Fall of Getting Things Done Cal Newport’s Books - https://calnewport.com/writing/#books Show Notes:0:00 Introduction1:10 Cal’s latest book: Slow Productivity 2:10 Defining productivity 5:30 Pseudo productivity and the impact of remote work 9:20 The Front Office IT revolution 14:30 ”Time and space are needed to craft important things” -Cal Newport 16:00 Task switching and multitasking 18:00 Why productivity tools don’t stick 24:25 The introduction of AI in the knowledge workspace 30:35 The role of intentional AI 38:35 Kevin's Newsletter: https://kevinrose.com 39:20 Three adaptable principles in the 21st century 47:45 How to prioritize commitments 50:33 Importance of environmental cues in cognitive work56:00 Handling small tasks and preventing fragmentation1:05:00 Importance of obsessing over the quality of work1:05:45 “The other thing that happens when you really start to care about craft, slowness no longer seems artificial or unattainable, but instead begins to seem necessary.” -Cal Newport1:10:30 Day in the life of Cal Newport1:20:24 Takeaways from Slow Productivity This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.kevinrose.com/subscribe