Ep. 323: Strategic Procrastination

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

One of the most common complaints from people attempting to cultivate a deep life in our distracted world is procrastination. You want to make regular progress on something important but find you just can’t get going. In this episode, Cal discusses a less well understood cause of some procrastination and offers unconventional advice for facing it. He also answers listener questions and reacts to an article about a famous author’s unexpected regret.

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: Strategic Procrastination [4:46]

- Should I change my job? [20:28]

- Should I automate my busy work? [24:20]

- How can I speed up my reading? [27:01]

- Should I quit my job to get my PhD? [31:41]

- My team of 3 has 37 open projects. How do we avoid burnout? [43:29]

- CALL: An engineering student’s commute [50:52]

CASE STUDY: Doing a master’s later in life [59:50]

CAL REACTS: Anne Patchett’s Biggest Regret [1:09:40]

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/

Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?

nytimes.com/2024/10/15/opinion/ann-patchett-regret-email.html

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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.

Capitole

1. Ep. 323: Strategic Procrastination (00:00:00)

2. Deep Dive: Strategic Procrastination (00:04:46)

3. Should I change my job? (00:20:28)

4. Should I automate my busy work? (00:24:20)

5. How can I speed up my reading? (00:27:01)

6. Should I quit my job to get my PhD? (00:31:41)

7. My team of 3 has 37 open projects. How do we avoid burnout? (00:43:29)

8. CALL: An engineering student’s commute (00:50:52)

9. CASE STUDY: Doing a master’s later in life (00:59:50)

10. CAL REACTS: Anne Patchett’s Biggest Regret (01:09:40)