Ep. 323: Strategic Procrastination

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

 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

 

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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. 

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