logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
1h 3m

Ep. 309: Deep Habits

CAL NEWPORT
About this episode

On this show, we often talk about major overhauls to your work and life. In this episode, we go the other way and focus on the small habits that can make a big difference. In more detail, Cal describes eight surprisingly small strategies – four focused on work and four focused on life outside of work – for finding more depth in a distracted world. He then answers listener questions and reacts to a recent article about pushback to calls to limiting social media for kids.

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 Habits [2:46]

- Can I keep my weekly plan in my workingmemory.txt file? [31:13]
- Do you experience any pleasure during deep work? [33:39]
- How many deep work sessions should I do each working week? [38:23]
- How can I prioritize my goals in my personal life? [40:58]
- Does the suggestion to “limit daily goals” conflict with time blocking? [44:09]
 
CASE STUDY: Building my career around a desired lifestyle [45:53]

CAL REACTS: Countering Pushback to Limiting Social Media for Kids [54:26] 

Links:

 

Thanks to our Sponsors: 


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

Up next
Aug 18
Ep. 366: How to Reinvent Your Life in 4 Months (Classic Episode from August, 2023)
In this replay of one of the more popular episodes from the Deep Questions archives, originally aired in August ,2023, Cal explores some of his early strategies for cultivating a deeper life.Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your ques ... Show More
1h 17m
Aug 11
Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)
Why do we end up entangled with tools that don’t have our best interests in mind? How can we fix this situation? In this episode, Cal dives deep into the difference between additive and extractive technologies, telling a story that weaves old technology with old versions of moder ... Show More
1h 2m
Aug 4
Ep. 364: Metrics 101
When Cal recently returned home from his time spent up in New England he set up a whole new set of daily metrics to track in the fall to keep him pointed toward the deep life. And they failed. Hard. In this episode, Cal dissects why metrics matter, why they’re easy to mess up (in ... Show More
1h 9m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
How to Focus and Think (Cal Newport)
Check out my book Million Dollar Weekend, which helps you start businesses in just 48 hours. Check it out at milliondollarweekend.com.   In today's episode, I caught up with a talented, award-winning author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport.  ... Show More
57m 4s
Mar 2025
Assoc. Prof. J.L. Vásquez and Mr. J. Howlett discuss attention management
In ‘Episode 3’ of the series “Effective performance and personal success”, Assoc. Prof. Juan Luis Vasquez (DK) and Mr. Jason Howlett (DK) explore the role of attention management in maintaining productivity and achieving personal success.They discuss practical strategies to enhan ... Show More
21m 27s
Jul 14
This Productivity Hack will Change Your Life! | Clutterbug Podcast # 282
Ever feel like you’re doing everything and still falling behind? Like no matter how many lists you make or how early you wake up, your calendar is still chaos — and your needs always come last? In this episode, I sit down with productivity and time management expert Megan Sumrell ... Show More
1h 9m
Oct 2023
Episode 85: Smart Habits for Time Management
Episode 85: Smart Habits for Time ManagementWhen you wear multiple hats, it can be challenging to manage your time, prioritize tasks, and focus on what’s important. If this sounds familiar, we feel your pain! We have shared our approach to time management and setting priorities i ... Show More
31m 23s
Jul 2024
On Time: Cal Newport redefines productivity
How do we measure productivity? Our default metric tends to be activity. How many emails did you send? How many words did you write? How quickly did you respond to that Slack message? Cal Newport, computer science professor at Georgetown and author of “Slow Productivity: The Lost ... Show More
32m 37s
Sep 2022
Technique #4 to Help You Manage Your Time More Effectively
[[:encoded, "Today we are talking about Technique #4 to Help You Manage Your Time More Effectively, which is to Use Time Blocks to Maintain Structure.\n\nStructuring your work hours cannot be over-emphasized. After your to-do list and prioritizing that list, it is important to st ... Show More
2m 1s
Jan 2024
520 | Can Micro Habits and Micro Workouts Help - with Jeremy Nagel
This week, Jeremy Nagel joins Eric on the show!  Jeremy is a neuro-spicy software developer turned startup founder who is slightly obsessed with habits!  He likes to start each day with a 2-hour morning routine and sometimes surprises colleagues by busting out a set of pushups du ... Show More
48m 32s
Jul 14
Stop "Managing" Time and Start Holding Your Space
Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Stop "Managing" Time and Start Holding Your Space July 14, 2025 | Episode 5136 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description Time management is dead, and if you're still trying to manage time, you haven't grown up yet. Scott breaks down his game-changing "h ... Show More
15m 30s