Episode 21: How to Accomplish Far More While Working Less (ft. Cal Newport)

About the Episode

What if there was a way to work your ass off on meaningful work—without the associated relationship breakdowns or stress? What if “making an impact” didn’t require massive amounts of energy or sacrifice? What if you could get more done by doing less?

In this episode, I talk to Cal Newport about how knowledge work has got it all wrong. We discuss the subtle dangers of remote/digital work and the key to avoiding burnout, all while still being able to grind on the things you love.

If you’re a stressed out, overworked remote worker, this one is for you.

Cal Newport Quotes From the Episode

Take longer on your work. The scale in which you measure productivity, make that a longer scale… If you give yourself more time, it’s not just going to be more realistic, it’s probably going to be better.

Variations in intensity are completely compatible with killing it, with producing great stuff.

There’s an administrative overhead that comes along with saying ‘yes’ to something: emails, standing meetings every Wednesday… If you say ‘yes’ to too many things, this overhead tax begins to pile up.

Constant context-switching is the number one mental health affliction of knowledge work.