Ep. 257: Refusing Overwork

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Sometimes the most effective way to contain your workload is to simply declare how long you’re willing to work and then refuse to violate your pledge. In this episode, Cal revisits this “fixed-schedule productivity” strategy, which he first introduced way back in 2008.

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

Today’s Deep Question: How does fixed-schedule productivity work, and how has Cal’s thoughts on it changed over the years? [3:02]

– What activities can fall outside fixed schedules? [30:12]

– How do you manage a workload determined by other people? [33:08]

– Why doesn’t Cal build his weekly plan on his calendar? [43:24]

– How do I deal with having too much work piled up? [51:23]

CASE STUDY: Implementing tactics from “A World Without Email” [53:14]

The 5 Books Cal Read in June 2023 [1:02:28]

Links:

calnewport.com/fixed-schedule-productivity-how-I-accomplish-a-large-amount-of-work-in-a-small-number-of-work-hours/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

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

Link to submit questions: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo

Below are the questions covered in today’s episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.

Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia

TODAY’S DEEP QUESTION:

– How does fixed-schedule productivity work and how has Cal’s thoughts on it changed over the years? [3:15]

QUESTIONS:

– What activities can fall outside fixed schedules? [30:12]
– How do you manage a workload determined by other people? [33:25]
– Why doesn’t Cal build his weekly plan on his calendar? [43:40]
– How do I deal with having too much work piled up? [51:30]