Productivity Expert: What’s WRONG w/ Modern Work (+ How To Fix It) | Cal Newport X Rich Roll
Rich Roll
Mar 4, 2024
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Prioritize perennial value over fleeting hype for lasting success
The best-selling book 'Deep Work' has sold over 1.5 million copies but has never been on a major bestseller list, proving the power of perennial value over initial hype.
Eliminate pseudo-productivity to prevent burnout
We mistakenly use visible activity, like answering emails, as a proxy for useful effort, which leads to burnout without actual productivity.
Overcome perfectionism by focusing on your next project
To avoid getting paralyzed by perfectionism on your current project, tell yourself that your 'next one' will be the truly great one, which gives you permission to finish and ship your current work.
Minimize context switching to boost cognitive capacity
Constantly checking your inbox creates 'attention residue,' a state of reduced cognitive capacity that can take up to 20 minutes to recover from, equivalent to taking a slug of scotch every 20 minutes.
Build discipline through consistent small actions
Discipline isn't an intrinsic trait you either have or don't; it's a skill you can build by practicing small, consistent actions in different areas of your life.
Implement slow productivity principles to drive change at work
To adopt slow productivity at work, start by subtly implementing its principles, like blocking off a day for deep work, and let the positive results create their own momentum before you announce your new strategy.
Create shared document for transparent workload management
Use a shared document that lists your active projects and a queue for upcoming work to manage your boss's expectations and reduce your workload.
Set personal quotas to manage requests effectively
To avoid being overwhelmed by requests, set a personal quota for certain tasks per quarter or semester and politely decline when you've hit your limit.
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