Ep. 300: Hidden Technology Traps

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

There has been a lot of attention paid recently to the impact of technology like social media on the mental health of young people. But this is not the only technology trap lurking for this generation. In this episode, Cal talks about three subtle but significant ways in which our current technology culture is setting up young people for professional failure in the years ahead. He then provides some advice for resisting this fate. In addition to this discussion, he answers questions from the audience and reacts to one of the coolest examples of slow craft that he’s encountered in a long while.
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: The Burnout Society [7:53]
- How can I stop distraction relapses? [35:18]
- How can I reduce my social media addiction without abandoning these technologies? [39:37]
- How can I schedule deep work with a scattered class schedule? [44:29]
- How should I reintroduce video games after a successful digital declutter? [47:14]
- How do I apply Slow Productivity later in life? [51:04]
- CALL: How to formulate a deep life when you’re young [54:41]
CASE STUDY: Tweaking the time block planner [1:06:44]
CAL REACTS: A Slow Reconstruction of an Ancient City [1:11:00]
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/
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEJ4hkpQW8E
• www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2023-cs-smartphone-research-report_final-for-web.pdf
• tenochtitlan.thomaskole.nl/

Thanks to our Sponsors:

• drinklmnt.com/deep
• cozyearth.com/cal
• expressvpn.com/deep
• mybodytutor.com

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

Luvut

1. Deep Dive: The Burnout Society (00:07:53)

2. How can I stop distraction relapses? (00:35:18)

3. How can I reduce my social media addiction without abandoning these technologies? (00:39:37)

4. How can I schedule deep work with a scattered class schedule? (00:44:29)

5. How should I reintroduce video games after a successful digital declutter? (00:47:14)

6. How do I apply Slow Productivity later in life? (00:51:04)

7. CALL: How to formulate a deep life when you’re young (00:54:41)

8. CASE STUDY: Tweaking the time block planner (01:06:44)

9. CAL REACTS: A Slow Reconstruction of an Ancient City (01:11:00)