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Combating the Whirlwind with a Single Sheet of Paper

Deep Questions with Cal Newport ·

One of the more debilitating experiences in our current digital world is the sense of being trapped in relentless, reactive, busyness. This “whirlwind” can separate you from both ambition and presence, leaving you feeling flat and fried. In this episode, Cal discusses a simple trick he deploys when he finds himself in this state. It requires only a single sheet of paper.

More from Cal Download Cal’s FREE guide to cultivating a deeper life: calnewport.com/ideas Learn more about Cal’s books: calnewport.com/books Listen to Cal’s podcast: thedeeplife.com/listen

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:25) Why Overload Makes Life Feel Flat

(00:05:17) The Two Plus Five Plan

(00:21:54) The Long-Term Fix: Workload Management

(00:26:04) Office Hours: Rebuilding After a Health Crisis

(00:31:50) Landlining and Taming Your Phone

(00:46:54) Talking to AI, Star Trek Style

(00:55:57) September Books and Studio Update

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Credits: Podcast Production: Jesse Miller Newsletter/Research: Nate Mechler Theme Music: Jay Kerstens

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