Why You Can't Focus - 5 Mistakes Keeping You Distracted

Cal Newport talks about why you're always distracted in Episode 338 of the Deep Questions podcast. Find out more about Done Daily at https://www.doneDaily.com! One of the most common complaints from listeners to the podcast is the feeling that they’re too distracted; both at work and at home. In today’s episode, Cal reviews five major explanations for this current state of affairs, and then uses this new understanding to identify concrete actions to make things better. He then answers reader questions and reviews the five books he read in January. Download my FREE Deep Life Guide HERE: https://bit.ly/3QBIcug Listen to Episode Here: https://www.thedeeplife.com/listen/ Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3U3sTvo Links: Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/c... Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://neal.fun/stimulation-clicker/ https://thegrowtheq.com/overcoming-th... Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.thrivemarket.com/deep https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.landroverusa.com https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions 0:00 Why You’re Always Distracted 26:39 How should I use social media for my documentary film project? 34:16 How can I master a new job skill in a busy schedule? 39:16 Any advice for developing and nurturing my “second mountain” values? 45:39 How can overcome project paralysis? 48:04 Is my knowledge work role doomed to fail? [52:15] 54:57 Supporting a spouse during stressful career planning 1:02:32 The benefits of a commute [1:05:45] 1:11:04 The 5 Books Cal Read in January, 2025 Connect with Cal Newport: 🔴Visit Cal's BLOG and website: https://calnewport.com/blog/ 🔴Check out Cal's books: https://calnewport.com/writing/ 🔴Check out The Deep Life: https://thedeeplife.com About Cal Newport: Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to his academic research, he writes about the intersection of digital technology and culture. Cal's particularly interested in our struggle to deploy these tools in ways that support instead of subvert the things we care about in both our personal and professional lives. Cal is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including, most recently, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. He's also the creator of The Time-Block Planner. The videos are considered to be used under the "Fair Use Doctrine" of United States Copyright Law, Title 17 U.S. Code Sections 107-118. Videos are used for editorial and educational purposes only and I do not claim ownership of any original video content. I don't use said video clips in advertisements, marketing or for direct financial gain. All video content in each clip is considered owned by the individual broadcast companies. #CalNewport #DeepWork #DeepLife #DeepQuestions #TimeblockPlanner #WorldWithoutEmail #DeepQuestionsPodcast