Do Fewer Things | The Minimalists Ep. 435

[@TheMinimalists]

Do you feel more productive when you’re busy or when you have room for contemplation?

[@la_baby_khalil7703]

🤔 Still thinking! 🧐

[@davidversteegen]

I feel most productive in between; when i am not bored, but stimulated by findings during my state in FLOW.

[@kllecyhannah6608]

Greetings from Brazil. I use social midia only for work such as KZbin or to comunicante with fam. I feel more productive when I am busy reading, studying or watching classes to learn something. Social media takes a lot of time from us when we use them to know what is going on.

[@bettinajahnke6331]

There is time for being busy, checking things off the list, and then there is time for contemplation and deep thinking. Both are necessary. Also important is to know when is the best time to be busy or do what I like to call monkey work and then when you do the deep thinking and being creative.

[@heathero2l]

when i am in the state of flow (not overwhelmed or understimulated, but in between)

[@pinkribbon3541]

Doing fewer things builds a sense of appreciation for everything. It builds anticipation and doing things slowly sets a feeling of serenity.

[@JureJerebic]

This might be one of the most important episodes you've ever done

[@LSChestersMom]

I love not doing too much and having space- alot of it- around all I do. Game changer.

[@myoaklee]

The discussion about social media tasting like junk food is so true. I left Facebook for 2 years and returned a few months ago to use it for Groups and my mindset on relationships changed so drastically within that period away. No relationship felt genuine or realistic through social media, and I felt more lonely because it didn’t feel like a place of authenticity. It was like an evolution for me to see things differently and see the low quality relationships that exist. Cultivating relationships is difficult with people who are addicted to social media, and it’s also difficult to find people who are likeminded in that aspect.

[@lhl.organizing]

I completely agree. Many of those formerly in-person relationships have been tainted and completely corrupted. The virtual friendships are more real than those with the people I've met before, which is pretty sad. I really haven't figured out the best balance with social media.

[@thiagofbenedicto]

This is true mate

[@garamvolgyiandi]

I translated both of your and Cal's book into Hungarian ❤

[@natashyas4149]

This is fascinating. Factory versus true knowledge work. Gives me hope for my life! I haven't "produced" much, but I have tried to focus what's most important - raising my kids, reading to them every day, daily family dinners to preserve connection. Hoping that focusing on quality of life with them, ingraining our values in them - will "produce" more depth and goodness in the world than just running them around from activity to activity...

[@aprilprescott4192]

What a heartfelt gift you are providing your children and to the future of mankind, thank you.

[@Epp749]

If you turn your watch history off like I do on YT, there is no homepage and it won't recommend shorts beyond 2 or 3 videos so you can't mindlessly scroll. Only subscriptions and then carefully curate them to be useful. Obviously it does suggest follow up videos to the ones you watch, but you can turn autoplay off.

[@ericawhitfield9289]

Thank you for this tip!

[@HananBenNafa]

Thank you for having Cal, he added a lot of value 🥰

[@HananBenNafa]

I needed to hear this. I've recently started being more gentle with myself and taking annual leave to have slower mornings and being in nature rather than going on trips, spending money and coming back even more overwhelmed. As a sensitive person, weekends are not. enough for me to decompress, so I usually take 2/3 days a month to check in with myself and keep sane.

[@blacctapioca2154]

I do the same. It just makes me enjoy my daily life including my job more when I have time to come down and just enjoy simple pleasures like going for a long walk or do my house chores in a calm manner.

[@opalessense]

The ad joke at 9:05 is just fire 😂

[@andreastockton3860]

I left Instagram and FB about 4 years ago and my life is so much richer and I am more present in my days with my kids. I do often catch your podcasts here, but I would happily switch to audio if y'all decided to simplify! Thank you to your guest! Fantastic interview, and I can't wait to try a few ideas at work and in "life admin"! ❤

[@upnorth316]

I love to see my favorite people interviewing my favorite people 💗 Highly recommend Digital Minimalism and So Good They Can’t Ignore you by Newport.

[@TamaraJoy7]

Absolutely fantastic podcast ! This episode was so pertinent to everyone who uses the internet, no matter who you are, how much you use it, of what for. The discussion made me think very deeply about my own life, and how and why I interact with social media. It also really resonated with my work as a school teacher. I see my students struggling so much with business, over-full schedules and trouble completing homework to a good standard. Many Parents enrol their children in multiple after school activities and the kids really suffer from anxiety and not having enough down time. They are busy but not productive. As the old saying goes, they become a Jack of all trades but a master of none. It’s so frustrating and unfair to the kids!

[@dragonfly4water]

Everything he is saying is what I experienced after I did process improvement training and started applying that to my job, including my boss thinking I wasn't doing anything because I was less busy but yet in the long run I changed entire programs for the better that had been mismanaged for over 40 years! I did knowledge work and state government.😊

[@Run4yourlives]

With KZbin I’ve shut off my search history. It eliminates the algorithm so the only thing I see are the channels I subscribe to. We don’t have that option with other social media platforms. So I’ve had to delete those accounts. Otherwise social media is like TK describes, a meal I feel guilty for eating. Only that meal lasts for hours. I get truly addicted.

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Oh this has helped me more than any other episode, saved it to listen again from time to time.

[@kllecyhannah6608]

Greetings from Brazil. Thanks for the podcast

[@HananBenNafa]

I first discovered your podcast through KZbin and for the past 6-7 years, I mainly followed your content here (the most suitable outlet for me because I see you and I feel I have a relationship with you because I hear and see you every week) and less on Twitter where I like to see the maxims once every 2 days maybe.

[@Jacy28]

great episode, thank you. Being mindful, grateful for each moment, savoring what is important in my life.

[@heidinoggle]

my favorite episode to date!!!

[@ronnie-lynn]

Being productive at my job is; (how I could measure it) Getting the patients checked in, a timely manner, (being pleasant & friendly) while answering the phones & multitasking. Calling patients to book diagnostic exams/procedures while being accurate & efficient. Lastly Double checking my work to be sure it is up to my standards.

[@roseanneducut8525]

I’ve never heard of the Newsfeed Eradicator! Will try that for FB groups!

[@whalingwithishmael7751]

For what it’s worth, I definitely appreciate the podcast a lot and the writing on the website. The rest of the content isn’t as important to me.

[@DSLightning21]

21:20 - When you said "standing meetings", I immediately thought of "Daily Scrums", which is part of the "Agile Scrum" methodology in the software world. These shorter daily 15min meetings are supposed to replace the 1hr weekly status meetings. 22:04 - And this is exactly what Scrum aims to resolve. With a Product Backlog, stakeholders/managers can clearly see what teams are working on per Sprint, so new tasking gets added to the backlog, and can be rearranged accordingly. That's all I wanted to share, just to be informative. I'll remain neutral whether or not this is a good thing. 😉

[@nielliesmons]

The Nostr protocol aligns really well with what these guys are talking about. A way to do social media (and more) where you own your data and can use infinte different apps. It's open and decentralized just like RSS feeds or email.

[@inglescomrafarufino]

Cal Newport is great! Love him!

[@seniorito5309]

THIIIIS! THIS IS LIT!

[@slane_design]

Can't wait to read TKs book! I love him!

[@lhl.organizing]

I had a major issue with this and my former manager as I'm an engineer and a ton of what I do is on the computer and data analytics. It doesn't look the way they expected.

[@marcor903]

For youtube users, you can eliminate vídeos for the main page in options by deactivating the reproduction history. By doing this, you wont see any videos for the main page neither on “shorts”, so, KZbin cant make recommendations for you

[@annepinkney6921]

This was sooo good! Thank you.

[@renatapeters3681]

Loved this one

[@plainchemicals]

Great stuff. Let's go Brandon!

[@Samantha-jb6ln]

12:30 "using the busyness as a way to avoid the hard thing" ouch

[@bettinajahnke6331]

Excellent episode!

[@dainasworldnumbers88]

I stopped listening about six months ago, this episode brought me back in.

[@nancie7487]

At work, the less you do, the more the management doesn't have to deal with you because someone else will do your job anyway !!

[@katj311]

YESSSSSSS!!!!! Now, how to find a way to work in a real way and earn enough to survive….

[@whalingwithishmael7751]

Is there a way to have KZbin only suggest approved channels?

[@janethunt4037]

I use KZbin to listen to your podcasts. It's easier for me.

[@allardvanderstarre]

if anything, do it with soul; towards a better future-like more human

[@luisalonsoherediatamayo1944]

Nice intro David bowie

[@ittibittinurse]

Do fewer things and stay on social media including You Tube.

[@rebeccajohnson4232]

Do fewer things really well! A ha!

[@dainasworldnumbers88]

I think you would benefit from getting back to your roots, I don’t follow social media, I liked you ten years ago when you were simpler.

[@mariahsmom9457]

Has Ryan quit altogether and moved? I keep hoping he will come back. 🙁

[@gregz1235]

Where's Ryan?

[@xsilentg]

Study Nostr 😊

[@UnaBellissima]

1st one. 🙏🏼

[@Myglowtips]

I don’t like that it’s not Joshua, T.K. or Ryan on The Minimalists social. It’s kind of a not so authentic experience.

[@kattrinaj6575]

Only a 1/4 way through, but for me business can be a trauma response. Running away from my feelings.

[@gabrielleyadav3661]

❤ 🔥

[@LindaTucker-k7c]

Time after time, you fail to introduce TK. As your co-host, he should be introduced (as you are, Joshua) by Malabama. Or mentioned by you, Josh, before you introduce your episode’s guest. You depend on TK for content. He deserves recognition.

[@heathero2l]

0:11 she does

[@nicholelucier4866]

Isn’t Cal Newport using social media by proxy? Cal does interviews with people who are on social media and share his clips. Others in turn share his content on their social media and he benefits from it, even if he’s not using it himself.

[@FisherOfMen705]

Gods speed isn't necessary 10, 000mph

[@natashyas4149]

You guys need to stay on social media to keep your message amongst the garbage. Like the prophet speaking truth over the lies.

[@klinton9662]

This is the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard. With regard to work, being slower or not problem solving in real time is extremely naive. That is not how the world works. Employees lower on the proverbial totem pole, problem solve in their specific areas because they are the ones doing the work. It benefits those upstream to listen and implement their ideas. This is a very basic idea of how enterprise works. Encouraging people to slow down is assuming by doing so, the quality will be lessened. Things happen in a chain. People make change as change is needed. We are all adaptive. So are challenges. What terrible advice. Ok … you first. Hire everyone on the slow , lazy model. See how well that goes for you.

[@karo1922]

Above that level you describe is a higher level, where you really struggle with ideas for months, years. Every phd student knows that this creative flow does not come under pressure… For other people, working 9:5 jobs the variation of this principle applies: do fewer things at once 😊

[@YahelTov]

❤️🇮🇱🙏❤️

[@izzm2327]

Bro needs to turn down the speed of his speech… it’s too BUSY

[@SofiePascuala]

Great episode! I don’t follow you guys on any social media, primarily because I only use Instagram and not very often, but also because the true value for me is in the KZbin channel, in the podcast. 🫶🏻