Pursuing Pain, Not Pleasure: How Laziness & Comfort Cripples You | Cal Newport

[@farooqbinadam]

I have two desks in my home office. One for my day job and one for my side gig. I also have a reading chair and use my TV to watch KZbin. Unless I want to comment. Then I use my side gig Mac to leave a comment. I also stop working on anything by 5pm; leaving the rest of the day with my family and leisure. Thanks for the great podcast!

[@Ameridlo]

I just acquired a dedicated desk for my day job Thinking on designing a whole room for it

[@linda.leomoon]

This is my exact set up as well, thanks to Cal, this podcast, and his books.

[@nneisler]

I use to tutor math. When kids said they don’t like math, I said “you don’t have to like math to learn math, you can be a masochist.” 😂

[@jaylucas8352]

Math didn’t help most people at all. Critical thinking would though

[@CredentialedFM]

Mathochist

[@tommycoylepodcast4981]

My takeaways from first 30 minutes of this video 1) Just being "more ok" than others in resisting urges (EG I feel the urge to check KZbin, but I won't) 2) Improve cognitive map of how today's behaviour will lead to long term outcomes 3) Distinguish the unique, subtle flavour of motivation (urge to work on goals) with the other more self destructive flavour of motivation (urge to distract). Thank you Cal, that helped a lot x

[@fluffykitties9020]

This is not "discipline", it is INTRINSIC MOTIVATION you're talking about.

[@ebhs2202]

Sounds like the people writing in are describing stimming behaviors. "Stimming" is any self-stimulatory behavior that involves repetitive movements or sounds and I think that repetitive phone checking/internet surfing falls into that category. Love the advice you provide. I work at a high school where many young people are lacking in discipline so share these suggestions.

[@mystupidbrain5299]

I removed the TV, PC, and PlayStation from my house. I only now have my Mac for creative work and a keyboard for practice.

[@bboysaif8]

Elaborate on the effect that has had on your life, positive and negative.

[@mystupidbrain5299]

@@bboysaif8 It has only been a week, but there have already been positive effects. Since I have fewer items to stimulate me, I am less distracted and have been most productive.

[@Michael-cb5nm]

I may have to do the same with Xbox. Got rid of video games years ago. Then, as a surprise Father’s Day gift got an Xbox slim. Thought I would have have the discipline to keep it to 30 minutes a day tops, but it’s been creeping up to one hour per day. That’s roughly 30 hours per month, or 360 a year. That’s a new skill learned , many books read or perhaps even written, more time with family, etc. Yeah, the demon machine has to go…

[@Michael-cb5nm]

@JMaxNocturnus Not denying that gaming is a skill, but it’s coming at the expense of skills that I value more. Only so many hours in the day. But of course we all have our own priorities in life so if you value gaming skill, grind away.

[@Michael-cb5nm]

@JMaxNocturnusGreat, game away! I need those hours for other things.

[@XyzTorres]

Damn. Only 6 mins in but I have prayed for an answer to my metaphorical suffering of the past decade in which I’ve been addicted to my phone. Constantly gaining motivation to start something with only a few days later not giving a care in the world. Fleeting sense of motivation. This is the channel I have needed all this time

[@rvrgrrl]

This is exactly how I've felt.

[@CL4SSYY]

Relateable

[@JeanneBook]

You're content has just been like the light at the end of the tunnel, its crazy for how long someone can feel stuck wanting to do something but circles right back

[@jklaus85]

The reason I pick up my phone to watch KZbin is not so much a badly wired reward system but pure and endless exhaustion after a work day. This seldom figures in videos like these, and that’s a problem. Not that motivation and reward aren’t important, but telling a father or mother with an exhausting full time job, a small apartment (no room for a library to think deeply and constant interruption) that the reason they are not able to pursue “more meaningful” goals is a lack of motivation or a defective reward system is surely not helpful. Having room and peace for creativity is also a privilege, which should be considered more.

[@LP-it9jy]

agree!

[@batm38]

High amount of Resources, food nd abundance leads to laziness.

[@saskiax.2451]

Staying on the phone for hours listening to Cal talking about leaving the phone..... 😂

[@Everydaylearning360]

This right here 😂

[@mohammedabbasansari1877]

Thank you so much Cal for this very concrete description of discipline. Most advice I've heard has been very abstract and I've always tried pushing myself to be more disciplined but failed several times. I think you hit the nail on the head with your subtle point that I was more focussed on how do I avoid these short-term indulgences, but the focus should be on developing the long-term motivation system through a rich cognitive map and clear examples of successful people. Absolutely brilliant!

[@Douglas_Gillette]

‘Behavior control’ is a great term. If we control our behavior and those behaviors add up to your goals then you are disciplined.

[@frankgradus9474]

stop messing about and get on with your work - self-discipline explained in simple words

[@markolson3020]

Cal, you should have an ad blocker on your browser. That would facilitate more deep work. I value your work, thank you!

[@evelynovercash1147]

Excellent episode today. I'm reading Cal's new book right now.

[@amunkharel2246]

Cal, I would also like to add my thoughts on the issue of people distracted by their phones and apps. There are parental controls apps that can block social media, news, entertainment and other categories of websites. My wife keeps me accountable with these parental control apps on these things. I hope that helps. You can add these controls on all devices.

[@rvrgrrl]

I use the Freedom app. It works well, but I need to fine-tune it because *I found a way around the control* in order to watch KZbin. It feels so dumb to admit that I did that, but I just need to own up to this addiction 😢

[@GeorgeKaoCommunity]

Feedback if I may: put your notes down on the table so you're looking down/up (as we're used to speakers doing) rather than looking at our eyes then our right boob 🤣 Or a side monitor for your notes would also look more natural. Love your content and discipline of producing!

[@casualnerdjason6678]

Todd Henry is my favorite author on the topic of discipline and creative work. He always mentions that “passion” is derived from Latin for “suffering”. Die Empty, Accidental Creative, and The Brave Habit are all great books that touch on the idea.

[@hunterwinslow780]

The theme music has me cackling. I love this podcast

[@syifaaulia100]

WOW GREAT!! thank you so much for the tips cal

[@notthatJules1]

The article about you in the Spanish journal showed up in my news feed last week, probably because I’m always telling my husband what Cal said, in the car. I laughed too at Jesse Skeleton esp why it was named. Hilarious

[@kristynahrazdilova8351]

I enjoy the podcast on any topic you cover. As a non-native speaker (Czech is my first language) I would appreciate it if Jesse clarified his pronunciation. I listen to several podcasts in English without subtitles, usually with no issues, but when it comes to Jesse's questions, I often need to stop doing everything, focus hard, eliminate any noises and sometimes even listen twice :-)

[@notthatJules1]

I like the sponsored ads told by Cal, I've learned about a few neat products and services. However, I feel like he should not have to read all the disclaimers from Mint Mobile, (taxes, fees, blah blah), he should direct people to their website for the particulars. I'm sure it's what Mint is requiring but he needs to renegotiate that deal, it makes his ad for them feel very impersonal and corporate. Part of what makes his spoken ads ok is that they feel personal like he really endorses the product or service.

[@coldplayer9403]

it's been a few days, and i'm sitting here at school and the word "hippocampus" just popped into my head. i guess you said it enough times for it to stick 😅

[@ProudLife1]

Really helpful show. Thank you for the useful tips.

[@derekf9017]

Cal you missed Iraq and Afghanistan and sat in a library for 20 years. Good job reporting and seeing the cracks in society after taking grandaddies inheritance so you can elaborate on the mechanisms holding back Americans.

[@shannongrogan605]

Go touch grass.. you seem very emotional

[@floatingsara]

This is the first time I do not embark with your advice. It seems to me that it would reinforce a sense of personal unworthyness unless one suffers enough to "prove" something

[@Ensource]

the phone ringtone notifications were very annoying.

[@olicodes]

Do you have a link to the Reddit thread?

[@rvrgrrl]

That reddit user neatly summarized my own issue. Thanks for this video.

[@vecernicek2]

Really interesting paper! (Note to self: Neuro ED)

[@Amazology]

Why pursue pain when you can inflict it on others ? - Serious question.

[@GabrieleBimbi-t3n]

In "so good they cant ignore you" you report the conclusion that a vocation walk hand by hand with years spent doing a certain job. But from an evolutionary point of view we can say that some poeple survive so long due to the love for their job, and people that dont love maybe change the job.

[@Jade-ms2ys]

For me the problem is I use my computer for my work -- and that's the device that has all the issues with distractions. Anyone have advice? (Ps I kind of long for a pre-internet age.)

[@DoctorM934]

Could you please put a link to that neuron article

[@priscilex]

O conselho 3 pode ser resumido em: aprenda a diferenciar vontade de FISSURA

[@01_abhijeet49]

I will hear this on the treadmill

[@aquahero]

@10:33 brilliant

[@MissVindicat]

The pointy finger thumbnail.

[@rohanfernandes214]

Are mentors the best form of cognitive maps?

[@fluestergefuehle]

"stimuli" is plural, singular is "stimulus"

[@reginaldphillips7615]

@@johnvienna3422dramatic.

[@johnvienna3422]

@@reginaldphillips7615 I've deleted it, if it helps your day 🤣

[@reginaldphillips7615]

@@johnvienna3422 thank you, yes.

[@fluestergefuehle]

@@johnvienna3422 I'm considering taking back what I wrote because Cal does use "stimulus" as well.

[@aoifedarmody5030]

Great show but just want to say that when the meeting of basic needs (mating, shelter) are contingent upon the internet - a 20 minute window a day is not enough! Cal doesn't know the reality of online dating (you need to build a rapport first on the apps - very time consuming) or the rental market in Dublin which is unbelievably competitive! The reality is that most people meet through apps and this takes a lot of work. The darker reality is how our instincts have been hijacked by capitalism but that's another story!

[@supersmart671]

Do I need one hour worth of lecture to realise that "No pain no gain"

[@missbecky6809]

🎉

[@packers4207]

Hard work is important. But hustle culture has sent many a man to an early grave. This doesn’t exhibit a great deal of emotional intelligence to me.

[@seanmatthewking]

I don't think he's promoting hustle culture, he's promoting people meeting their own goals.

[@Kodreanu23]

This works if you have a meaningful goal. If not, this is just masochism.

[@Brandon-gw4ed]

“Masochism”? How so?

[@Kodreanu23]

@@Brandon-gw4ed if you don't have a goal, why do it?

[@seanmatthewking]

​@@Kodreanu23 If you don't have a goal, aren't you living without purpose? This seems like a very strange point to make.

[@maxxheadroom6744]

He says his own book is the ‘bible’ - put me right off this creep, regardless of anything of intellectual value he might be saying! Not that I’m religious just the pomposity of it!

[@Crazybaldhawk101]

First , pin me pls. I read deep work. Awesome wook

[@Dan-Martin-2]

First