Why Can’t I Motivate Myself To Work?

Cal Newport gives advice on how to get motivated to work.
Cal explains two topics that play a role in work motivation. First is Deep Procrastination. The source is hard work and a sense of arbitrariness.
Cal also explains dopamine sickness. This deals with the many distractions. It's important to have a target goal and a plan. Interval training can also be an important tool.
Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo
Listen to Episode Here (Scroll down to #164DeepQuestionsPodcast) : www.thedeeplife.com/listen/
0:00 Cal's intro
0:45 Deep procrastination
4:00 Solutions
8:00 Dopamine sickness
Connect with Cal Newport:
🔴Visit Cal's BLOG and website: calnewport.com/blog/
🔴Check out Cal's books: calnewport.com/writing/
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

[@CaptainQueue]

OMG this is the current me. I used to journal and recently came across notebooks I'd written in 25 years ago. I was shocked at the deep insights, like who was this person? I've not journaled a single time the past 10-12 years. What changed? Wasting time on the phone and social media. Unbelievable. Thank you for the mirror.

[@geneg3776]

I love how Cal really gets how we feel and the struggles we have and doesn't just dismiss them.

[@cesarborja1064]

That's why his ideas are worth listening to - he is one of us, and gives us practicals on how to go about.

[@geneg3776]

@@cesarborja1064 👍

[@joshjwolff]

Agreed. He's not an elitist and doesn't write off our real feelings and struggles.

[@s.d.g.global4582]

Who is the "we" you are representing?

[@putinstea]

Why would he? dopamine sickness casued by media/internet addiction is so pervasive. Everyone knows it, and I'm, no better than the next guy.

[@henrikkarl25]

ive found the absolutly most important thing i have done for my dopamine health is to sit in boredom.. Just stay into the wall.. And even stop entertaining the mind .. so you fast from all stimuli.. this works like noting ive ever tried.. And it works fast!

[@buzzcutbiene2211]

@henrikkarl25 For how long?

[@tirathsingh09]

@@buzzcutbiene2211 9-5

[@elietheprof5678]

The worst is how quickly my brain builds up a tolerance to all these productivity hacks. For example going to a new coffee shop or library might improve my focus for the first day or two, and after that it just becomes a new procrastination space. It’s as if my subconscious is absolutely determined to find a way to get nothing done.

[@audiodead7302]

My sense is that getting started is the hard part. It is much easier to keep going. So the thing to do is tell yourself that you are going to concentrate deeply on this important task for 5 mins. You will find it is easy to then keep going.

[@AmrElsayyad]

I think you need to find purpose, as he said in 6:26

[@Southpaw2198]

because our work is utterly meaningless hence it fails to hold our attention

[@bens5859]

It's not the work that I feel is purposeless, it's the future. At best the future is hazy and at worst it's hellish. Either way, delayed gratification seems far from guaranteed. (How long before I see the headline that AI has automated all of my marketable skills?) Any long term investment is a tough sell for my brain.

[@AnnisNaeemOfficial]

Have you tried not going out at all? That in itself is the procrastination.

[@shantanushekharsjunerft9783]

Deep procrastination was quite incisive! When you don’t understand how your work adds meaning to your life it can be extremely de-motivating.

[@Nomaddone123]

The last 2 minutes is exactly how I am doing it. Context: I am working from home and I also don’t normally prefer a coworking work setup so I can’t really work from those spaces. Here’s what I’ve been trying, if someone finds this in 6 months maybe check back and see if it worked: 1. Do not work from home if you can’t do it. Spend the money like Cal mentioned. I spend my mornings getting things in order ideally without a phone and follow my routine, once I’ve had my lunch at home, I’m out at a cafe I find to be best suited for deep work. 2. Get coffee and get to a 2-3 hour schedule of deep work with a 20 minute walk in between 3. Throw in a whiteboard in your space with every hour accounted for (Personal care, Deep work, Workout sessions, Meals, etc) This helps with a sense of routine and is a UX improvement cause now you have daily clarity and your brain doesn’t actively spend energy planning a fresh day unless there’s a few minor changes. This isn’t a strict schedule so I wouldn’t beat myself up over it but it’s a rough layout to get started with. 4. Force boredom like Cal mentioned. I switch off or leave my phone for 30-60 minutes and just force myself to be bored (Learning to enjoy it) 5. Take regular walks (this could just be me) but I enjoy my 2-3 walks everyday Hope this helps and I’d love to know what y’all have been doing🤝

[@HabitLabPodcast]

I don’t work from home and I know I wouldn’t do well in that setting. But your points are extremely applicable and helpful. Thanks for sharing this. ✍️

[@Nomaddone123]

@@HabitLabPodcast Appreciate it! The funny bit is that I’ve now found an office setting I really love with a whole new role so most of my “work from home processes” are no longer applicable. Nevertheless it helped get through some pretty tough times.

[@jordanr7290]

Hope it’s going well!

[@Naville90]

@Nomaddone123 how’s it going?

[@seekertruth72]

walk really helps I have been doing it from long time

[@chiragdalwani4422]

1) Decrease the hardness 2) Reduce the hard thing to time block plans so its easier to execute 3) Why are you doing hard stuff, you should know the why The targetted lifestyle 4) Boredom therapy: regular distraction free periods 5) Interval training : timer of focus 6) retrain your brain for longer periods of focus 7) din get the rituals thing

[@benjamesv]

I turned my iPhone into a 'dumb' phone by only enabling the necessary apps using parental controls, then setting a random parental controls password, writing the password down on a piece of paper and hiding it at home. This means, when I am out, my iPhone can only be used for necessary things (maps, banking, phone calls), and if I want to access anything else, I cant, because I can't disable the parental controls because I dont have the password (it's at home). I find this a better solution compared to getting rid of the smartphone and buying a flip phone. Hope this helps ya'll

[@angelmax404]

I just might try this thank you.

[@donkeyfacepunch]

Ah yes, necessary apps like KZbin are unblocked. That makes sense.

[@sable747]

Wow. Thank you!

[@corporaljoebauers8628]

😮

[@cruzsalinas6723]

@@donkeyfacepunch What? They didn't say they had it unblocked

[@RudolfJvVuuren]

Rituals and also creating "work" spaces, at home. For example: many people say they've made up a room -or space, in their home, to be their "work office". So when they go sit at that "desk", it helps their mind to go into "work" mode. Also: try to stick to "office hours". Resist the urge to sleep in (I work from home, but set my alarm to the actual office start time) and also resist the urge to work over-time (because sometimes it's easy to just carry on working, once you've gotten into the flow). But force yourself to stop when it's normal "going home time" (obviously unless there's something urgent that needs to be finished). Because that will also help you to "switch out of work mentality" and into "off-time mentality". I like to go for a jog then, and take a shower. That's physical rituals that almost serves as a "line" for me to help switch out off "work". Which will help you to have a balanced life, (i.e. switch off and have recreational time) which will then help you the next morning to NOT sleep in but to want to go into "work mode" again when it's time to start.

[@BobDunlock]

I usually refer to it as dopamine addiction. The reward center of my brain was really screwed up from basically puberty on to the age of 30. Anytime things were difficult or uncomfortable I would turn to porn or video games and suffer the consequences of basically coasting through family obligations, academia, and my career, which led me to stress out and consume more porn and video games. I lost thousands of dollars from the college classes I failed through my negligence and almost lost my marriage because I had no self control. My understanding is that addiction happens through the mid-brain which dispenses dopamine and other reward chemicals when you accomplish tasks. This is also the part of your brain that manages flight or fight, and if you have trained your brain to reward you for doing pointless actions, refraining from doing those actions will ultimately cause your brain to panic and you will be unable to focus until you either succumb or get external support and an exit plan for your addictions. I sobered up in 2018 and seeing what 2020 did to many friends in support groups really disturbed me. For myself I've found an almost bottomless well of motivation and far more purpose in life than I thought possible just by keeping the course and repeating my mantra: Create more than you consume. Thanks for sharing The Deep Life philosophy, I think it is medicine that the world really needs right now.

[@ParhamDoustdar]

I'd love more details about your journey in 2018. What kinds of "external help" did you try? What worked? What didn't?

[@ghananaturals8525]

"Create more than you consume" is a game changer. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@BobDunlock]

@@ParhamDoustdar I really appreciate the question. I've written a few responses over the past few weeks but it quickly turns into a novel before I realize I've got too much to say about it all. If you have a more specific question feel free to ask. I'm an open book. As for what worked, finding people in recovery with a similar addiction who were able to offer advice and not judge me when I was struggling. Having a non-judgemental support system who wanted the best for me I could call or confide in when I wanted to act out was crucial because my feelings weren't bottled up anymore. I also rely heavily on a higher power, because through that context there is greater purpose to life than the secular intellectual lens I was living through prior. What didn't work was trying to fix things on my own. Or downplaying the severity of my actions. I needed to adopt an attitude of accountability without shame. I also tried replacing my addiction with other addictions, thinking the consequences of one would be better than the consequences of another, but in the end I was losing twice as much time on either addiction. I also tried to incrementally wean myself off of my addictions by seeking milder stuff. And example of this regarding my pornography addiction I shifted my focus from hardcore porn to swimwear and active wear. This backfired because I didn't quit the harder stuff, I just had learned to fetischize more common things to the point I had to avoid pools and beaches entirely in early recovery because they were far too triggering. I really don't know if any of that helps. I've found that everyone is on their own journey with this, though in many cases there is abundant crossover, so whenever others have offered advice I've taken it where it is applicable, and given it freely because you never know what helps.

[@richardsadventures4958]

Watching this while playing with my phone, when I'm supposed to be working!

[@Mangolorian-je3eo]

You’re reading this while listening to the clip, aren’t you?

[@lwmartin7]

Maaaaybe

[@drivingintothedesertuntilt3202]

whilst browsing PH yes

[@nnzulu7684]

I'm just so happy he explains the science behind this , because procrastination can feel like a personal flaw but it's actually externally triggered.

[@BBartistic]

Wow "personal flaw" part is so true. It feels just like that. But its not true and thats refreshing.😅

[@argoneonoble]

I've been working on winning my brain back this year. I ve sod t over a decade drying my brain with streaming and KZbin. I went three months not addicted, and I found so much more motivation and a lot less tear to do the things that are hard b I got duck, and we'll back in to watching my phone whenever I could. I'm slowly getting off of it again.

[@shuaibkadir8657]

Cal you need to do a course or series on overcoming dopamine sickness. It's way more common and difficult than people realise

[@prestonthomas5399]

Im dopamine sick!

[@jaymarx8927]

I am literally unable to do only one thing at a time. If I was sitting on the couch watching a movie, I would find it too boring to just do that. I would be scrolling on my phone the whole time or thinking about things that I need to do. My work has always been complicated and needing input from many sources, so I can't turn off the web and microsoft has now made a homepage that is full of clickbait including things that you recently looked at shopping. sometimes I can't focus on what I'm supposed to be doing, so I'm like a moth clicking back and forth between things that I need to do and distractions. Only deadlines motivate me because the priorities become clear.

[@seekertruth72]

how to handle this same here pls tell not able to do any thing completely just fleeting form one to another

[@ashleyspiano]

@@seekertruth72 Even the way you guys type shows how short your attention span is. I get it, been there. But you really have to just suck it up and start breaking your addiction. Start by only doing one thing at a time. Eat at a table without watching something. Just start. Things worth doing can be hard.

[@RebeccaRuano]

VERY helpful! I have all these. Thank you for the practical solutions. The way you describe the need to look at the phone 3:45, describes how my brain has been working my whole life: this, over here, that, what’s this, over there, that, now this again… they said it’s ad/hd, but now everyone is experiencing it with the smartphones. I keep my phone plugged in more than half the day. I’m a stay at home-schooling mom. But we can not afford rent and bills anymore. So I need to get to working from home as well. I have set up an eBay corner, to get started. I just keep fighting myself to get started. For years! Just before this video popped up, I said “!!Who am I fighting, anyway?!! I want to do this! Why can I not get myself to get going?!? I’m going to remember again, to do just a little bit, and for just 20 minutes. I could do almost anything if I know it’s over soon, and it’s painless really. Okay. Phone plugged in, getting motivated… 🤔 I could keep making this comment longer. I have deep procrastination as a coping mechanism, it was a default for never getting anything I asked for growing up. I just put off my heart. Anything that could make me feel better, I can do or have that in the future. Putting off the heart. Its long lasting side effects I’m experiencing are what you call deep procrastination. I have become proficient at stalling on what I want, to maintain the peace of the group. Deep procrastination. That sounds like something I could work on. Because I’m exhibiting right now. 😅thank you for this insight. Thank you YT for continuing to help me do better! Actually planning something for the near future is something that has always helped me stay motivated! Thank you for reminding me of that!!!

[@HabitLabPodcast]

Setting up rituals to get into work is something we don’t think about, but can make such a difference.

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

This is very informative, some great tools, I learned in this segment. Plus some of them are just common sense, when you go for a walk in the sun is shining on you, it does wonders for your mind and your body. That’s not to mention the change of environment, that’s why it’s so hard for some people to do renovation work on their own house. When you get home, that’s the last thing you want to do, plus you get tired of seeing the same environment. Those same people can work on someone else’s house with no problem whatsoever!

[@Creeder991]

What you're saying makes a lot of sense. We're constantly getting pulled in so many directions by the things we do and watch either on tv or our phones. Our brains dwell on these things for a long time even if it was just a short 30-second thing online. We're mentally exhausted hence we can't focus or get motivated. The dopamine sickness is true; we do not feel like spending too much time working on anything and nothing feels like it's worth it anyway when truth is we have to focus and spend time on tasks that are of higher value.

[@seekertruth72]

very well explained. I got addicted to reels few seconds on Instagram and YT, face book My content is educative but still enertainment, travel, comedy etc. its addicting as it gives immediate happiness trying to reduce by going for walk

[@ArtVandelayInc]

I think this could be the perfection for a procrastination video. It's just spot on on multiple levels. Cal, your understanding of the topic is just incredible. Thank you

[@pastorssempa1019]

This is one of the most insightful and practical videos on KZbin. I hope it gets more attention.

[@JohnBrandon]

Very similar to the remedies for improving executive (dys)function in those with ADHD.

[@cmralph...]

So grateful I got away from all that nonsense last year. It was life changing.

[@naimrahman1578]

Cal is like the really smart eldest cousin but you can also relate so much to whatever is he says and is really down to earth. Cheers man!

[@_pacalis]

I just looked up at my absolute disaster of a home office and realised why its been so hard for me to get work done :-D . Time for a clean up

[@TheSaintsVEVO]

Regarding dopamine sickness - App companies research & engineer their apps to be as addictive as possible for users. The common person can’t help but be addicted to it

[@jesseatalor7995]

Thank you for this Cal Newport, these solutions are eye opening. You are doing a great job

[@selvamthiagarajan8152]

What advice from this video did you implement and what results have you seen?

[@erikrummel6277]

What made me realize how bad I have this, is that your suggested remedies seemed to shock me at just the thought of doing them. I do so many of the things you mention to a T.

[@pokechatter]

I’m currently stuck in both. How can I overcome the deep procrastination against trying to change my career situation when I don’t have and have never really had a strong interest in anything that a career could be made out of? How do I, who has never been great at planning or obeying self-initiated control, overcome the dopamine issue when my current painfully boring job still requires me to utilize my phone throughout the day?

[@weston.weston]

This is a great response, Cal.

[@handsanitiser9832]

This is so true it hurts!!!! Love this content, as always!!

[@bharat5194]

Solid advice.

[@DirkSorensby]

For sure can relate. Outstanding adice.

[@honeymoney23]

wow this was incredibly helpful. thank you

[@gabrielleyadav3661]

Ahh this was so helpful! Just found you today from the minimalists podcast. Thank you!! 🙏

[@user-rc2le2mq4u]

Thank you very much for this informative video and useful piecees of advice!

[@norajasna2306]

Thank you so much!! I needed this, it`s even perfect that it`s only 10 minutes and so on point, with solutions and everything. Amazing! Now I guess I have some work to do.

[@alexsinquefield6961]

This is some great advice!

[@WikiPeoples]

My problem is that I met all my goals and now need to find new ones. But it's not as simple as just finding a new goal. At my age, purpose becomes a driving factor. What goals will give me a sense of purpose? This may be really simple to answer for some but it isn't for me.

[@daterror5459]

First comment! Cal I love your videos, looking forward to read your books, I have one in my bookshelf :3 Thank you for sharing awesome advice, you are helping a lot of people!

[@cookiemonster2371]

I think it will really help me. The implementation will be hard but at least got the plan.

[@Ben-gt1vf]

Love your stuff Cal, the world today certainly is in need of knowledge like "deep procrastination" and "dopamine sickness" Peace and Blessings B.

[@TheGoalisSublime]

These were good solutions

[@rajujha5225]

Great advice Cal. And so much relatable problem.

[@selvamthiagarajan8152]

What advice from cal have you implemented, and what results have you seen? Please share.

[@ANUPAM337]

I am a PhD student and I have the same work from home issue, I always seem to get more done when I get ready and leave for the library. #RadicalRituals

[@ArvindhCM-fu6tv]

nah.. i will finish listening to this podcast later!!!

[@selvamthiagarajan8152]

My take away, connect what you are doing at work to a bigger , positive vision.

[@navdeep-soni]

Thank you for sharing your insights. Is there a way to get these questions in Spotify

[@jensohle1785]

Great content, concise but rich. Follow your work since Deep Work (my no. 1 self-help book for the current times): Are you sure you are at the right academic place within an IT department? ;-) ... keep up the great work and greeting from Europe!

[@ReflectionOcean]

By YouSum Live 00:01:44 Deep procrastination: Inability to start essential tasks. 00:02:01 Dopamine sickness: Overwhelmed by constant distractions. 00:04:05 Reduce task complexity and establish control systems. 00:05:50 Simplify obligations to manage workload effectively. 00:06:29 Connect work to a meaningful long-term vision. 00:08:01 Implement boredom therapy to combat distractions. 00:09:04 Interval training for prolonged focus intervals. 00:09:45 Establish distinct work locations and rituals for focus. By YouSum Live

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Singular/plural: One criterion, two or more criteria.

[@GarethJohnson]

All good points. Strange not to mention the possibility of ADHD (which will be linked to dopamine response issues too).

[@RudolfJvVuuren]

Maybe he didn't mention it for a reason.

[@hawtenslaton4307]

Great insights of what could be happening at this time for most of us post-C~~V~~DD! Amazing how we are not being helped by our government with this important aspect of health. But when it came to SARS-CV-2, they made sure to push hard! How is society/economy going to rebound with people who suffer from this debilitation! We do not get advice on this important mental health issue that is affecting all of us, nor do we get any advice on our health pertaining to eating right, exercise, hydration and sleep!

[@vincewhite5087]

A dopamine fast, (from Dopamine National book).

[@brianniac23]

I recognized that my whole professional life was a thing to numb my depression … now my career hit a plateau, flow became a luxury and work is not purposeful enough anymore to beat my depression. Replaced my intrinsical motivation for flow, to numb my pain with extrinsic motivation for earning money … which makes me numb. But the wrong way. Flow is basically gone. And work caused mental and bodily harm during covid. And now I can’t find a way to numb myself anymore. Work even makes me more sick. Leading me to more procrastination. With the final destination amygdala hijack … all the time. Just came from a business trip. Wasted 2 days with managerial tomfoolery. Hoped that the plane would crash … but. I am alive. What to do now?

[@SwarupKumarKar]

Can feel every word you have written. I treat my profession as a diversion from real life as well. I'm searching for a way to be content without working all the time.

[@brianniac23]

I was today years old when I just stood in front of the fridge and had the epiphany that EVERY success, not just my professional live, was something to numb my pain … and then the cold knife to a bloodstream felt like it could be a nice idea …

[@nebyuyonas1233]

nice

[@whssavy]

wow.

[@huntsail3727]

The dopamine issue sounds like issues that have come up with Ted Talks and KZbin videos. It is my understanding that people are being caught up in looking at one video after another, with no particular goal in mind. Simply, in a sense to keep getting dopamine hits. These videos, reportedly, seem more interesting and exciting than what the alternatives are with respect to doing their work, taking care of pending items, getting things done that need to be done, etc. Is that right?

[@Fahodinho]

dopamine detox could work

[@StaringAtWall]

For people who have fired there dopamine receptor badly they should go with cal's method Full dopamine detox can be very demanding

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

It’s practice difficult, because many of us need to use the internet for our work and for living.

[@halfcastify]

Key Insights 🧠 Deep procrastination is a common issue, especially among students, and can be caused by a lack of intrinsic motivation and the perception of tasks as hard and arbitrary. 😩 Overcoming deep procrastination requires reducing task hardness, simplifying obligations, and connecting work to a bigger purpose or vision. 📵 Dopamine sickness, caused by constant targeted distractions, can make it difficult for the brain to focus on deep work. ⏰ Boredom therapy, such as going on phone-free walks, can help retrain the brain to tolerate periods of boredom and reduce dopamine sickness. 🧘 Interval training with focus, starting with shorter intervals and gradually increasing, can help improve concentration and combat dopamine sickness. 🏢 Creating a separate work location and establishing rituals can help the mind separate work from non-work and enhance motivation and focus.

[@woltzwurld6760]

I planned on commenting 10 months ago, but, you know…….

[@sribalaji7131]

Even i need more dopomine reserved to watch and grasp your contents😂

[@Because_Reasons]

"Deep procrastination" just sounds like ADHD. Was diagnosed this year at 40+

[@RudolfJvVuuren]

ADHD sounds like "deep procrastination".

[@GarethJohnson]

@@RudolfJvVuuren ADHD is a medical condition which has been globally accepted for over 4 decades and is in DSM-5.

[@MichaelDoornbos]

I feel seen.

[@mohammedfaizan9198]

Hello Cal, Great Content! At the information level it feels and I also understand that it is good, but I am worried of is this: There are people who uses these tools and are creating mobile zombies, and people like you know of it and you also see other destructions being carried out by these technology like fake news, psychological wiring of brain, over-competitiveness and various others, but still the PhD professors consult these companies in the ways they can utilize and create more business. Have you ever thought of these ironical states... Kindly reply and educate me!!! Thanks❤

[@RudolfJvVuuren]

Well now you know what's going on (and how to battle it in your life, based on this advice) you don't have to follow the path of becoming a mobile zombie. Even if other people are creating these tools. You can choose to not partake/fight back.

[@wagenna]

I'd like to add that undiagnosed ADHD and emotional abuse can lead to the same symptoms.

[@wagenna]

​@@awprc Yes, true! It's a lot different from the dopamine sickness the video mentions, though, because someone with ADHD could just build dopamine bridges to increase motivation and get the brain fired up again.

[@fiopiccolo14]

Definitely. I fell under the "deep procrastination" category and once I was on ADHD meds, it felt like the first day when I wore glasses for the first time. Other people could see the world clearly and I had no idea. I realized that a lot of productive people (maybe like Cal Newport) have a different brain and intrinsic motivation was enough to drive them. No amount of digital minimalism, self-help books, podcasts, breaking down tasks, solved my issues. Maybe for a short time, but not for the long term. I think that for the person asking the question in the video, they should seriously check to see if they have ADHD.

[@ddd-op5wy]

ADHD isn't real

[@wagenna]

@@ddd-op5wy That's nonscientific nonsense. There are proven changes in the brains of people with ADHD. WTBS: It's also a trendy self-diagnosis with people claiming to have ADHD when in reality they just can't bring themselves to be disciplined.

[@GS-dr2gb]

Drugs and alcohol ruined this for me, now I'm only happy a few times out of the year. I've been sober for 3 years but honestly don't see the point in going on, not to mention the state of humanity right now.... just f*cked

[@ChrisBartow]

Dr. Newport, Will you write me a note to use my sick leave at work to medicate myself from dopamine sickness spending a week away from screens, read books, and enjoy nature?

[@c-36devdattmenon31]

No need to be sarcastic, you can always wake up early and follow a routine and go walking in the nature during the weekends too. One size doesn't fit all, that's why he has suggested many tips using which you can gain control over time

[@endezeichengrimm]

You don't need a note for that. Just stop any screen time other than your actual work.

[@Douglas_Gillette]

This is just my opinion, but I wish Cal would change the phrase time-blocking to behavior-blocking. Time is something fixed. It can't be manipulated in a formal experiment. It is an independent variable. The proper phrase is behavior-blocking. You can control your behavior, but you cannot control time. Behavior-blocking is a better term.

[@thecurrentmoment]

Those DDs (digital darts) are always very distracting to me...

[@Cavolfipriecapperi]

🦙

[@davidlawrence8085]

Dopamine sickness...insigbtfull idea

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

because you dont love it or dont get recognized for the efforts and dont find it is fair

[@keithklassen5320]

Dopamine sickness is an existing term for a condition caused by medications. The term works well for your discussion, but it's good that you clarified that you're not using it in a larger context, you're just using it to mean a specific thing that you then describe.

[@lizziebkennedy7505]

Dopamine sickness is literal, it is a physiologically process. The driver isn’t specific to the definition; dopamine is the definitive element. The number one cause as so much research now shows is the portable, externally controlled addictive object in our lives. Nothing, even prescription meds, compares to the internet and the portable devices by which we access it. It’s why so many are turned to work like this.

[@inlov33]

It's a Global meaning crisis! MeowserZ

[@einerus]

It’s called adhd.

[@uptamistik]

I'm 36,is it too late?

[@archyology]

I’m 39, it’s not too late.

[@larss4119]

Did you just say “foy-er”?

[@n317]

If you stumble upon this comment, and working from home, and you have all of these symptoms and nothing seems to work, here's my solid advice: Just go to the office. Don't think of it as saving money by staying at home. Think of it as an investment for your career. You may be saving money by staying at home, but you're definitely not progressing your career either. Just compare your productivity when working from home vs. working in the office.

[@kyled.5037]

I can't seem to find my purpose in corporate culture because the people around me refuse to take accountability for the problems that their neglect is causing for our customer base. America culture is doomed.

[@mindsetofpoker9463]

Thumbs up of you watched this on your phone in the bathroom 😂

[@KulwantSingh-xr4si]

Uncle?

[@archyology]

To shout uncle! is to give up

[@KulwantSingh-xr4si]

@@archyology Thank you.

[@nathancarranza9860]

America is sleeping on Cal. Elect this guy for President and our GDP skyrockets by 1000% percent.

[@sp123]

Cal is the type to uplift the status quo. Our GDP is stagnant because our current system has produced all it can. Giving tips/encouraging people to work harder or "deeper" isn't going to fix the problems our economy has.

[@nathancarranza9860]

@@sp123 bud, my comment wasn’t meant to be deep: literally just joking around.

[@DistortedV12]

Hmm, only two factors to explain lack of motivation …this guy advice seems dubious. Sometimes people are just not getting enough naturalistic stimulation in their life like social relationships, etc. not everything has to be about social media.

[@carlotapuig]

the thumbnail was pretty r4cist tbh

[@carlotapuig]

@@ksajamx Look at her face. She's presented as a low impulse control, dopamine sick person, totally unable to cope with modern Western technology in a healthy way. A neutral picture (or no picture at all) could have been chosen instead. Rgds

[@pixelshocker7775]

It actually took a moment to figure out what you were talking about. It's a stock image. If the first thing you saw was race and took offense, honestly that says a lot more about you than this channel.

[@saturdaysolitude7800]

No.

[@ladybird491]

​@@pixelshocker7775 because it has become normal for you to see a woman of color in a picture with something negative said and you are probably not black to know how often that stereotype expressed.

[@pixelshocker7775]

@@ladybird491 Maybe we're both missing the other's point, but I don't think you understand where I'm coming from. When I saw the thumbnail, I didn't think of her skin color. At all. It took people throwing a fit in the comments to make me even think about it. I watched the video, and everything about it seemed to be speaking to me personally. I am not black, nor am I female. Nothing whatsoever made me think, "They're shitting on black women." That's just not what I thought at all. Unless you claim to be thinking for me, and telling me what I should be thinking, and denying my true feelings and honest impressions for some bullshit agenda. In which case, you can piss right off.

[@IVIALL0Y]

Can't motivate yourself to work????? LMFAOOOO Let me ask ya this.. You wanna eat or starve? Theres your motivation.

[@Shade7x]

I think you're underestimating how many people work in careers where they can under-deliver without endangering their income. You're not going to starve if you take two weeks to do the thing you said you'd have done in one. You'll feel guilty and could eventually lose your position if you don't get it together, but it's pretty far removed from eat or starve mentality.

[@morock1n]

6:20 There's an opportunity to train your mind to scale more. Meditation and religion help as it helps you pop the stack on yourself. Offering a buffer in order to weather the biggest of storms.

[@user-fc9hs2hg2n]

Most people in the world have lots of obligations, and most of them are tedious, insignificant, and even wasteful(search "bullshit jobs"), then, this kind of job/study cannot promote intrinsic motivation because it's hard for you to truly love the work itself, it's just an obstacle in your way.

[@sp123]

this stuff is entertainment, real help comes from friends and family who support you and know your personality/lifestyle and paid professionals.