770 The Power of Digital Detox with Cal Newport

IT'S TIME TO DIGITALLY DECULTTER. Very few of us have the courage to be alone. When we are quiet and don’t distract ourselves, we have to face hard questions. It can be scary. Instead, we reach for our phones. We might be trying to fill a void, or we might just be addicted. Technology is a lot like processed food. We want more and more, but we’ll never be satisfied. On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I talk about focus with someone who has famously never owned a social media account: Cal Newport. Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. In addition to academic research, he writes about the intersection of technology and society. He’s particularly interested in the impact of new technologies on our ability to perform productive work or lead satisfying lives. Cal recommends building “fences” around our phones so that we’re not using them mindlessly all day. So get ready to learn more tools to be more focused, present and creative on Episode 770. Some Questions I Ask: What do you recommend for people who are always connected to technology? (10:30) How can we build stronger connections? (18:00) What’s the void that we are trying to fill with social media? (24:00) What’s more addictive: social media or smoking? (32:00) How can you train your children to work at things (54:00) In This Episode You Will Learn: How to train your focus (2:00) The three benefits from being alone (8:00) Why you need “analog” hobbies (30:00) Why anxiety has risen in younger generations (32:00) The reason Cal recommends 30 days away from technology (43:00)