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cover of episode Ep. 354: The Workload Fairytale

Ep. 354: The Workload Fairytale

2025/5/26
logo of podcast Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Deep Questions with Cal Newport
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Cal Newport
通过深度工作和数字极简主义等概念，推动人们重新思考工作方法和技术使用方式。
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Cal Newport：我深入研究了四天工作制的试验结果，发现了一个惊人的现象：即使减少工作时间，生产力也几乎没有下降。这表明我们许多知识工作者都在虚构一个“工作量童话”，认为自己必须长时间工作才能保持效率。但实际上，真正产生价值的工作可能远少于我们投入的时间。我们应该重新评估工作量，减少不必要的活动，从而提高工作效率和生活质量。此外，这些研究结果也为我们提供了更多关于工作安排的灵活性，例如不同的工作时间表、更少的强度和更多的休息时间。

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Chapters
This chapter explores the results of four-day workweek trials in Iceland, the UK, and Germany. The surprising finding that productivity remained stable or improved despite reduced hours challenges the assumption that current workloads are necessary for success. This leads to the concept of the "workload fairytale," where people believe their current workload is optimal.
  • Four-day workweek trials showed no decrease in productivity, and in some cases, an increase.
  • The "workload fairytale" suggests that current workloads are necessary for success, but this is challenged by the study results.
  • Much of knowledge work involves non-value-adding tasks, indicating potential for increased efficiency and reduced hours.

Shownotes Transcript

A few years ago, in a spirit of post-pandemic experimentation, multiple countries ran formal trials to test a radical idea: shortening the workweek. In this episode, Cal returns to the results of these trials to identify an astounding finding that has critical implications about how we work in the 21st century and how this could be made much better. He then answers listener questions and concludes with a tech corner that addresses a simple question: when will AI begin to automate most of my work?

Find out more about Done Daily at DoneDaily.com)!

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo)

Video from today’s episode:  youtube.com/calnewportmedia)

Deep Dive: The Workload Fairytale [3:39]

  • How would you rewrite A World Without Email to account for Slack? [18:16]- How should I manage multiple deadlines? [22:14]- How does Values-Based Lifestyle Centric Career Planning relate to Rutger Bregman's concept of Moral Ambition? [27:28]- How can I avoid burnout and use my career capital to find a less demanding job? [34:24]- Should I do my weekly plan on Sunday night to avoid the scaries? [40:32]

CASE STUDY: A lawyer argues in front of the New York Court of Appeals [42:57]

CALL: What exactly is considered task switching? [47:15]

TECH CORNER: When will AI automate my job? [56:04]

Links:Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow)Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/)Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?)bbc.com/news/business-57724779)theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/21/four-day-week-uk-trial-success-pattern)dw.com/en/german-firms-tested-4-day-workweek-heres-the-outcome/a-70685885)calnewport.com/ai-and-work-some-predictions/)

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udacity.com/deep)landroverusa.com)calderalab.com/deep)

Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.