If anyone knows the difference between being busy and being productive it’s Charles Duhigg. The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times and author of The Power of Habit has made a name for himself plumbing the science of productivity, and this week he’s joining us on the podcast.
Listen above or find us in all the usual places where podcasts are served, on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and NPR One. Please subscribe, rate, and review!
This Week’s Discussion
Charles is, by any measure, a very productive person—he wrote a bestseller while working full-time and raising a family. And even though success begat success, he started to feel like he was treading water and didn’t want to come home every day after work to spend another five hours answering emails.
So he started calling researchers who study productivity as well as very productive people he admired to learn why some people manage to do so much while others struggle to reach the inbox zero promised land. Those phone calls and conversations are what led to his second book, Smarter Better Faster.
In today’s show we talk about many of the key principles Charles detailed in his book, including how pilots used ‘mental models’ to land a severely damaged airplane, how the worst automotive manufacturing plant in the country turned itself around when new owners gave the workers more control, and what it means to be truly productive.
Our Upgrades of the Week
Every week we like to round out The Upgrade with upgrades we’ve made in our own lives. This week’s upgrades are about little convenient indulgences:
Charles: Charles has decided that it’s completely okay to watch TV when flying. He usually tries to do work on planes and says he used to feel a little guilty indulging in mindless entertainment, but now he’s deemed airplanes a safe space to take a break and watch a show. Also he’s been considering the emotional drain of answering emails and has started thinking of each message as a suggestion instead of a command. That makes it easier to say no or ignore messages altogether.
Melissa: Melissa’s been considering what her time is literally worth, and when it’s worth paying someone to do a time-consuming task instead of doing it yourself. As such, she’s been using Instacart instead of grocery shopping.
Andy: I’ve been reclaiming my Saturdays as a safe-harbor for sloth. Yeah, being lazy on a Saturday isn’t reinventing the wheel but I always feel guilty when I don’t make any substantial use of my limited free time. Screw that. If I want to sleep in, order take-out, and watch Netflix for ten hours in my underwear, I will.
How Do I Submit a Question?
There are two ways to send in your question:
Call (347) 687-8109 and record a question. Calls are awesome! We like them, and may play yours on the show!
Email your question to [email protected].
Please keep your questions as brief as possible. This means about 3-5 sentences for emails and 30-60 seconds for calls and videos. Your questions can be specific, but broader questions are generally better because they’ll apply to more people. Either way, we look forward to hearing from you.
More on mental health and online therapy from G/O Media’s partner
Lifehacker is not involved in creating these articles but may receive a commission from purchases through its content:
Improve Your Mental Health With BetterHelp Online Therapy
Talkspace Online Therapy Reviews: 2022 Costs, Features and More
What To Consider In Most Affordable Online Therapy Options
What is Online Therapy and Does it Work?