DON’T RUSH, AND YOU’LL BECOME A GENIUS: Why Low Productivity Can Be Beneficial

Photo by Bernd Dittrich on Unsplash

Do fewer tasks! Work at a natural pace! Focus on quality! These are the tips offered by scientist Cal Newport in his new book «Low Productivity». To make a breakthrough and avoid the extremes of overproductivity, you will have to say «no» to many familiar habits…

APPARENT «DOING NOTHING»

he high quality and significance of scientific research directly depend on a scientist’s ability to engage in what appears to be «doing nothing», behind which lies the utmost concentration of mental resources on solving a problem. If you want to make a breakthrough, your pursuit must include periods of rest and reflection. This is essential not only for scientists but for any knowledge workers.

These are the conclusions of Cal Newport, a well-known American computer scientist from Georgetown University in Washington, writer, blogger, and regular contributor to The New Yorker. Cal’s primary focus is on time management and the «personal productivity system». His latest book, Low Productivity — the eighth in his career, published this year — explores these ideas, and Nature magazine dedicated a particular review to it.

IN THE COMPANY OF «STRANGE» PEOPLE

During his time at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, Newport had the idea to write his first book about how to succeed in the academic world.

He took the advice of a friend and a literary agent and eventually landed a publishing deal for his book How to Win at College (2005), receiving a $40,000 advance. He followed up with How to Become a Straight-A Student (2006), which sold nearly a quarter of a million copies, and How to Be a High School Superstar (2010).

In 2004, upon completing his studies, Cal deliberately turned down job offers from tech companies and chose to pursue graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. There, he earned both a master’s and a PhD, focusing on research in distributed algorithms.

At MIT, Newport joined a group of very peculiar yet brilliant individuals, each of whose life stories could efficiently serve as the plot for a movie.

COMPUTER GENIUSES WHO DON’T USE COMPUTERS

One member of the group, a 16-year-old PhD student, had already graduated from university at age 14 and later joined Microsoft. Another was a 21-year-old professor who, at 18, received the MacArthur Genius Grant for solving one of the most complex theorems.

While interacting with these geniuses, Newport began to think about the level of concentration required to tackle complex and ambitious problems.

One paradox he discovered was the digital geniuses’ mistrust of digital technologies. The most outstanding computer specialists did not use computers, preferring instead to rely on the power of the human brain.

A SERIOUS APPROACH TO THE MIND

After graduating, Cal Newport became an assistant professor and later a full professor at Georgetown University. He continued writing on popular science topics, primarily focusing on information technology and its impact on people. However, his growing success as a writer did not always benefit his academic career. Over time, Newport reconciled this dissonance: his writing interests and academic work became inseparably linked.

Today, Newport encourages his students to take their minds seriously. Amid academia’s obsession with publication metrics and quantity, Newport’s philosophy stands out. He argues that quantity and quality are interconnected and views a slow, reduced pace of productivity as a unique resource for scientific breakthroughs.

By joining the Huxley friends club, you support philosophy, science and art

Join the friends club

WORKING 24/7 IS PSEUDOPRODUCTIVE!

In Newport’s view, working 24/7 isn’t very healthy. He advocates for reformatting the modern workplace. Current instant communication capabilities have accelerated the shift toward what experts call pseudo productivity or pseudo activity, which hinders the ability to focus on tasks requiring deeper thought.

As a result, there has been an increase in cases of exhaustion and burnout, which have become significant problems, even in academia. To restore effectiveness and creativity, Newport urges knowledge workers to focus on three things: do fewer tasks, work at a natural pace, and prioritize quality over quantity. He suggests learning these principles from the most exceptional scientists.

LEARNING FROM THE GREATS

Newport cites examples of scientists and other knowledge workers who took radical steps to free themselves from distractions and achieve outstanding results.

For instance, theoretical physicist Richard Feynman avoided any social engagements to focus on deep thinking — without which his research would have been impossible. Feynman believed that inner peace was the key to creative work and that generating ideas and meaning was poorly compatible with management.

However, Newport acknowledges that most people are not like Feynman. They are not information ascetics and cannot ignore the demands of bosses, subordinates, or colleagues while thinking exclusively about grand ideas. Yet, there are still ways to be inspired by great scientists.

HOW TO SLOW DOWN PRODUCTIVITY?

By summarizing the time-management strategies that have helped bring about great scientific discoveries, Newport outlined six ways to practice slow productivity:

#1 Limit the Number of Daily Goals!

Focus on one major, significant project to avoid multitasking. Ruthlessly reducing your to-do list creates the mental space necessary for deep thinking.

#2 Combine Rituals and Places!

Rituals are essential, and you should follow them whenever possible. As an example of combining a ritual and a place, Newport describes a scientist who, after lunch in the university cafeteria, didn’t return to his office but always went to the same library stand.

#3 Group Meetings

This could be a fixed weekly half-hour meeting with colleagues to discuss unresolved issues. No more unproductive email threads or group chats that waste hours!

#4 Don’t Rush!

Great scientists like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, and Marie Curie revolutionized our understanding of the world. They shaped the development of science for decades without working 24/7 without rest. To succeed in meaningful work, you need a similar schedule — consistent but with varying intensity. Significant periods of rest and reflection must be included.

#5 Don’t Schedule Meetings on Mondays!

This advice may seem unusual, but according to Newport, it makes perfect sense. An unburdened Monday will make your Sunday evenings more enjoyable and restful.

#6 Invest in High-Quality Tools

Newport refers to his own experience here. As a postdoctoral researcher, he bought an expensive planner to organize his thinking. Fourteen years later, while flipping through old notes, he discovered the seeds of seven peer-reviewed publications.

Original research: