Minimize Your Digital Use, Maximize Your Life

There is no question that we are increasingly committing ourselves to digital use. The fact is that our use of digital technology has presented us with some opportunities never before available in the history of mankind. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pose a very serious threat to our sanity and well-being.

Today, I talk with repeat guest, Cal Newport, to talk about some of those threats and, more importantly, how we harness the power of digital technology while minimizing the risk that inherently comes with it. We talk about the philosophy of digital minimalism, why you ought to consider a “digital de-clutter,” how to keep from losing control to technology, and how to minimize digital use while maximizing your life.

“It was the social media companies in particular that re-engineered our relationship with these [technilogical] devices.”— Cal Newport

Cal Newport

Gentlemen, today I have the honor of introducing you to my friend and repeat guest, Mr. Cal Newport.

Cal is an MIT graduate and a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and, in addition to that, he is extremely interested in the intersection of technology and society.

I know many of you have read his books, including, So Good They Can’t Ignore you, Deep Work, and his latest New York Times Bestseller, Digital Minimalism.

I’ve been fascinated with his work since I first read, So Good They Can’t Ignore you. In fact, many of his theories and ideas have been used in my life to build this movement, Order of Man. I’m not sure I would have had so much success with the organization without incorporating some of his ideas, including the ones he’ll be sharing with us today.

“There is nothing about the internet, or smartphones, or the value you can get out of these tools, that requires you to need to be looking at these screens all the time.”— Cal Newport

Show Highlights

What is digital minimalism
How to develop a philosophy of technology use
How to incorporate a digital de-clutter
Why you should place priority on long-term meaning over short-term satisfaction
How we lose control to technology
Why technology is not neutral
Why clutter is costly
How to develop a personal technology process
How we’re beginning to see mental health issues associated with technology use
Strategies for overcoming digital addiction
How tech. companies capitalize on the “attention economy”
Why social approval is so compelling, even if we know the dangers
Why real-world interaction is so much more powerful than digital interaction
Why every man needs to strategize his free time
How to utilize the idea of “slow media” in your life

“We’re just gadgets. We’re gadgets in the machine of some northern California corporation. I think people are getting fed up.”— Cal Newport

Iron Council

Gentlemen, it’s been a while since I last talked about our exclusive brotherhood, the Iron Council. In talking with hundreds and hundreds of men, one of their biggest challenges in improving themselves is finding other motivated, ambitious men to connect with who are interested in walking the same path.

I ran into the same issue on my early journey to improve my life which is why I created the Iron Council – so I could identify and band with men who had similar ambitions as I did, and men who would hold me accountable for the aspirations I had for myself.

If you’re interested in the same, the Iron Council is a brotherhood where you’ll bond with other men, complete assignments and challenges, identify worthy objectives, and hold each other accountable to achieving them. This month we’re talking about the “lighthouse” theory and how you can become a man of value in your home, business, and community.

Head to www.orderofman.com/ironcouncil to learn more and band with us.

“The minimalist credo is to figure out what you’re all about – figure out your values – and work backward from that. And, only put tech to use if it helps one of those values.”— Cal Newport

Connect with Cal Newport

www.calnewport.com

“The value of taking responsibility and committing to things you care about will far outweigh the inconveniences or little bits of lost value by not taking on everything that catches your attention.”— Cal Newport