Should I Press Pause? | Monday Advice

Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Jun 08, 2026•33 min

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Summary

In this episode, Cal Newport discusses the critical need to pause from modern distractions to foster deep thinking and discover new possibilities. He outlines three key benefits of pausing and provides four progressive "mini-pause" strategies, from a morning coffee shop loop to a multi-day escape. Cal also details how to effectively use these pauses for reflection, problem-solving, and actionable planning, alongside answering listener questions on sabbaticals and deep work.

Episode description

Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to press pause on your busy life and take a moment to look toward new possibilities. But how is this possible if you can’t afford to literally stop everything and get away? In this episode, Cal explores different strategies for taking what he calls “mini-pauses” that can be integrated into even the most unforgiving of schedules.

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

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

(0:00) Should I press pause?

(10:46) Make a morning coffee shop loop

(11:33) Schedule a “doctors appointment”

(12:48) Book a 24-hour escape

(13:41) Fly to Asheville

(18:13) What will be your approach to your upcoming sabbatical?

(21:03) Can you elaborate on the “think” component of read-think-write?

(28:55) What types of books do you read before bed?

Links:

Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow

Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/