Productivity has become an obsession, both for individuals and companies. Across numerous industries, employee productivity is now being monitored and scored, with the specter of artificial intelligence automation only adding to the pressure to always be hustling. But there’s real value in learning how to prioritize tasks and organize your schedule in ways that work for your brain without compromising your well being.
These six podcasts offer steps and tools for making the most of your time and energy at work and beyond.
‘Deep Questions With Cal Newport’
Cal Newport, an author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, has long been known for his balanced approach to productivity — his most recent book, “Slow Productivity,” emphasizes working less to produce higher quality results. In Newport’s podcast, he offers detailed advice grounded in a few core concepts: deep work (focusing, without distraction, on a single, cognitively demanding task), digital minimalism (limiting technology use to reclaim the time and energy that digital pursuits can drain from us), and time-blocking (dividing a day into segments during which you focus on one task at a time). As he addresses listener questions and shares concrete tips and techniques, Newport also encourages his audience to question their assumptions about productivity as a goal in itself.
Starter episode: “It’s Okay to Slow Down”
‘Relaxing White Noise’
While many podcasts offer tips and advice on how to focus better, this series is a practical tool in itself. Despite its somewhat bland title, “Relaxing White Noise” gives listeners access to a smorgasbord of soothing soundscapes. With more than a thousand episodes in the back catalog, the options include soothingly mundane noises (dishwasher sounds or the whir of a fan), evocative nature scenes (a rainstorm in a forest or a cascading waterfall) and even potentially stressful scenarios (“Rain & Stormy Ocean Sounds Aboard Wooden Ship” may be an acquired taste). There are also many white, brown and pink noise options — for the uninitiated, these all describe different audible frequencies with varying effects. White noise has more of a hissing sound than brown or pink, which may make the latter options more soothing, but all three have benefits for focus, not least because they effectively block out other disruptive sounds.
Starter episode: “Super Relaxing Waterfall Sounds for Sleeping”
‘Cortex’
Since a lot of productivity podcasts are geared toward those with traditional 9 to 5 work schedules, “Cortex” is a welcome alternative with an emphasis on freelancers and creatives. The show is hosted by CGP Grey (best known among podcast fans for the beloved but now-defunct hit “Hello, Internet”) and Myke Hurley, a founder of the British podcast network Relay FM, who share their strategies for time management and getting things done. The duo affably discusses specific work flows, apps and frameworks that help them push forward with creative projects — for instance, planning your year around a broad theme and using this to guide actions rather than relying solely on rigid, time-based goals.
Starter episode: “Start a Timer, Make a Decision”
‘Getting Things Done’
David Allen’s 2001 book, “Getting Things Done,” is a staple of the productivity genre, pioneering one of the first formal task management systems. The GTD method is a five-step framework that involves identifying projects, organizing them into clear tasks and tackling them systematically with regular check-ins to monitor progress. If it sounds deceptively simple, that’s half the appeal. This podcast features interviews with professionals in various fields who discuss how they’ve used Allen’s framework to improve their focus and reduce stress. Allen and his colleagues also delve into the specifics of each step of the process, identify common pitfalls, answer listener questions and discuss how to tweak the GTD system for specific scenarios like teaching, leadership roles and even family vacations.
Starter episode: “What is GTD and how will you benefit from it?”
‘Optimal Living Daily’
This 10-year-old podcast has produced more than 3,000 episodes to date, a staggering number made possible by its compelling format. Episodes clock in at a bite-size 10-minutes long on average, and feature the host, Justin Malik, reading out a blog article (with author permission) that explores self-improvement, mental health or mind-set shifting in some form. Given the variety of topics and authors, it’s likely that not every episode will resonate, but descriptive episode titles make it easy to choose. There’s a comforting consistency to the show’s format, which has been unchanged since its debut in 2015 and which gives it a charmingly retro quality that feels unlike any other modern podcast.
Starter episode: “How Short Rests Can Make You Healthier, Happier, and More Productive”
‘Beyond the To-Do List’
Just as its name promises, this series goes well beyond the typical subject matter, focusing as much on psychology and philosophy as on organizational tips. In each episode, Erik Fisher sits down with businesspeople, authors and people in other creative fields to discuss the strategies that work for them, while often exploring more personal stories about finding meaning and overcoming rough patches. Recent episodes have included conversations about how to manage tasks when you live with depression, how to “manage up” and get what you need from superiors at work, and how to improve your work space for both productivity and mental clarity.
Starter episode: “Sara Sherman on Using Music to Enhance Focus and Wellbeing”
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