Issue 168: A More Productive Year
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about productivity. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
A More Productive Year
The way we work is radically different than it was just two decades ago. The rise of knowledge work has brought new ways of thinking, working, and scheduling. Technology has optimized our productivity and performance in a large number of sectors. The problem is that productivity isn’t just a matter of what you accomplish; it’s about how you feel about what you do. And many of us often feel burnt out from constantly being connected to work. Since it’s a new year, let’s jump into this idea of productivity and how it needs some tweaking for knowledge workers.
Finding joy. Cal Newport has become one of the most influential thinkers about productivity working today. As a writer for the New Yorker, Newport wrestles with the challenges we face in the age of constant connectivity. His approach for better productivity in 2024 is a system that addresses “non-stop messaging and calendars stuffed with calls and meetings.” He writes, "the challenge is that most of this communication is born from the reasonable need to interact with your colleagues to execute your job. This is why responses centered purely on abstention—Check your e-mail only twice a day! No meetings on Mondays and Fridays!—are doomed.” We need to find a better way to structure our days.
New approaches. Newport’s solution to endless meetings and messages is communication control. These simple rules redirect your necessary interactions into systems that reduce their toll on your time and attention. This means putting more intention into how we communicate at work. Refocusing our time to remove as much “meaningless busyness” as possible can recapture our focus and passion at work. As Newport notes, “The challenge in cultivating a sustainable approach to modern knowledge work is to locate the space between productivity fetishism and the knee-jerk rejection of productivity thinking as toxic or unnecessary.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.”
– Giuseppe Verdi
CHART OF THE WEEK
This week, we are thinking about reading. The Economist charts the average number of notable books people read throughout their lives, and when. It’s time to kickstart that reading habit.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Digital well-being: It's time to get serious about well-being. Let’s face it: the world is still a wild place. The pandemic remains an ever-present threat. The global economy is up and down. Complicating matters is that we have never been more addicted to scrolling on our phones. Getting off one’s phone is much easier said than done, but even thirty minutes daily can make a big difference in one’s mental health. This is especially true if that screen time break happens before bed. We explore more tips and tricks in this piece published by Xische about digital health.
How to fix bias in AI: The problem with bias in AI and advanced algorithms is not technical; it’s human. Those gifted programmers and coders who create the algorithms that guide our lives are the root (and solution) of the bias problem. This week, we considered ways to address the challenge of bias. Small states with large technology sectors, such as the UAE, have an advantage in addressing these challenges. Read our piece to find out why.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Is AI taking jobs? For as long as people have been working, they have worried about their job security. With the sudden rise of artificial intelligence, more people than ever have been concerned about computers taking over jobs. Yet, these fears are blown out of proportion and tend to divert attention from more pressing issues with AI. In this month’s edition of MIT Tech Review, David Rotman dives into the long history of automation and job security. It’s a vital essay for anyone interested in the future (and past) of work and automation.
Finding time to read. This week's chart outlines how many notable books people have read. The larger story behind the chart in The Economist focuses on finding time to read. One of the extraordinary life hacks of the information age is carving out time for personal growth amidst the constant connection to devices. Reading physical books is a great and easy way to achieve that time. Even 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference. The crux is finding your next great book.
QUICK HITS
The rise of techno authoritarianism.
Astronaut obits?
The AI-powered alarm clock.
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