How to Fix Brain Rot: A Cognitive Training Plan

In the world of physical health, we use so-called “key performance indicators” (KPIs) to help measure and improve our fitness. In today’s episode, Cal proposes a collection of three KPIs for measuring and improving your *cognitive* capabilities – a small step toward his larger vision of a cognitive fitness revolution.

More from Cal

Download Cal’s FREE guide to cultivating a deeper life: calnewport.com/ideas
Learn more about Cal’s books: calnewport.com/books
Listen to Cal’s podcast: thedeeplife.com/listen

Chapters

(0:00) How to build a cognitive training plan
(29:48) What is Cal’s opinion on information fatigue syndrome?
(37:04) Comments on the new book, “Pardon Our French: The Parisian Way to a Happier Life”
(40:17) An interesting way to think about AI and thinking
(47:37) An article about Disneyland, high quality leisure, and deep living
(57:53) What Cal is up to

Resources Mentioned:

August 2026 Books

The Laws of Thought (Tom Griffiths)
This is For Everyone (Tim Berners-Lee)
Into the Deep (Bob Ballard and Christopher Drew)202

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/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
https://workplacepsychology.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/information-overload-when-information-becomes-noise/
https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2026/08/12/reading-between-the-lines-part-1-a-cognitive-framework-for-ai-in-scholarly-publishing/
https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/18/boredom-and-its-discontents-part-ii/
https://pluralistic.net/2026/08/12/insurance-value-of-biodiversity/
https://archive.ph/WvW1F

Sponsors:

https://www.calderalab.com/deep (Use code “DEEP)
https://www.vanta.com/deepquestions
https://www.gusto.com/deep
https://www.babbel.com/deep

Credits:

Podcast Production: Jesse Miller
Newsletter/Research: Nate Mechler
Theme Music: Jay Kerstens Receive SMS online on sms24.me

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