How to Get Things Done, Stay Focused, and Be More Productive

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

September 4, 2025

Duration

1h 10m

Channel

The Mel Robbins Podcast

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to gain control of your free time, improve productivity, and get motivated (even when you don’t feel like it). By the time you finish listening, you’ll understand how to get things done, the surprising science of focus, and simple tricks to never procrastinate again. Joining Mel today is the #1 productivity expert and Georgetown professor Dr. Cal Newport. He is here to tell you: If you’re feeling unmotivated, burnt out, and tired of wasting time, there’s another way to live. Today he shares simple tricks, tactics, and strategies that help you get things done despite all the noise. He is bringing the simple daily shifts you need to make life feel easier and to make you more focused and productive. In this episode, you will learn: -The surprising reason you can’t get anything done -The simple daily ritual that creates instant focus -How to organize your calendar (and your day) to be more productive -Why you feel unmotivated and how to instantly flip the switch -How to get your brain to focus, whenever you want to There’s an entirely different way to take control of your time. This episode will teach it to you. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-322/. Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 02:04 Why You’re Exhausted All the Time 06:23 What Everyone Gets Wrong About Productivity 15:51 Principle #1: Do Fewer Things 31:26 Principle #2: Work at a Natural Pace 49:44 Principle #3: Obsess Over Quality 53:18 The Time Management Hack That Doubles Your Productivity 01:03:02 Why You Should Put Your Phone Down 01:06:03 How to Catch Up When You Feel Behind — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Mel Robbins

  host

• Cal Newport

  guest

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Mel Robbins and Cal Newport, How to Get Things Done, Stay Focused, and Be More Productive explores escape Busyness: Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity For Meaningful Work, Life Mel Robbins interviews computer science professor and author Cal Newport about why modern life feels overwhelmingly busy and unfocused, and how to fix it with his “slow productivity” framework. Newport explains how digital tools, pseudo‑productivity, and unrealistic to‑do lists fragment attention and drive chronic stress, burnout, and a false sense of self‑worth based on busyness. He proposes three core principles—do fewer things (at once), work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality—to reclaim time, reduce anxiety, and produce work that truly matters. The conversation offers specific tactics like time‑blocking, “facing the productivity dragon,” deep‑work training, and renegotiating workplace norms around meetings and responsiveness.

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