Baratunde Thurston on Unplugging: How to Reclaim Your Time and Focus (Shortcast)

Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Erik Fisher

Business, Entrepreneurship, Self-improvement, Careers, Education

4.5 • 875 Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this special Shortcast edition, Baratunde Thurston, shares his experience of unplugging from social media for 25 days—and what he learned about stress, productivity, and the importance of being present. Baratunde reveals how stepping away from constant digital interaction can lead to more meaningful real-world connections and less burnout. In this Shortcast, we explore: The Cost of Constant Connectivity: Baratunde explains how being “always on” took a toll on his mental health, productivity, and relationships, and why unplugging was the antidote. The Value of Presence: By exploring neighborhoods in New York without his phone, Baratunde rediscovered the value of shared experiences, analog socializing, and being grounded in the real world. Social Media as a Second Job: Baratunde highlights how social media transforms everyone into an amateur content creator, adding stress and metrics to everyday life. Challenges of Disconnecting: We discuss why platforms make it difficult to unplug—emotionally and logistically—and how Baratunde navigated the manipulation tactics of social media companies. Reclaiming Leisure and Focus: Baratunde shows how unplugging helped him be more present with others, less distracted, and ultimately more productive. Baratunde’s insights remind us to reflect on our relationship with social media and make conscious choices about how we engage with it. Learn more about Baratunde and his work at Baratunde.com and explore more Shortcasts like this one on ⁠Blinkist⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void?
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0:27.2	your credit. Terms and conditions apply. Welcome to Beyond the To Do List, a podcast about productivity.
0:34.0	I'm your host, Eric Fisher, and this is a special shortcast edition. A shortcast is a condensed
0:39.6	episode brought to you in partnership with Blinkist, the app that delivers key insights from top
0:45.2	nonfiction books and podcasts in just 15 minutes. With Blinkist, you can explore more episodes
0:51.0	like this one, covering topics like productivity, mindfulness, leadership, personal growth.
0:56.9	And after listening to this episode,
0:58.7	click the link in the show notes or go to blinkist.com and start a free trial
1:03.4	and then search for Beyond the To Do List to find the over 70 plus episodes
1:08.6	of Beyond the To Do List that are in there as shortcasts.
1:12.3	You're going to love them just like this episode.
1:19.3	Hello, I'm Eric Fisher, and welcome to the shortcast of Beyond the To Do List.
1:24.9	In every episode, I talk to people with fresh ideas to help you be happier
1:29.2	and more productive. Be honest. What percentage of your waking hours are spent in some way
1:38.2	engaging with social media? Posting, sharing, liking, doom scrolling. Social media is designed to draw us in deeper and deeper.
1:50.0	So maybe it's no surprise that we sometimes feel overwhelmed.
1:55.0	Today's shortcast is all about unplugging. What happens when you stop increasing your levels of digital interaction,
	...

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