Recently I read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman after it sitting in my reading list for a while.
The book's central thesis rests on the stark acknowledgment of our finitude. We are not, and can never be, in complete control of our time. The relentless pursuit of productivity, Burkeman contends, is a trap that paradoxically leads to more anxiety, a feeling of inadequacy, and a life lived in a perpetual state of "getting ready" for a future that never quite arrives.
Some takeaways
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Instead of FOMO, embrace JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). Now that life is very short, we should focus on what truly matters to us. (And we need to find out what that is.) Every choice to do one thing is inherently a choice to not do countless others. Embracing this reality allows us to be more present and committed to our chosen path.
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The Productivity Trap: Our obsession with efficiency and optimization is a modern invention that creates a "conveyor belt" of tasks. The more we clear, the more appears. This endless cycle prevents us from engaging deeply with the activities that give life meaning. True productivity isn't about doing more, but about doing what is most significant.
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The Power of Choosing What to Neglect: Since we cannot do everything, the art of a well-lived life lies in consciously choosing what to fail at or neglect. This strategic underachievement in certain areas frees up the mental and temporal space to excel in the areas we deem most important.
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The Importance of "Useless" Hobbies: In a world obsessed with instrumentalizing every activity for future gain, engaging in hobbies for their own sake is a radical act. These "useless" pursuits, which have no goal other than the enjoyment of the activity itself, are crucial for a rich and fulfilling present.
Quotes
What you pay attention to will define, for you, what reality is.
Attention, on the other hand, just is life: your experience of being alive consists of nothing other than the sum of everything to which you pay attention.
Mortality makes it impossible to ignore the absurdity of living solely for the future.
Productivity is a trap. Becoming more efficient just makes you more rushed, and trying to clear the decks simply makes them fill up again faster.
The day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control. But you know what? That’s excellent news.
The core challenge of managing our limited time isn’t about how to get everything done—that’s never going to happen—but how to decide most wisely what not to do, and how to feel at peace about not doing it.
Choosing curiosity (wondering what might happen next) over worry (hoping that a certain specific thing will happen next, and fearing it might not) whenever you can.