Review #13: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Review: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Can you believe that the average human life is 4,000 weeks? It makes me think twice when I am dreaming for the weekend on a Monday afternoon. I rated this one 4/5. I received  some positive takeaways, the book didn’t drag (less than 300 pages), and I believe that I will go back and listen to this one in a few years to get a refresher.

Source: us.macmillan.com

My main takeaways – these are my interpretations of Burkeman’s ideas:

1.       Each of us as individuals is cosmically insignificant. On a grand scale our lives are way less important than we think, so don’t worry about being remembered for eternity. Just be good to those around you and help others where you can.

2.       Free time is only great if you sync it up with others. My father always told me to work when other people are working to maximize happiness. It is so true – I love having weekends off. Ideally the schedule would be a teacher’s since you can always have off with your kids, but at this point I will take my Monday through Friday, hybrid work model, and 20 days of PTO.

3.       We will never master our time, so don’t try. The more efficient we are, the more we try to cram more into a day and then we constantly feel like we aren’t getting enough done. We will never get the inbox to zero, so don’t have that as a goal. This inspires me to not rush and continue to do the best I can do without immense pressure.

4.       In general, distractions such as TV and cell phones make you feel less discomfort in the moment. Now after reading, I sometimes question whether I am on my phone to avoid the task I am currently working on or just for an enjoyable intentional quick escape. This thought has let me be more intentional with my breaks – or at least know when I am procrastinating.

5.       No matter how much time we budget for something, it will take that amount of time or longer.

6.       If we accept that we don’t know something and we keep trying to figure out, we will eventually find the best solution. Once again, don’t rush or expect immediate results, taking your time seems to be key here.

7.       You will never feel satisfied or feel that you have mastered your time. SO don’t try! Just live and know it wont ever be done. And it likely doesn’t really matter.

All of these lessons have led me to the ultimate realization that my anxiety has greatly been due to trying to master my time and life in a way that will be satisfactory to me. Newsflash, I will never accomplish this. This understanding has given me a sense of peace. I will continue to work at my job and do my best, but not rush my tasks because there are always new tasks. This is something I struggle with so I feel excited to embark on this chapter. It is also soothing to know that I will probably never feel properly accomplished so just knowing that makes me feel more proud of myself and what I have done so far with my life. I now just want to make sure I prioritize things based on how I feel about them and do everything in that order. Also, give the present of your presence to those around you!