The Awkwardness Principle

Do you ever feel like you’re behind on the life you’re trying to build, despite constantly being busy? I sat down with Oliver Burkeman, one of the most influential voices on productivity and purpose, to share tools to make more time for the things that genuinely matter so you can do more of what you love to create your dream life.

Oliver unpacks the psychology, sharing a radically different productivity approach: embracing your limitations, choosing what matters, and releasing the pressures holding you back.

🎧 What you’ll learn:

• What boredom and discomfort actually signal
• How to work on your dreams when you only have 10–20 minutes
• A grounding question to decide what’s truly worth your time
• How to trust yourself even if you’ve “let yourself down” before
• A moment-to-moment practice for choosing what life is asking of you now
• Why your brain clings to the fantasy of a “sorted, future version” of yourself
• What procrastination is really about (and why it’s not laziness)
• A simple tool—the Reverse Golden Rule—for becoming kinder to yourself
• How parenting reshaped Oliver’s relationship to time and control
• Why daily-ish habits work better than perfect streaks

✨ Homework: Spend 10 minutes doing something you know you want more of in your life—writing, calling someone you love, being outside, reading, creating. Not planning it, not optimizing it. Doing it. This is how change starts.

For more from Oliver Burkeman:

• His new book, Meditations for Mortals
• His bestselling book, 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
• His website: www.oliverburkeman.com

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The Liz Moody Podcast cover art by Zack. Music by Alex Ruimy.

Formerly the Healthier Together Podcast.

This podcast and website represent the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests. The content is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for any personal health questions.

The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 387

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