Before Breakfast Time management for mortals, with Oliver Burkeman
21 snips
Oct 8, 2025 
Oliver Burkeman, author of '4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals', delves into how to embrace our limitations while boosting productivity. He explores the illusion of control, suggesting we accept unexpected events as part of life. Burkeman advocates for three to four hours of focused work, the creativity-enhancing mindset of 'what if it were easy', and the power of a 'done list'. He emphasizes the importance of allowing transitions between life phases and avoiding over-preparation for the future.
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When Plans Break, Do Something
- Oliver describes being thrown off when his son came home sick and how he used to cancel the whole day.
- He learned to accept limited control and still do useful work when plans break.
Limit Deep Work To 3–4 Hours
- Great creative work typically requires only three to four hours of intense focus each day.
- Defend that stretch but don't obsess over structuring the rest of the day around it.
Start Projects Expecting Ease
- Approach meaningful tasks expecting they might be easier than you fear.
- Try beginning projects with openness to ease to increase idea flow and absorption.
