Ep.33 – Oliver Burkeman – Embracing Imperfection & Enjoying Life

In this episode of the Intentional Wisdom Podcast, Greg Campion engages in a deep conversation with Oliver Burkeman, acclaimed author and journalist known for his books '4,000 Weeks' and 'Meditations for Mortals.'

They discuss critical life philosophies including the concept of living intentionally, scruffy hospitality, and handling the modern world's overwhelming flow of information. This episode delves into the significance of balancing productivity with enjoyment, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and the importance of accepting life's inherent uncertainties.

Episode segments:

(02:46) - Why Oliver wrote his new book, Meditations for Mortals

(04:36) - The Concept of Imperfectionism

(06:56) - Greg’s experience as a “guinea pig” for the new book

(18:31) - Why life is more like a Kayak than a Super Yacht

(24:38) - Perfectionist Fantasy and Daily Life

(34:10) - The Case for 'Daily-ish'

(37:31) - Balancing Health and Enjoyment

(39:01) - The Problem with Perfectionism

(44:31) - People Pleasing and Authenticity

(51:35) - Scruffy Hospitality

(55:16) - Navigating the Attention Economy

(01:03:21) - Applying Insights to Life

(01:08:37) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Related links:

- Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Mortals-Embrace-Limitations-Counts/dp/0374611998

- Oliver’s Twitter/X account: https://x.com/oliverburkeman

- Greg’s newsletter: https://gregcampion.substack.com/