Working It Why you can’t ‘hack’ your way to productivity, with Oliver Burkeman
17 snips
Sep 10, 2024 
Oliver Burkeman, author of 'Four Thousand Weeks' and 'Meditations for Mortals', joins Isabel Berwick to rethink productivity. He argues that the rush to do more leads to stress, and accepting our limits may be the real key to productivity. Burkeman shares practical advice on managing overwhelming email backlogs and emphasizes that deferring gratification can trap us. He encourages focusing on meaningful choices and living in the present rather than getting lost in endless to-do lists.
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The Productivity Paradox
- Optimizing for an infinite stream of demands leads to more stress, not peace of mind.
- True productivity comes from embracing limitations, not fighting them.
Control vs. Limitation
- The desire for control clashes with our finite human limitations.
- Modern culture and technology exacerbate this by creating an illusion of infinite capacity.
Finding Meaning
- Don't focus on some abstract ideal life or destiny; ask what life requires of you now.
- Consider whether a path will lead to growth or diminishment, not just happiness.
