The Fix When Falling Into The Efficiency Trap

5min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Comments

Transcript

Episode notes

Focusing on efficiency can lead to spending more time on less important tasks. The never-ending supply of tasks prevents us from getting to the important stuff. Believing that we can handle everything makes us more likely to accept new requests without questioning their value. Efficiency has a role to play, but it can't be the main answer to feeling overwhelmed. The key skill is the ability to not do something and be okay with it. Give up hope of ever completing all tasks and treat them as something to dip into regularly. Spend time on important projects even if the decks are not clear. Surrender to the reality that you can never get everything done and make the best use of the time you have.

Sam Harris presents an unconventional perspective on time management from Oliver Burkeman. Rather than focusing on rote efficiency or productivity, Burkeman calls on us to embrace our finitude and surrender to the rhythms of life, so that we may “end our struggle with time”—and live with “more accomplishment, more success, and more time spent on what matters most.”

If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.