I’ve recently finished the book ‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver Burkeman, which describes itself as ‘Time Management for Mortals’. I found it enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Rather than quickly moving on to the next book, I thought I’d stop, reflect, and capture my key take-outs.
Here they are.
1 Our Lives Are Remarkably Short
Assuming we live to 80, it only lasts 4,000 weeks - hence the title of the book. And you only get one shot at it. This is quite a sobering thought. It doesn’t sound very long, does it? But this should be a liberating thought. It should encourage us all to make the most of our short time. He calls it ‘embracing your finitude’.
2 We Can’t Master Time
We’re inundated with tools and techniques to improve our productivity. He concludes that none of them work and that we should abandon our futile attempts to master time. Phew! The more efficient we become, the more work we generate. We never feel in control. We can never clear the decks. We never feel we have enough time, despite all the time-saving devices at our disposal. There’s always more we could be doing. Of course, we should do our best to become more efficient. But we should accept we’re never going to succeed in mastering time. We shouldn’t feel like we’re failing.
3 Distraction is the Big Enemy
What blocks our attempts to optimize our time is distraction. We get bored easily. We find it hard to focus on one thing. We find it hard to give anything our full attention. We blame technology and social media for this. There’s lots of advice to help us manage our relationship with technology. This usually involves tactics around disconnection.
But it goes beyond this. We were distracted before smartphones were invented. There’s something within us that wants to be distracted. Being alert to distractions helps us survive. It’s something we’ll always struggle with.
4 Don’t Chase the Future
Time managers try to map out their lives in detail and make grandiose plans. This can lead to stress or anxiety as nothing turns out quite as you expect. We can’t predict how everything will turn out. Events out of our control often scupper our intentions.
He therefore warns against obsessive planning. Indeed, when we look back on our lives, we’ll note many of the events that have shaped us have been the result of chance.
Micro-planning can lead to too much deferred gratification. We put things off, rather than enjoying the here and now. Remember the old saying - life’s not a dress rehearsal. Also, we risk losing the joy of spontaneity. Indeed he talks about the pleasure we gain from impulsive, generous gestures.
5 Learn to Enjoy Doing Nothing
There’s a risk that we become obsessed with the idea of ‘using time well’. Life becomes something we need to fill up, to maximize. Even when we’re not working. Instead, he advises us to rediscover rest. To learn to truly relax. To take place more pleasure in ‘wasting time’. Whatever that might be. Going for a walk. Playing with a train set. (A favourite pastime of Rod Stewart). Don’t feel guilty about it. Don’t see leisure as a means of being more productive. Enjoy leisure for its own sake.
6 Embrace Your Limitations
You can’t do everything. He advises us to accept what we can and can’t do. Plan this. He calls this ‘strategic underachievement’. Be consciously unbalanced. Make choices that will enlarge you. Even if at first they feel uncomfortable or challenged. Choose to not do things that diminish you. Things that make you unhappy, that cause anxiety.
7 Take Pleasure in the Mundane
This is all about seeing joy in the simplicity of everyday life. Noticing and appreciating the beauty and meaning behind what we take for granted. This could be about feeling grateful for small things such as a delicious cup of coffee or a walk in nature. Viewing regular events such as a meal with your family as significant. Be present and engaged in everyday tasks. Make the most of them.
8 Be More Patient
Modern living has led to more impatience. We hate waiting. This could be when we’re driving, awaiting a pizza delivery, or expecting a web page to load. People complain that they have no time to read nowadays. People complain they have no time to do anything.
He suggests we fight this. True fulfillment takes time. Be it relationships or new ventures. Too often, he argues we ‘jump off the bus’ too early. Instead, make incremental progress. Get better at finishing stuff, at completing. Before we get bored and move on to the next thing. Accept that things take time.
9 Embrace Your Irrelevance
We often put ourselves under pressure to ‘make our mark’ in the world, and achieve greatness. The reality is that we’re not that special. Humanity is 6,000 years old. There are 8 billion people in the world. Very few of us get to change the world. Relax. Don’t set yourself ambitions that are too grandiose. Aim for what he calls a ‘modestly meaningful life’. Otherwise, you risk disappointment.
10 Community is as Important as Individual Freedom
We’re often urged to take individual control of our lives, to go our own way, to not be answerable to others. But there’s a downside - loneliness.
It’s often more uplifting to be ‘in sync’ with others. For example, being part of a choir, with a crowd supporting your sports team, or simply hanging out with your neighbours. In short, being part of a community. Don’t neglect this dimension of what you do with your time.
Summary
‘Four Thousand Weeks’ is a book that challenged my long-held beliefs and made me reflect. The tone is light and not preachy and if you decide to read it, I don’t think it will be a waste of your time.
It’s also a book that’s changed my beliefs and behaviours. I was fascinated by efficiency and optimising my ‘valuable’ time. Now, I recognise that this is a pointless pursuit. I’m also a bit looser and less focused on planning the future in great detail. Random events will always scupper them. I do my best to feel grateful for what I have and take pleasure in the everyday. I’m lucky to be here.
My life is full of mundane activities and I’m learning to love them. Even David Beckham in his Netflix documentary loved cleaning his kitchen. Maybe I should follow his example.