Four Thousand Weeks
Wisdom from the Field #14
“The technologies we use to try to ‘get on top of everything’ always fail us, in the end, because they increase the size of the ‘everything’ of which we’re trying to get on top.” (p. 47)
So says Oliver Burkeman, journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. The title references the number of weeks that the average person has in their lifetime. Put into this perspective, I found a concrete example to understand how limited we are in the time we have available.
One questionable practice Burkeman targets is productivity hacks and books that do little to create “work/life balance”. These resources typically encourage people to become more productive with tasks without always considering the tasks themselves. Rather, Burkeman recommends that people take a hard look at what they are saying “yes” to, and then be more judicious about what to commit to in their lives.
Recommend: Open Tasks/Closed Tasks Protocol
There are many great ideas and tools to consider in this book. (It will likely be in my top 5 books of the year post later this month.)
For living a quality life, Burkeman asks readers to reflect on “where in your life or your work are you currently pursuing comfort, when what’s called for is a little discomfort?” (p. 220)
He follows by recommending people stick with projects and positions that are presenting obstacles today but could have higher rewards in the future, to “choose uncomfortable enlargement over comfortable diminishment wherever you can.” (p. 221)
One strategy I started using immediately from Four Thousand Weeks is the “open task/closed task protocol” (p. 236). It is simple:
Create two lists of to-dos, “Open Tasks” and “Closed Tasks”.
In the open tasks, list as many things that you feel you need to accomplish.
In the closed tasks, re-list up to ten of those things to accomplish. This list can have no more than ten items at any one time.
Only when you complete a closed task can you bring in an item from the open tasks list.
Here is my example:
These self-imposed limited have forced me, in a healthy way, to more carefully consider what I am saying yes to and what I might want to decline.
Reflective Questions
Instead of the typical wonderings for you to consider, check out the rest of Burkeman’s questions on living a quality life. (p. 221-226)
Are you holding yourself to, and judging yourself by, standards of productivity or performance that are impossible to meet?
In what ways have you yet to accept the fact that you are who you are, not the person you think you ought to be?
In which areas of life are you still holding back until you feel like you know what you’re doing?
How would you spend your days differently if you didn’t care so much about seeing your actions reach fruition?
Wisdom from the Field is also a feature in my upcoming book.
