DigeeBooks

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Provocative and appealing . . . well worth your extremely limited time." —Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street Journal

The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks.

Nobody needs telling there isn’t enough time. We’re obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and the ceaseless battle against distraction; and we’re deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient, and “life hacks” to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and still the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks.

Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society—and that we could do things differently.

In "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals," Oliver Burkeman challenges traditional time management advice, arguing that it often leads to stress and burnout. Instead, he proposes a new approach to time management that is based on acceptance and realism. Burkeman emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our limitations, accepting that we can't do everything, and focusing on what truly matters.

Burkeman draws on philosophy, psychology, and productivity research to offer practical strategies for managing our time more effectively. He argues that we should stop trying to control time and instead learn to adapt to its flow. He also encourages us to let go of perfectionism and focus on making progress, rather than achieving perfection. Burkeman's approach to time management is designed to help us live more meaningful and fulfilling lives, even in the face of the overwhelming demands of the modern world.

Key insights from "Four Thousand Weeks" include:

• Time is a finite resource. We only have a limited amount of time on this planet, so it's important to use it wisely.
• We can't do everything. It's important to accept our limitations and focus on what truly matters.
• Control is an illusion. We can't control everything that happens in our lives. It's important to learn to adapt to the flow of time.
• Progress is better than perfection. Don't let perfectionism hold you back from making progress. Focus on taking small steps forward.
• Meaning is found in the present moment. Don't get caught up in the past or the future. Focus on living in the present moment and appreciating the things you have.

"Four Thousand Weeks" is a thought-provoking and challenging book that will change the way you think about time management. Burkeman's insights are practical and actionable, and they can help you live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.