“Time management is important to success in life.”
That’s what self-described productivity geek Oliver Burkeman has to say about the current state of the globe. Some individuals consider time management to be a minor aspect of life, a game for those who enjoy meal planning on weekends and making big to-do lists.
However, he takes a different approach, viewing productivity as a result of happiness.
Burkeman says, “We have this finite amount of time.” “It’s impossible to do everything. You can’t even do the most basic tasks. So we’ll have to make some good decisions if we want to feel like we’ve lived lives that are fulfilling, joyful, and meaningful.”
Burkeman talks to SUCCESS People Editor about the mindset that people should have when it comes to productivity in this episode of Brilliant Thoughts.
Burkeman’s book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, is a philosophical guide to productivity, and they examine the book’s distinctive ideas.
Burkeman’s advice is primarily focused on toxic productivity and how to avoid it.
Related: 10 Creative Brainstorming Techniques & Tips
Here are three things to keep in mind as you work to mend your time relationship.
Faster Isn’t Necessarily Better When It Comes to Productivity.
Why do we feel compelled to complete tasks within a certain period of time? Why, if it takes six months to start a firm, impose an excessively tight deadline?
Instant pleasure is largely to blame. The sensation of wanting something to happen and then having it happen in a flash is intoxicating.
The internet has taught us that every purchase or piece of information is only “one click away.” But, unlike a new wardrobe, it’s difficult to buy productivity. Some jobs are better experienced at the pace of actual expertise, rather than the deadlines we impose on ourselves.
“There are all kinds of activities on all scales that take the time they take,” Burkeman says. “Things we do in a day or over the course of a year.” “They have built-in time that they require. A good example is reading.
Because so much other information is available to us instantly, people are finding it increasingly difficult to focus on reading a book.
It’s not about being fast; it’s about choosing which activities are worth taking your time to do. Consider the end aim whenever you are tempted to speed through something. What is the significance of the job? Will speeding through it produce greater outcomes than taking your time?
Instead of accomplishing a project in one sitting, schedule mini work sessions throughout the week if you need extra time. You’ll make fewer mistakes and save time by not having to start over.
Related: 9 Ways to Break Through Creative Block and Unlock Your Talent
You Can Be More Productive by Doing Fewer Things.
Do you know what the Pomodoro Technique is?
This productivity hack is used by successful people to manage their time and get things done. You begin by working for 25 minutes and then taking a five-minute rest. After you’ve completed it four times, you can take a 20-minute break.
The Pomodoro Technique, according to Burkeman, is a fantastic way to stay productive.
Even so, the attitude you bring to it can help or hinder your productivity. This is due to the fact that many people utilize the technique to manipulate the passage of time. They squeeze dozens of things into an eight-hour window, which isn’t sustainable.
What could be more relatable, to be honest? We’re all under pressure at work to deliver results promptly.
Related: Steve Jobs’ Legacy Continues To Motivate Us 10 Years After His Death.
“We feel like we’re in a productivity debt when we wake up in the morning,” Burkeman adds. “To get back to zero, we need to pay off our productivity.” You are in productivity debt if you receive a payment from a corporation.
But the fundamental point I’m attempting to make is this: “Do you feel like you’re even permitted to be here if you’re not generating anything?”
If you answered no to Burkeman’s question, reconsider your definition of productivity. We should all accept, according to Burkeman:
We’ll never get the impression that time is on our side.
Humans are a limited resource with a nearly limitless list of accomplishments. When it comes to regulating the time, the odds are stacked against us.
If you concentrate on what matters, less might be more. Prioritizing a few key things will get you further than prioritizing fewer important tasks.
Your worth is not determined by your job (or how effectively you do it). You’re already deserving. Your employment is a reflection of how you contribute to the world, and we need many types of workers to keep life running smoothly. This isn’t going to alter whether you’re incredibly productive or just ordinary.
The Best Way to Stay Productive Is to Embrace Unpredictability.
Concentrating on the future rather than what you’ll do to get there becomes a huge source of distraction. You instinctively place your faith in a scenario that hasn’t occurred yet or may not occur at all. Any voyage, though, is fraught with uncertainty. Choosing to keep going no matter what happens is sometimes the most constructive thing you can do.
Setting objectives can be problematic since they indicate that there is a destination, yet there isn’t always one. Goals change when you learn new things and encounter unforeseen challenges. Even if you don’t get at your exact objective, the real reward is sticking it out long enough to visit that new, intriguing place.
“You have to recognize plans for what they are: You orienting yourself in what appears to be the most rational approach right now rather than attempting to command the future, which will generate huge dissatisfaction when the future decides to do something else,” Burkeman adds.