Realistic productivity advice from Oliver Burkeman

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman is unlike anything else I've read about productivity so far. It painfully underscores the fact that we are finite beings who can only accomplish so much in the four thousand weeks we have on this planet, assuming we live to be eighty years old. Rather than intimidating us, Burkeman wants us to feel empowered by this realization so that we may focus on what matters most and be fully satisfied with our accomplishments.

Here are some of the techniques that work for me or I'll aim to use more frequently:

Keep two to-do lists

I've been using this method for a while now. Trying to tackle all the items on your long to-do list can be overwhelming and exhausting. It's helpful to keep two to-do lists: one with everything you’d like to get done in the near future (“open” list) and one with the things you prioritized to be done first ("closed" list). Burkeman explains it as follows:

“The open list is for everything that's on your plate and will doubtless be nightmarishly long. Fortunately, it's not your job to tackle it: instead, feed tasks from the open list to the closed one - that is, a list with a fixed number of entries, ten at most. The rule is that you can't add a new task until one's completed. (You may also require a third list, for tasks that are <<on hold>> until someone else gets back to you.) You'll never get through all the tasks on the open list - but you were never going to in any case, and at least this way you'll complete plenty of things you genuinely care about.”

Recognize that you will fail

Because of limited time and energy you will inevitably fall short of your goals. Burkeman introduces the concept of strategic underachievement, which can make you feel less concerned about that:

“But the great benefit of strategic underachievement - that is, nominating in advance whole areas of life in which you won't expect excellence of yourself - is that you focus that time and energy more effectively.”

I particularly like how this approach emphasizes the cyclical nature of life - there will be times when external circumstances, such as meeting an important deadline, will force us to do certain things. In such cases, doing the absolute bare minimum in other areas is perfectly acceptable. There is no such thing as work-life balance.

Opt for single-purpose devices

Avoid distractions by choosing devices that serve only one purpose whenever possible (such as Kindle or basic mobile phone). When you have instant access to other functions provided by a smartphone or laptop, it will be difficult to resist using them when your concentration wanes. I frequently follow this advice when writing, preferring a typewriter or pen and paper to a word processor whenever feasible.

Stay present

Staying in the present moment can help to reduce the sense that time is speeding up as we get older. Meditation can help here, but so can paying more attention to every moment and practicing observation skills. When I'm journaling, drawing, or watching nature, time seems to slow down.