Oliver Burkeman on Reclaiming The Humanity in Productivity

Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Erik Fisher

Business, Entrepreneurship, Self-improvement, Careers, Education

4.5 • 875 Ratings

🗓️ 24 July 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week I’m really excited to share this conversation with Oliver Burkeman. I was inspired by this chat as Oliver is proposing a fresh and humane look at productivity that goes far beyond time management systems and software trends to reach into the finite nature of time and the intuitive skills that we all possess to handle our daily tasks and schedules in a way that is more forgiving and human. In his latest book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Oliver unpacks how the approximately four thousand hours that the average person has on earth is often spent thinking about, and even stressing about time management rather than embracing the natural flow of time and work cycles. As a contrast to this dread or even guilt that so many of us have regarding our productivity, Oliver stresses the importance of recognizing our limitations and finitude in terms of time and control. In our talk Oliver also emphasizes the value of understanding these limitations and how it can be freeing, allowing us to focus on realistic goals instead of feeling overwhelmed. In addition we explore the concept of intentional choice in using our limited resources and how it can lead to greater productivity. Oliver also points out techniques for how to distinguish between pursuing groundbreaking projects and trying to do everything at once, highlighting the latter as a futile struggle that often hinders meaningful work. Oliver Burkeman is the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. He wrote a long-running column for the Guardian, This Column Will Change Your Life, and has a devoted following for his writing on productivity, mortality and the power of limits. To receive his writing as soon as it’s published, subscribe to his twice-monthly email The Imperfectionist. Connect with Oliver: Website Linkedin Twitter YouTube Connect with Erik: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	When you're hiring for your small business, you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role.
0:05.0	That's why you have to check out LinkedIn Jobs. LinkedIn Jobs has the tools to help you find the right professionals for your team faster and for free. And trust me, I've spent a lot of time
0:15.1	looking through LinkedIn jobs and by far it has been the easiest way for me to find viable
0:21.2	candidates fast.
0:22.5	And LinkedIn isn't just a job board.
0:24.2	LinkedIn helps you hire professionals
0:25.9	you can't find anywhere else because even those who aren't
0:28.6	actively searching for a new job might be open
0:31.0	to the perfect role that you have.
0:33.0	In any given month, over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites.
0:38.0	So if you're not looking on LinkedIn, you're looking in the wrong place.
0:41.0	On LinkedIn, 86% of small businesses get qualified
0:45.0	candidates within 24 hours. Hire professionals like a professional on LinkedIn.
0:50.8	LinkedIn knows that small businesses are wearing so many hats and might not have the time or resources to hire.
0:55.6	LinkedIn is constantly finding ways to make the process easier.
0:58.8	They even just launch a feature that helps you write job descriptions,
1:01.8	making the process even easier and quicker.
1:04.5	Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com.
1:06.6	referral that's LinkedIn.com slash referral to post your job for free. Hello and I am your host Eric Fisher and this is the show where I talk to the
1:35.9	people behind the productivity this week I've been sitting on this one for a
1:39.7	while I really am glad to bring to you Oliver Berkman. He is the author of 4,000 weeks, time management
1:48.3	for mortals. That has been a smashing success. It was a 2021 Financial Times Book of the Year and an instant New York Times bestseller.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Erik Fisher, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Erik Fisher and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.