Four Thousand Weeks is the number of weeks of the average human life span (around 80 years).
With this in mind, the author, Oliver Burkeman, spent years attempting to optimise his time, but he realised that his efforts were futile. He was only able to accomplish trivial tasks, while the important things in his life were left undone. This led him to the realisation that he could never truly master his time, and that was okay.
By embracing the fact that we can’t do everything we want to do, we can start to focus on what really matters. For the author, this meant giving up the desire to master his time and instead surrendering to the unknown. This change in mindset allowed him to prioritise his relationships and start a family, which ultimately brought him more fulfilment than any productivity hack ever could.
Key Idea 1 – The concept of time management is a relatively new phenomenon
In early medieval England, for example, farmers did not worry about time and completed tasks as needed, rising with the sun and sleeping at dusk. The idea of achieving a work-life balance would have been irrelevant to premodern people, as they considered their time on Earth as insignificant compared to eternity.
However, the emergence of secular modernism and skepticism about an afterlife led people to focus on making the most of their limited time on Earth. In addition, the development of clocks during the Industrial Revolution transformed time from a concept to a resource to be used, with factory owners paying their employees by the hour to increase profits.
Overall, our modern way of thinking about time is characterised by an obsession with time management and the belief that our time on Earth is limited and valuable. These ideas are a departure from premodern notions of time and its significance.
Key Idea 2 – Mastering your time is an elusive goal
Mastering your time is an elusive goal that many people strive for, but ultimately, it’s unattainable. In our capitalist society, we’re pushed to maximise our time, abilities, and resources to achieve success and wealth. However, this often comes at the cost of living a fulfilling life, as we sacrifice the things that truly matter to us.
The glorification of busyness has only made matters worse, as people feel pressure to fill every moment with productivity. But the truth is that the more we try to optimise our time, the more stressed and unfulfilled we become. This is the paradox of limitation – the more we focus on what we can’t do, the less we appreciate what we can do.
Key Idea 3 – By facing our finitude, we can cultivate a fulfilling life
Unfortunately, most of us spend our time avoiding or denying the fact that our lives will end sooner or later. Some of us avoid the idea of finitude by seeking distractions or losing ourselves in the daily grind. Others take comfort with the belief that they don’t have to choose what to do at all. These people follow a prescriptive existence by getting married or remaining in a soul-destroying job.
So what should you do if you want to live an authentic life? Arguably, we have to face up to your limitations – and actually, by facing our finitude, we can cultivate a fulfilling life.
The realisation that your time on Earth is limited doesn’t have to be a morbid thought. Every year, the contemporary Swedish philosopher Martin Hägglund spends his summer vacation with his extended family on Sweden’s Baltic coast. The key to the joy Hägglund experiences during these vacations is that they’re limited. Since Hägglund doesn’t believe in eternity, he knows that he won’t be able to enjoy these vacations forever. His relationships with his family members who attend are bound by their mortality. And even the coastline where the vacations take place is temporary due to the retreating glaciers in the region.
Embracing finitude means realising that every choice about what to do with your time requires sacrifices. But rather than feeling defeated that you can’t accomplish everything, your choices could symbolise a commitment to choosing what matters most to you – whether you’re forgoing other options to support your family, watch a sunset, or write a novel.
Key Idea 4 – Procrastination is a natural human tendency, and it is futile to attempt to eliminate it entirely
The key message here is that becoming a better procrastinator involves prioritising limited goals.
The first principle is to pay ourselves first with our time. Suppose we have an important task that we wish to complete, such as a creative project or building a relationship. In that case, we should proactively make time in our schedule instead of waiting for an opportune moment. We might try working on the project for an hour after waking up or scheduling time in our calendar.
The second principle is to limit the number of works in progress. While it may be tempting to start several projects at once, having multiple projects on our plate can lead to switching between tasks whenever one becomes challenging or tedious, resulting in none of them being completed. Focusing on one project at a time forces us to break it down into smaller tasks, with only a few items to complete each day while working towards our goal.
The final principle is to avoid second-tier priorities. We do not have the time to accomplish everything we desire, so we must learn to say no to some of the things we might want to do. If an activity is not among our top five priorities in life, it may be best to avoid it, such as a friendship we only partially enjoy or a mildly interesting job opportunity.
The reality of life is that unexpected events and distractions will inevitably occur, and we only have a limited number of weeks to live. Philosophers have long recognised the human tendency towards distraction and the impact it has on our reality, as our attention shapes our experiences.
While it’s impossible and unwise to try and control our attention completely, we do need a certain level of focus to achieve our goals.
Today, digital technologies are the most obvious sources of distraction. Tech companies profit by capturing and tracking our attention, using “persuasive design” to keep us hooked on our screens. This not only wastes our time but also distorts our perceptions of the world, affecting our behaviour offline.
However, distractions aren’t solely the fault of technology. Even doing activities that matter to us can be uncomfortable, leading us to avoid them by procrastinating or daydreaming. This is because focusing on meaningful work forces us to confront our limitations, such as the possibility that we lack the talent to accomplish a creative project.
By recognising this pattern, we can work through our discomfort and resist the urge to give in to every distraction that arises. Rather than being a simple issue of willpower, distraction is a nuanced and multi-layered problem that requires self-awareness and the willingness to confront difficult truths.
Key Idea 5 – Embrace the present moment rather than constantly planning for the future
Have you ever noticed that tasks always seem to take longer than anticipated? This phenomenon, known as “Hofstadter’s law,” was coined by cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter. Even if we allocate extra time, we still tend to run over our new estimated time.
While we can’t control everything in life, many of us spend our time meticulously scheduling every minute. However, the key message is to embrace the present moment rather than constantly planning for the future.
The author grew up in a family that always arrived at the airport three hours early, but eventually realised that no matter how much you plan, things don’t always go as expected. Fixating on the future only creates stress and anxiety about what’s to come.
Living for the future isn’t just about obsessive planning; it’s also the “when-I-finally” mindset. We convince ourselves that once we meet the perfect partner, conquer our mental health issues, or finish a project, we’ll finally be content. This mindset perpetually keeps us striving toward an idealised future state, instead of enjoying the present.
While wanting a better future is natural, attempting to live in the present moment can benefit us all. However, it’s easier said than done. In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, author Robert Pirsig recounts feeling distanced from the beauty of Crater Lake in Oregon due to its status as a tourist attraction.
Rather than criticising yourself for not fully experiencing the present moment, acknowledge that the present moment is all that exists. You can’t succeed or fail at living in the present because it’s always there. Embracing the present moment can lead to a more fulfilling life and help reduce stress and anxiety about the future.
Key Idea 6 – To fully enjoy the benefits of leisure time, consider taking up hobbies or spending time with family and friends
In his 1962 book, The Decline of Pleasure, critic Walter Kerr observed a trend towards filling our free time with productive activities, such as networking or home renovation, and neglecting leisure. This decline in leisure time was a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, where employers encouraged workers to use their time off for activities that would enhance their productivity at work. Even labour reformers and union leaders advocated for using free time for self-improvement.
Today, we still feel pressure to make the most of our leisure time, but it’s time to redefine what that means. The message is clear: take up hobbies or spend time with family and friends to enjoy the benefits of leisure time.
Unfortunately, having a hobby has become somewhat stigmatised, as it may be seen as amateurish. Instead, it’s more fashionable to engage in profitable side hustles or activities. However, hobbies provide joy and enrichment, as they are done purely for pleasure’s sake. Embracing mediocrity in a hobby can be liberating.
For example, British rockstar Rod Stewart has spent over two decades building a model railway of a 1940s American cityscape. This hobby was not meant to enhance his career, and he was not particularly skilled at creating models. He even hired someone to do the electrical wiring.
Hobbies can enrich your life, but spending time with others is equally important. A study in Sweden found that antidepressant sales decreased more when more people were on vacation together. This indicates that Swedes were happiest when they shared their leisure time with others.
This has significant implications for digital nomads, a lifestyle where people run internet companies from their laptops and travel to exotic locations such as Thailand or Guatemala. While this lifestyle offers freedom and flexibility, traveling alone can be lonely. Therefore, it’s important to prioritise spending time with others, whether through hobbies or socialising.
Key Idea 7 – Instead of stressing over finding your life’s purpose, try practising cosmic insignificance therapy.
When a vice president of a medical instruments company had an epiphany during a business trip that she hated her life, it left her feeling deeply unsettled. It’s not uncommon to doubt how you’re spending your time, especially if your work no longer feels meaningful. However, it’s a necessary step towards building a fulfilling life. The question is, how can we make the most of the time we have?
The key message here is to practice cosmic insignificance therapy, which means recognising that our individual lives are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, it forced people to pause and reflect on what matters most. Many people believe that they have a lofty “life purpose,” but this can be overwhelming to figure out. The truth is that what we do with our time has no significance in the eyes of the universe.
Our biological programming makes us view the world from our own perspective, but this also motivates us to reproduce and pass on our genes. In the grand scheme of things, our individual lives are completely insignificant. While this might seem terrifying at first, it’s also liberating. Embracing our insignificance frees us from impossible standards and allows us to find meaning in our everyday lives.
According to cosmic insignificance therapy, any career is as worthwhile as preparing a nourishing meal for your child. It doesn’t matter if you’re not as talented as Mozart or Albert Einstein. Pursuing any goal that you care about is a worthy way to spend your time on Earth, whether it’s writing a book or simply spending time with loved ones.
Concluding thoughts…
Overall, Four Thousand Weeks offers a thought-provoking and refreshing approach to time management, challenging the traditional ideas of productivity and success. The book encourages us to embrace the finite nature of our time on earth, and to live our lives with purpose and meaning.
Here is a practical tip from the book you can apply straightaway:
Use plain or single-purpose technology
We often fall prey to digital distractions as they offer an escape from our limitations. To overcome this temptation, make your smartphone as plain as possible by deleting social media apps and activating the grayscale mode in your accessibility settings. Additionally, consider using technology designed for a specific purpose, such as reading books on an e-reader rather than your phone, which can help you stay focused.
