I read Burkeman's 4,000 weeks this summer, and it rocked my world. I really enjoyed reading your take on his thoughts after you've had time to think about them for a couple of years. Thanks for this.
I used to read books like Getting Things Done. Until I listened to a podcast by CGP Grey and Brady Haran, both YouTubers. Grey was describing his various productivity methods using note taking apps etc and his 'method' for managing to-do lists, workflow etc. Brady was entertained, intrigued and mystified as he puts no such thought into productivity, methods, systems etc and has a very similar quality of output. 'But how do you manage priorities?' Well, he doesn't need thousands of items on a todo list, as he knows that if something really needs doing, he'll do it. And if it doesn't, he won't. In listening to those two fundamentally different mindsets, I realised that writing lists, and then (I found) failing to do the things on the list, was 100% the wrong approach for me. So now I don't read about productivity, nor write down long lists of things to do, nor write down goals etc. I plan when I need to. But I don't spend my time obsessing with systems, processes etc for productivity as I know that, for me, they are a time sink and worse than having no 'system' and just going by how I feel.
So much good stuff here! This sentence in particular resonated w me: "there's no consideration of whether the experience of falling asleep together—for you, and the child—has any value at all." Going to check out the book now....
Solving the Productive Parenting Puzzle with Oliver Burkeman
Thank you for this!
Loved this ✨
I read Burkeman's 4,000 weeks this summer, and it rocked my world. I really enjoyed reading your take on his thoughts after you've had time to think about them for a couple of years. Thanks for this.
I used to read books like Getting Things Done. Until I listened to a podcast by CGP Grey and Brady Haran, both YouTubers. Grey was describing his various productivity methods using note taking apps etc and his 'method' for managing to-do lists, workflow etc. Brady was entertained, intrigued and mystified as he puts no such thought into productivity, methods, systems etc and has a very similar quality of output. 'But how do you manage priorities?' Well, he doesn't need thousands of items on a todo list, as he knows that if something really needs doing, he'll do it. And if it doesn't, he won't. In listening to those two fundamentally different mindsets, I realised that writing lists, and then (I found) failing to do the things on the list, was 100% the wrong approach for me. So now I don't read about productivity, nor write down long lists of things to do, nor write down goals etc. I plan when I need to. But I don't spend my time obsessing with systems, processes etc for productivity as I know that, for me, they are a time sink and worse than having no 'system' and just going by how I feel.
So much good stuff here! This sentence in particular resonated w me: "there's no consideration of whether the experience of falling asleep together—for you, and the child—has any value at all." Going to check out the book now....