Existential Time Management with Oliver Burkeman

Oliver Burkeman joins me to talk about the problem with the narrow concept of time management and how we mere mortals ought to think about managing our time instead. Show NotesTime management for 4-year-oldsThe narrow vs broad meaning of time managementThe importance trap and the temptation to “clear the decks”Anti-skills, negative capability, and the superpower that is emotional toleranceThe Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive ThinkingElizabeth Gilbert’s Big MagicThe relationship between expectations and controlDavid Kane’s RaptitudeWeirdly modern conceptions of timeMeditation teacher Joseph GoldsteinAre all expectations unhealthy?Zen and the Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceThe case for wasting time and atelic activitiesOliver’s to-do list recommendationsCal Newport’s Deep WorkJames Hollis’ Finding Meaning in the Second Half of LifeSusan Jeffers' Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and Embracing UncertaintyWhat’s wrong with the self-help genre?The wounded healerJesse Singal and cranky self-helpDavid Brook’s The Second MountainMarilynne Robinson“Will this choice enlarge me or diminish me?”Douglas Harding’s On Having No HeadSeneca’s On the Shortness of LifeMary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Learn more about Oliver and his work here:Oliver’s book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for MortalsOliver’s website and (excellent) weekly newsletter: OliverBurkeman.com Get New Episodes First Learn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.