OLIVER BURKEMAN Oliver Burkeman is the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, and for many years wrote a popular weekly column on psychology for the Guardian, ‘This Column Will Change Your Life’. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies and New Philosopher. He has a devoted following for his writing on productivity, mortality, the power of limits, and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment. oliverburkeman.com
ALSO BY OLIVER BURKEMAN
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done
OLIVER BURKEMAN
Four Thousand Weeks Time Management for Mortals
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Vintage is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found 1 3at5global.penguinrandomhouse.com 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 The Bodley Head, an imprint of Vintage, is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
Copyright © Oliver Burkeman 2021 Oliver Burkeman has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 First published in Vintage in 2022 Copyright © by Oliver 2021in 2021 First published in hardback TheBurkeman Bodley Head Some portions of this book first appeared in an Oliver Burkeman has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this earlier form in the Guardian. Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 penguin.co.uk/vintage Firstfor published by The Bodley Head A CIP catalogue record this book is available from in the2021 British Library www.penguin.co.uk/vintage ISBN 9781784704001
Printed bound record in Great byisClays Ltd,from Elcograf S.p.A.Library A CIPand catalogue for Britain this book available the British The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Hardback 9781847924018 Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32ISBN Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68 Trade paperback ISBN 9781847924025 Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made Printed and bound in Great Britain Ltd., Elcograf S.p.A. certified paper. from Forest Stewardship Councilby® Clays The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin, D02 YH68. Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.
To Heather and Rowan
It’sIt’s thethe very very lastlast thing, thing, isn’tisn’t it, we it, we feelfeel grateful grateful
for:for: having having happened. happened. YouYou know, know, youyou needn’t needn’t have have happened. happened. YouYou needn’t needn’t have have happened. happened. ButBut youyou diddid happen. happen.
– d–odug o ug l asl as har har ding ding
What What makes makes it unbearable it unbearable is your is your mistaken mistaken belief belief thatthat it can it can be be cured. cured.
– c–har c har l ot l ot t e tjoko e joko be cbek c k
Contents Contents
Introduction: Introduction: In In thethe Long Long Run, Run, We’re We’re AllAll Dead Dead
3 3
Part Part I: I: Choosing Choosing to to Choose Choose 1. 1.The The LimitLimitEmbracing Embracing Life Life 2. 2.The The Efficiency Efficiency Trap Trap 3. 3.Facing Facing Finitude Finitude
4. 4.Becoming Becoming a Better a Better Procrastinator Procrastinator 5. 5.The The Watermelon Watermelon Problem Problem 6. 6.The The Intimate Intimate Interrupter Interrupter
17 17 37 37 57 57 71 71 89 89 101101
Part Part II:II: Beyond Beyond Control Control 7. 7.WeWe Never Never Really Really Have Have Time Time 8. 8.You You AreAre Here Here
9. 9.Rediscovering Rediscovering Rest Rest
10.10.The The Impatience Impatience Spiral Spiral
113113 125125 141141 161161
c ocnotnetnetnst s
11.11.Staying Staying onon thethe Bus Bus
12.12.The The Loneliness Loneliness of of thethe Digital Digital Nomad Nomad 13.13.Cosmic Cosmic Insignificance Insignificance Therapy Therapy
173173 185185 203203
14.14.The The Human Human Disease Disease
215215
Afterword: Afterword: Beyond Beyond Hope Hope
229229
Appendix: Appendix: Ten Ten Tools Tools forfor Embracing Embracing Your Your Finitude Finitude 235235 Notes Notes
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Index Index
x x
247247 261261 265265
Four Four Thousand Thousand Weeks Weeks
Introduction: Introduction:InInthe theLong Long Run, Run,We’re We’reAll AllDead Dead
TT
he he average average human human lifespan lifespan is absurdly, is absurdly, terrifyingly, terrifyingly, insultingly insultingly short. short. Here’s Here’s oneone way way of of putting putting things things in in perspective: perspective: thethe first first modern modern humans humans appeared appeared onon thethe plains plains of of Africa Africa at at least least 200,000 200,000 years years ago, ago, andand scienscientists tists estimate estimate that that life, life, in some in some form, form, will will persist persist forfor another another 1.51.5 billion billion years years or more, or more, until until thethe intensifying intensifying heat heat of the of the sunsun condemns condemns thethe lastlast organism organism to to death. death. ButBut you? you? Assuming Assuming youyou livelive to to be be eighty, eighty, you’ll you’ll have have hadhad about about four four thousand thousand weeks. weeks. Certainly, Certainly, youyou might might getget lucky: lucky: make make it to it to ninety, ninety, andand you’ll you’ll have have hadhad almost almost 4,700 4,700 weeks. weeks. You You might might getget really really lucky, lucky, likelike Jeanne Jeanne Calment, Calment, thethe Frenchwoman Frenchwoman who who waswas thought thought to to be be 122122 when when sheshe died died in in 1997, 1997, making making herher thethe oldest oldest person person onon record. record. Calment Calment claimed claimed sheshe could could recall recall meeting meeting Vincent Vincent vanvan Gogh Gogh – she – she mainly mainly remembered remembered hishis reeking reeking of of alcohol alcohol – and – and sheshe waswas stillstill around around forfor thethe birth birth 3 3
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of the of the first first successfully successfully cloned cloned mammal, mammal, Dolly Dolly thethe sheep, sheep, in in 1996. 1996. Biologists Biologists predict predict that that lifespans lifespans within within striking striking disdistance tance of of Calment’s Calment’s could could soon soon become become commonplace. commonplace. YetYet even even sheshe gotgot only only about about 6,400 6,400 weeks. weeks. Expressing Expressing thethe matter matter in in such such startling startling terms terms makes makes it it easy easy to to seesee why why philosophers philosophers from from ancient ancient Greece Greece to to thethe present present dayday have have taken taken thethe brevity brevity of of lifelife to to be be thethe defining defining problem problem of of human human existence: existence: we’ve we’ve been been granted granted thethe menmentaltal capacities capacities to to make make almost almost infinitely infinitely ambitious ambitious plans, plans, yetyet practically practically nono time time at at all all to to putput them them into into action. action. ‘This ‘This space space that that hashas been been granted granted to to us us rushes rushes by by so so speedily speedily andand so so swiftly swiftly that that all all save save a very a very fewfew find find lifelife at an at an endend justjust when when they they areare getting getting ready ready to to live,’ live,’ lamented lamented Seneca, Seneca, thethe Roman Roman philosopher, philosopher, in in a letter a letter known known today today under under thethe title title OnOn thethe Shortness Shortness of Life. of Life. When When I first I first made made thethe four four thousand thousand weeks weeks calculation, calculation, I felt I felt queasy; queasy; butbut once once I’dI’d recovered, recovered, I started I started pestering pestering mymy friends, friends, asking asking them them to to guess guess – off – off thethe toptop of of their their heads, heads, without without doing doing anyany mental mental arithmetic arithmetic – how – how many many weeks weeks they they thought thought thethe average average person person could could expect expect to to live. live. One One named named a number a number in in thethe sixsix figures. figures. Yet, Yet, as Iasfelt I felt obliged obliged to to inform inform her,her, a fairly a fairly modest modest six-sixfigure figure number number of of weeks weeks – 310,000 – 310,000 – is– the is the approximate approximate duration duration of of all all human human civilisation civilisation since since thethe ancient ancient Sumerians Sumerians of of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia. OnOn almost almost anyany meaningful meaningful timescale, timescale, as as thethe contemporary contemporary philosopher philosopher Thomas Thomas Nagel Nagel hashas written, written, ‘we‘we willwill all all be be dead dead anyany minute’. minute’. It follows It follows from from thisthis that that time time management, management, broadly broadly de-defined, fined, should should be be everyone’s everyone’s chief chief concern. concern. Arguably, Arguably, time time management management is all is all lifelife is. is. YetYet thethe modern modern discipline discipline known known as as time time management management – like – like its its hipper hipper cousin, cousin, productivity productivity – is–ais a 4 4
i ni t n htehleong l ong ruru n, n, w ew’ ree’ rae lallde l de a da d depressingly depressingly narrownarrowminded minded affair, affair, focused focused onon how how to crank to crank through through as as many many work work tasks tasks as as possible, possible, or or onon devising devising thethe perfect perfect morning morning routine, routine, or or onon cooking cooking all all your your dinners dinners forfor thethe week week in in oneone bigbig batch batch onon Sundays. Sundays. These These things things matter matter to some to some extent, extent, nono doubt. doubt. ButBut they’re they’re hardly hardly all all that that matters. matters. TheThe world world is bursting is bursting with with wonder, wonder, andand yetyet it’sit’s thethe rare rare proproductivity ductivity guru guru who who seems seems to to have have considered considered thethe possibility possibility that that thethe ultimate ultimate point point of of all all ourour frenetic frenetic doing doing might might be be to to experience experience more more of of that that wonder. wonder. TheThe world world also also seems seems to to be be heading heading to hell to hell in ainhandcart a handcart – our – our civic civic lifelife hashas gone gone insane, insane, a pandemic a pandemic hashas paralysed paralysed society, society, andand thethe planet planet is getting is getting hotter hotter andand hotter hotter – but – but good good luck luck finding finding a time a time managemanagement ment system system that that makes makes anyany room room forfor engaging engaging productively productively with with your your fellow fellow citizens, citizens, with with current current events, events, or or with with thethe fatefate of of thethe environment. environment. AtAt thethe very very least, least, youyou might might have have assumed assumed there’d there’d be be a handful a handful of productivity of productivity books books that that take take seriously seriously thethe stark stark facts facts about about thethe shortness shortness of of life, life, instead instead of of pretending pretending that that wewe cancan justjust ignore ignore thethe subject. subject. ButBut you’d you’d be be wrong. wrong. SoSo thisthis book book is an is an attempt attempt to help to help redress redress thethe balance balance – to– to seesee if we if we can’t can’t discover, discover, or or recover, recover, some some ways ways of of thinking thinking about about time time that that dodo justice justice to to ourour realreal situation: situation: to to thethe outoutrageous rageous brevity brevity andand shimmering shimmering possibilities possibilities of of ourour four four thousand thousand weeks. weeks.
Life Life onon thethe Conveyor Conveyor Belt Belt In In oneone sense, sense, of course, of course, nobody nobody these these days days needs needs telling telling that that there there isn’t isn’t enough enough time. time. We’re We’re obsessed obsessed with with ourour overfilled overfilled 5 5
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inboxes inboxes andand lengthening lengthening to-todo do lists, lists, haunted haunted by by thethe guilty guilty feeling feeling that that wewe ought ought to to be be getting getting more more done, done, or or different different things things done, done, or or both. both. (How (How cancan youyou be be sure sure that that people people feelfeel so so busy? busy? It’sIt’s likelike thethe lineline about about how how to to know know whether whether somesomeone’s one’s a vegan: a vegan: don’t don’t worry, worry, they’ll they’ll telltell you.) you.) Surveys Surveys reliably reliably show show that that wewe feelfeel more more pressed pressed forfor time time than than ever ever before; before; yetyet in in 2013, 2013, research research by by a team a team of of Dutch Dutch academics academics raised raised thethe amusing amusing possibility possibility that that such such surveys surveys may may understate understate thethe scale scale of of thethe busyness busyness epidemic epidemic – because – because many many people people feelfeel tootoo busy busy to to participate participate in in surveys. surveys. Recently, Recently, as the as the giggig econeconomy omy hashas grown, grown, busyness busyness hashas been been rebranded rebranded as as ‘hustle’ ‘hustle’ – – relentless relentless work work notnot as as a burden a burden to to be be endured endured butbut as as an an exhilarating exhilarating lifestyle lifestyle choice, choice, worth worth boasting boasting about about onon social social media. media. In In reality, reality, though, though, it’sit’s thethe same same oldold problem, problem, pushed pushed to to an an extreme: extreme: thethe pressure pressure to to fit fit evereverincreasing increasing quantities quantities of activity of activity into into a stubbornly a stubbornly non-increasing non-increasing quantity quantity of daily of daily time. time. And And yetyet busyness busyness is is really really only only thethe beginning. beginning. Many Many other other complaints, complaints, when when youyou stop stop to to think think about about them, them, areare essentially essentially complaints complaints about about ourour limited limited time. time. Take Take thethe daily daily battle battle against against online online distraction, distraction, andand thethe alarming alarming sense sense that that ourour attention attention spans spans have have shrivelled shrivelled to such to such a degree a degree that that even even those those of us of us who who were were bookworms bookworms as children as children now now struggle struggle to to make make it through it through a paragraph a paragraph without without experiencing experiencing thethe urge urge to reach to reach forfor ourour phones. phones. What What makes makes thisthis so so troubling, troubling, in the in the end, end, is that is that it represents it represents a failure a failure to to make make thethe best best useuse of of a a small small supply supply of time. of time. (You’d (You’d feelfeel lessless selfselfloathing loathing about about wastwastinging a morning a morning on on Facebook Facebook if the if the supply supply of mornings of mornings were were in-inexhaustible.) exhaustible.) OrOr perhaps perhaps your your problem problem isn’t isn’t being being tootoo busy busy butbut insufficiently insufficiently busy, busy, languishing languishing in aindull a dull job,job, or or notnot employed employed 6 6
i ni t n htehleong l ong ruru n, n, w ew’ ree’ rae lallde l de a da d at all. at all. That’s That’s stillstill a situation a situation made made farfar more more distressing distressing by by thethe shortness shortness of life, of life, because because you’re you’re using using up up your your limited limited time time in in a way a way you’d you’d rather rather not. not. Even Even some some of of thethe very very worst worst aspects aspects of our of our eraera – like – like ourour viciously viciously hyperpartisan hyperpartisan politics politics andand ter-terrorists rorists radicalised radicalised viavia YouTube YouTube videos videos – can – can be be explained, explained, in in a roundabout a roundabout way, way, by by thethe same same underlying underlying facts facts concernconcerninging life’s life’s brevity. brevity. It’sIt’s because because ourour time time andand attention attention areare so so limited, limited, andand therefore therefore valuable, valuable, that that social social media media companies companies areare incentivised incentivised to to grab grab as much as much of them of them as they as they can, can, by by anyany means means necessary necessary – which – which is why is why they they show show users users material material guaranteed guaranteed to to drive drive them them into into a rage, a rage, instead instead of of thethe more more boring boring andand accurate accurate stuff. stuff. Then Then there there areare all all those those timeless timeless human human dilemmas dilemmas likelike whom whom to to marry, marry, whether whether to to have have children, children, andand what what kind kind of of work work to to pursue. pursue. If we If we hadhad thousands thousands of of years years in in which which to to live, live, all all those those would would be be farfar lessless agonising, agonising, too, too, since since there’d there’d be be sufficient sufficient time time to to spend spend decades decades trying trying outout each each kind kind of of possible possible existence. existence. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, nono catalogue catalogue of of ourour timetimerelated related troubles troubles would would be be complete complete without without mentioning mentioning that that alarming alarming phenomenon, phenomenon, familiar familiar to to anyone anyone older older than than about about thirty, thirty, whereby whereby time time seems seems to to speed speed up up as you as you ageage – steadily – steadily accelerating accelerating until, until, to judge to judge from from thethe reports reports of people of people in their in their seventies seventies andand eighties, eighties, months months begin begin to flash to flash by by in what in what feels feels likelike minutes. minutes. It’sIt’s hard hard to to imagine imagine a crueller a crueller arrangement: arrangement: notnot only only areare ourour four four thousand thousand weeks weeks constantly constantly running running out, out, butbut thethe fewer fewer of of them them wewe have have left, left, thethe faster faster wewe seem seem to to loselose them. them. And And if our if our relationship relationship to to ourour limited limited time time hashas always always been been a difficult a difficult one, one, recent recent events events have have brought brought matters matters to to a a head. head. In In 2020, 2020, in in lockdown lockdown during during thethe coronavirus coronavirus panpan - 7 7
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demic, demic, with with ourour normal normal routines routines suspended, suspended, many many people people reported reported feeling feeling that that time time waswas disintegrating disintegrating completely, completely, giving giving riserise to to thethe disorientating disorientating impression impression that that their their days days were were somehow somehow simultaneously simultaneously racing racing by by andand dragging dragging onon interminably. interminably. Time Time divided divided us,us, even even more more than than it had it had before: before: forfor those those with with jobs jobs andand small small children children at home, at home, there there wasn’t wasn’t enough enough of of it; it; forfor those those furloughed furloughed or or unemployed, unemployed, there there waswas tootoo much. much. People People found found themselves themselves working working at strange at strange hours, hours, detached detached from from thethe cycles cycles of of daytime daytime andand darkness, darkness, hunched hunched over over glowing glowing laptops laptops at home, at home, or or risking risking their their lives lives in hospitals in hospitals andand mailmailorder order warehouses. warehouses. And And it felt it felt as though as though thethe future future hadhad been been putput onon hold, hold, leaving leaving many many of of us us stuck, stuck, in the in the words words of one of one psychiatrist, psychiatrist, ‘in‘in a new a new kind kind of everlasting of everlasting present’ present’ – an – an anxious anxious limbo limbo of social of social media media scrolling scrolling andand desdesultory ultory Zoom Zoom calls calls andand insomnia, insomnia, in which in which it felt it felt impossible impossible to to make make meaningful meaningful plans, plans, or or even even to to clearly clearly picture picture lifelife beyond beyond thethe endend of of next next week. week. AllAll of which of which makes makes it especially it especially frustrating frustrating that that so so many many of of us us areare so so badbad at managing at managing ourour limited limited time time – that – that ourour ef-efforts forts to to make make thethe most most of of it don’t it don’t simply simply failfail butbut regularly regularly seem seem to to make make things things worse. worse. ForFor years years now, now, we’ve we’ve been been deldeluged uged with with advice advice onon living living thethe fully fully optimised optimised life, life, in in books books with with titles titles such such as as Extreme Extreme Productivity Productivity andand TheThe 4-Hour 4-Hour Workweek Workweek andand Smarter Smarter Faster Faster Better, Better, plus plus websites websites fullfull of ‘life of ‘life hacks’ hacks’ forfor whittling whittling seconds seconds offoff everyday everyday chores. chores. (Note (Note thethe curious curious suggestion, suggestion, in in thethe term term ‘life‘life hack’, hack’, that that your your lifelife is is best best thought thought of as of some as some kind kind of faulty of faulty contraption, contraption, in need in need of of modification modification so so as to as to stop stop it from it from performing performing suboptimally.) suboptimally.) There There areare numerous numerous apps apps andand wearable wearable devices devices forfor maximismaximisinging thethe pay-offs pay-offs from from your your workday, workday, your your workouts workouts andand even even 8 8
i ni t n htehleong l ong ruru n, n, w ew’ ree’ rae lallde l de a da d your your sleep, sleep, plus plus meal meal replacement replacement drinks drinks to to eliminate eliminate time time wasted wasted eating eating dinner. dinner. And And thethe chief chief selling selling point point of of a thoua thousand sand other other products products andand services, services, from from kitchen kitchen appliances appliances to to online online banking, banking, is that is that they’ll they’ll help help youyou achieve achieve thethe widely widely championed championed goal goal of of squeezing squeezing thethe most most from from your your time. time. TheThe problem problem isn’t isn’t exactly exactly that that these these techniques techniques andand prodproducts ucts don’t don’t work. work. It’sIt’s that that they they dodo work work – in – in thethe sense sense that that you’ll you’ll getget more more done, done, race race to to more more meetings, meetings, ferry ferry your your kids kids to more to more afterafterschool school activities, activities, generate generate more more profit profit forfor your your employer employer – and – and yet,yet, paradoxically, paradoxically, youyou only only feelfeel busier, busier, more more anxious, anxious, andand somehow somehow emptier emptier as as a result. a result. In In thethe modern modern world, world, thethe American American anthropologist anthropologist Edward Edward T. T. Hall Hall once once pointed pointed out, out, time time feels feels likelike an an unstoppable unstoppable conveyor conveyor belt, belt, bringing bringing us us new new tasks tasks as as fastfast as as wewe cancan dispatch dispatch thethe oldold ones; ones; andand becoming becoming ‘more ‘more productive’ productive’ justjust seems seems to to cause cause thethe beltbelt to to speed speed up.up. OrOr else, else, eventually, eventually, to to break break down: down: it’sit’s now now common common to to encounter encounter reports, reports, especially especially from from younger younger adults, adults, of of an an all-allencompassing, encompassing, bonebonedeep deep burnout, burnout, charcharacterised acterised by by an an inability inability to to complete complete basic basic daily daily chores chores – – thethe paralysing paralysing exhaustion exhaustion of of ‘a generation ‘a generation of of finely finely honed honed tools, tools, crafted crafted from from embryos embryos to to be be lean, lean, mean mean production production machines’, machines’, in in thethe words words of of thethe millennial millennial social social critic critic MalMalcolm colm Harris. Harris. This This is the is the maddening maddening truth truth about about time, time, which which most most ad-advice vice onon managing managing it seems it seems to to miss. miss. It’sIt’s likelike an an obstreperous obstreperous toddler: toddler: thethe more more youyou struggle struggle to to control control it, it, to to make make it conit conform form to to your your agenda, agenda, thethe further further it slips it slips from from your your control. control. Consider Consider all all thethe technology technology intended intended to to help help us us gain gain thethe upper upper hand hand over over time: time: by by anyany sane sane logic, logic, in in a world a world with with dishwashers, dishwashers, microwaves microwaves andand jet jet engines, engines, time time ought ought to to feelfeel 9 9
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more more expansive expansive andand abundant, abundant, thanks thanks to to all all thethe hours hours freed freed up.up. ButBut thisthis is nobody’s is nobody’s actual actual experience. experience. Instead, Instead, lifelife ac-accelerates, celerates, andand everyone everyone grows grows more more impatient. impatient. It’sIt’s somehow somehow vastly vastly more more aggravating aggravating to to wait wait twotwo minutes minutes forfor thethe micromicrowave wave than than twotwo hours hours forfor thethe oven oven – or – or tenten seconds seconds forfor a a slowslowloading loading web web page page versus versus three three days days to to receive receive thethe same same information information by by post. post. TheThe same same selfselfdefeating defeating pattern pattern applies applies to to many many of of ourour attempts attempts to to become become more more productive productive at at work. work. AA fewfew years years ago, ago, drowning drowning in emails, in emails, I successfully I successfully implemented implemented thethe syssystemtem known known as as Inbox Inbox Zero, Zero, butbut I soon I soon discovered discovered that that when when youyou getget tremendously tremendously efficient efficient at at answering answering emails emails all all that that happens happens is that is that youyou getget much much more more email. email. Feeling Feeling busier busier – – thanks thanks to all to all that that email email – I–bought I bought Getting Getting Things Things Done, Done, by by thethe time time management management guru guru David David Allen, Allen, lured lured by by hishis promise promise that that it isit ‘possible is ‘possible forfor a person a person to to have have an an overwhelming overwhelming number number of of things things to to do do andand stillstill function function productively productively with with a clear a clear head’ head’ andand ‘what ‘what thethe martial martial artists artists callcall a “mind a “mind likelike water” water” ’. ’. ButBut I failed I failed to to appreciate appreciate Allen’s Allen’s deeper deeper implication implication – that – that there’ll there’ll always always be be tootoo much much to to do do – and – and instead instead setset about about at-attempting tempting to get to get an an impossible impossible amount amount done. done. In In fact, fact, I did I did getget better better at racing at racing through through mymy to-todo do list,list, only only to find to find that that greater greater volumes volumes of of work work magically magically started started to to appear. appear. (Actually, (Actually, it’sit’s notnot magic; magic; it’sit’s simple simple psychology, psychology, plus plus capitalism. capitalism. More More onon that that later.) later.) None None of of thisthis is how is how thethe future future waswas supposed supposed to to feel. feel. In In 1930, 1930, in in a speech a speech titled titled ‘Economic ‘Economic Possibilities Possibilities forfor Our Our Grandchildren’, Grandchildren’, thethe economist economist John John Maynard Maynard Keynes Keynes made made a famous a famous prediction: prediction: within within a century, a century, thanks thanks to to thethe growth growth of wealth of wealth andand thethe advance advance of technology, of technology, nono oneone would would have have 10 10
i ni t n htehleong l ong ruru n, n, w ew’ ree’ rae lallde l de a da d to work to work more more than than about about fifteen fifteen hours hours a week. a week. TheThe challenge challenge would would be be how how to to fillfill all all ourour new-found new-found leisure leisure time time without without going going crazy. crazy. ‘For ‘For thethe first first time time since since hishis creation,’ creation,’ Keynes Keynes told told hishis audience, audience, ‘man ‘man willwill be be faced faced with with hishis real, real, hishis perpermanent manent problem problem – how – how to to useuse hishis freedom freedom from from pressing pressing economic economic cares.’ cares.’ ButBut Keynes Keynes waswas wrong. wrong. It turns It turns outout that that when when people people make make enough enough money money to to meet meet their their needs, needs, they they justjust find find new new things things to to need need andand new new lifestyles lifestyles to to aspire aspire to;to; they they never never quite quite manage manage to keep to keep up up with with thethe Joneses, Joneses, because because whenever whenever they’re they’re in in danger danger of of getting getting close, close, they they nominate nominate new new andand better better Joneses Joneses with with whom whom to to trytry to to keep keep up.up. AsAs a result, a result, they they work work harder harder andand harder, harder, andand soon soon busyness busyness becomes becomes an an emblem emblem of prestige. of prestige. Which Which is clearly is clearly completely completely absurd: absurd: forfor almost almost thethe whole whole of of history, history, thethe entire entire point point of of being being rich rich waswas notnot having having to to work work so so much. much. Moreover, Moreover, thethe busyness busyness of of thethe betterbetteroffoff is is contagious, contagious, because because oneone ex-extremely tremely effective effective way way to to make make more more money, money, forfor those those at the at the toptop of of thethe tree, tree, is to is to cutcut costs costs andand make make efficiency efficiency improveimprovements ments in their in their companies companies andand industries. industries. That That means means greater greater insecurity insecurity forfor those those lower lower down, down, who who areare then then obliged obliged to to work work harder harder justjust to to getget by.by.
OnOn Getting Getting thethe Wrong Wrong Things Things Done Done ButBut now now here here wewe getget to to thethe heart heart of of things, things, to to a feeling a feeling that that goes goes deeper, deeper, andand that’s that’s harder harder to to putput into into words: words: thethe sense sense that that despite despite all all thisthis activity, activity, even even thethe relatively relatively privileged privileged among among us us rarely rarely getget round round to to doing doing thethe right right things. things. WeWe sense sense that that there there areare important important andand fulfilling fulfilling ways ways wewe could could 11 11
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be be spending spending ourour time, time, even even if if wewe can’t can’t saysay exactly exactly what what they they areare – yet – yet wewe systematically systematically spend spend ourour days days doing doing other other things things instead. instead. This This yearning yearning forfor more more meaning meaning cancan take take many many forms: forms: it’sit’s there, there, forfor instance, instance, in in thethe desire desire to to devote devote yourself yourself to to some some larger larger cause, cause, in in thethe intuition intuition that that thisthis parparticular ticular moment moment in in history, history, with with all all its its crises crises andand suffering, suffering, might might demand demand more more from from youyou than than thethe usual usual getting getting andand spending. spending. ButBut it’sit’s also also there there in in thethe feeling feeling of of frustration frustration at at having having to to work work a day a day jobjob in in order order to to buybuy slivers slivers of of time time forfor thethe work work youyou love, love, andand in in thethe simple simple longing longing to to spend spend more more of of your your brief brief time time onon earth earth with with your your kids, kids, in in nature, nature, or,or, at the at the very very least, least, notnot commut commut ing.ing. TheThe environmentalist environmentalist andand spiritual spiritual writer writer Charles Charles Eisenstein Eisenstein recalls recalls first first sensing sensing thisthis basic basic ‘wrongness’ ‘wrongness’ in in ourour useuse of of time time as as a child, a child, growing growing up up amid amid material material comfort comfort in in 1970s 1970s America: America: Life, Life, I knew, I knew, waswas supposed supposed to be to be more more joyful joyful than than this, this, more more real, real, more more meaningful, meaningful, andand thethe world world waswas supsupposed posed to to be be more more beautiful. beautiful. WeWe were were notnot supposed supposed to to hate hate Mondays Mondays andand livelive forfor thethe weekends weekends andand holidays. holidays. WeWe were were notnot supposed supposed to have to have to raise to raise ourour hands hands to be to be allowed allowed to pee. to pee. WeWe were were notnot supposed supposed to be to be kept kept indoors indoors on on a beautiful a beautiful day,day, dayday after after day.day.
And And thisthis feeling feeling of wrongness of wrongness is only is only exacerbated exacerbated by by ourour attempts attempts to become to become more more productive, productive, which which seem seem to have to have thethe effect effect of of pushing pushing thethe genuinely genuinely important important stuff stuff ever ever further further over over thethe horizon. horizon. Our Our days days areare spent spent trying trying to to ‘get‘get through’ through’ tasks, tasks, in in order order to to getget them them ‘out‘out of of thethe way’, way’, with with thethe result result that that wewe livelive mentally mentally in in thethe future, future, waiting waiting forfor when when we’ll we’ll 12 12
i ni t n htehleong l ong ruru n, n, w ew’ ree’ rae lallde l de a da d finally finally getget round round to to what what really really matters matters – and – and worrying, worrying, in in thethe meantime, meantime, that that wewe don’t don’t measure measure up,up, that that wewe might might lack lack thethe drive drive or or stamina stamina to to keep keep pace pace with with thethe speed speed at at which which lifelife now now seems seems to move. to move. ‘The ‘The spirit spirit of the of the times times is one is one of joyof joylessless urgency,’ urgency,’ writes writes thethe essayist essayist Marilynne Marilynne Robinson, Robinson, who who observes observes that that many many of us of us spend spend ourour lives lives ‘preparing ‘preparing ourselves ourselves andand ourour children children to be to be means means to inscrutable to inscrutable ends ends that that areare ut-utterly terly notnot ourour own’. own’. Our Our struggle struggle to to staystay onon toptop of everything of everything may may serve serve someone’s someone’s interests; interests; working working longer longer hours hours – and – and using using anyany extra extra income income to buy to buy more more consumer consumer goods goods – turns – turns us us into into better better cogs cogs in in thethe economic economic machine. machine. ButBut it doesn’t it doesn’t result result in peace in peace of mind, of mind, or lead or lead us us to spend to spend more more of our of our finite finite time time onon those those people people andand things things wewe care care most most deeply deeply about about ourselves. ourselves. Four Four Thousand Thousand Weeks Weeks is yet is yet another another book book about about making making thethe best best useuse of of time. time. ButBut it isit written is written in in thethe belief belief that that time time management management as we as we know know it has it has failed failed miserably, miserably, andand that that wewe need need to to stop stop pretending pretending otherwise. otherwise. This This strange strange moment moment in in history, history, when when time time feels feels so so unmoored, unmoored, might might in in factfact provide provide thethe ideal ideal opportunity opportunity to to reconsider reconsider ourour relationship relationship with with it. it. Older Older thinkers thinkers have have faced faced these these challenges challenges before before us,us, andand when when their their wisdom wisdom is is applied applied to to thethe present present day, day, certain certain truths truths grow grow more more clearly clearly apparent. apparent. Productivity Productivity is ais trap. a trap. Becoming Becoming more more efficient efficient justjust makes makes youyou more more rushed, rushed, andand trying trying to to clear clear thethe decks decks simply simply makes makes them them fillfill up up again again faster. faster. Nobody Nobody in in thethe history history of of humanity humanity hashas ever ever achieved achieved ‘work– ‘work– lifelife balance’, balance’, whatever whatever that that might might be,be, andand youyou cer-certainly tainly won’t won’t getget there there by by copying copying thethe ‘six‘six things things successsuccessfulful people people do do before before 7 a.m’. 7 a.m’. TheThe dayday willwill never never arrive arrive when when youyou finally finally have have everything everything under under control control – when – when thethe flood flood 13 13
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of of emails emails hashas been been contained; contained; when when your your to-todo do lists lists have have stopped stopped getting getting longer; longer; when when you’re you’re meeting meeting all all your your obligaobligations tions at work at work andand in your in your home home life;life; when when nobody’s nobody’s angry angry with with youyou forfor missing missing a deadline a deadline or or dropping dropping thethe ball; ball; andand when when thethe fully fully optimised optimised person person you’ve you’ve become become cancan turn, turn, at long at long last, last, to the to the things things lifelife is really is really supposed supposed to be to be about. about. Let’s Let’s start start by by admitting admitting defeat: defeat: none none of of thisthis is ever is ever going going to to happen. happen. ButBut youyou know know what? what? That’s That’s excellent excellent news. news.
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Part PartI I
Choosing Choosing totoChoose Choose
1.1. The TheLimitLimitEmbracing EmbracingLife Life
TT
he he realreal problem problem isn’t isn’t ourour limited limited time. time. TheThe realreal problem problem – or – or so so I hope I hope to convince to convince youyou – is– that is that we’ve we’ve unwittingly unwittingly inherited, inherited, andand feelfeel pressured pressured to to livelive by,by, a a troublesome troublesome setset of of ideas ideas about about how how to to useuse ourour limited limited time, time, all all of of which which areare pretty pretty much much guaranteed guaranteed to to make make things things worse. worse. ToTo seesee how how wewe gotgot here, here, andand how how to to escape escape into into a a better better relationship relationship with with time, time, wewe need need to to rewind rewind thethe clock clock – – back back to to before before there there were were clocks. clocks. OnOn balance, balance, youyou should should definitely definitely be be grateful grateful youyou weren’t weren’t born born a peasant a peasant in in early-medieval early-medieval England. England. ForFor oneone thing, thing, you’d you’d have have been been much much lessless likely likely to make to make it to it adulthood; to adulthood; butbut even even if you if you had, had, thethe lifelife that that stretched stretched ahead ahead of of youyou would would have have been been oneone defined defined by by servitude. servitude. You’d You’d have have spent spent your your back-breaking back-breaking days days farming farming thethe land land onon which which thethe local local lord lord permitted permitted youyou to live, to live, in exchange in exchange forfor giving giving him him a crippling a crippling proportion proportion of of what what youyou produced produced or or thethe income income youyou could could 17 17
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generate generate from from it. it. TheThe church church would would have have demanded demanded regular regular contributions contributions as as well, well, andand you’d you’d have have been been much much tootoo scared scared of of eternal eternal damnation damnation to to disobey. disobey. AtAt night, night, youyou would would have have retreated retreated to to your your oneoneroom room hut, hut, alongside alongside notnot only only thethe restrest of of your your family family (who, (who, likelike you, you, would would rarely rarely have have bathed bathed or or brushed brushed their their teeth) teeth) butbut also also your your pigs pigs andand chickens, chickens, which which youyou brought brought indoors indoors at night; at night; bears bears andand wolves wolves stillstill roamed roamed thethe forests forests andand would would help help themselves themselves to to anyany animals animals leftleft outside outside after after sunset. sunset. Disease Disease would would have have been been another another conconstant stant companion: companion: familiar familiar sicknesses sicknesses ranged ranged from from measles measles andand influenza influenza to to bubonic bubonic plague plague andand St St Anthony’s Anthony’s fire, fire, a a form form of of food food poisoning poisoning caused caused by by mouldy mouldy grain, grain, which which leftleft thethe delirious delirious sufferer sufferer feeling feeling as as though though hishis skin skin were were burnburninging or or as as if he if he were were being being bitten bitten by by unseen unseen teeth. teeth.
Time Time Before Before Timetables Timetables ButBut there’s there’s oneone setset of problems of problems youyou almost almost certainly certainly wouldn’t wouldn’t have have experienced: experienced: problems problems of of time. time. Even Even onon your your most most ex-exhausting hausting days, days, it probably it probably wouldn’t wouldn’t have have occurred occurred to to youyou that that youyou hadhad ‘too‘too much much to to do’,do’, that that youyou needed needed to to hurry, hurry, or or that that lifelife waswas moving moving tootoo fast, fast, let let alone alone that that you’d you’d gotgot your your work– work– lifelife balance balance wrong. wrong. ByBy thethe same same token, token, onon quiquietereter days, days, youyou would would never never have have feltfelt bored. bored. And And though though death death waswas a constant a constant presence, presence, with with lives lives cutcut short short farfar more more frequently frequently than than they they areare today, today, time time wouldn’t wouldn’t have have feltfelt in in limited limited supply. supply. You You wouldn’t wouldn’t have have feltfelt anyany pressure pressure to to find find ways ways to to ‘save’ ‘save’ it. it. Nor Nor would would youyou have have feltfelt guilty guilty forfor wasting wasting it: it: if you if you took took an an afternoon afternoon break break from from threshing threshing grain grain to to 18 18