Original link: https://hijiangtao.github.io/2023/09/23/Notes-of-Four-Thousand-Weeks-Time-Management-for-Mortals/
“Human life is too short, too short to be ridiculous, too short to be terrifying, and too short to be impolite.”
On the recommendation of netizens, I recently watched “Four Thousand Weeks”. Although from the title of the book, it sounds a bit like saliva or fantasy list, in fact, many friends may also feel this after reading it. Fortunately, the book does not contain much content, so you can browse it quickly and it is not very time-consuming.
The following excerpt summarizes the ten tools given at the end of the article to help you accept the limitations of life, and attaches a partial summary description:
1. Draw boundaries: adopt a “quantitative” productivity strategy
A lot of job advice comes with the implicit promise that it can help you get all the important things done. But it’s simply not possible, and struggling with it will only make you busier. A better approach is to first assume that hard choices are inevitable and then focus on making them well. Strategies like limiting the amount of work on hand certainly work, but the easiest way is to keep two to-do lists, one “open” and the other “closed.” List everything you have on hand in an open-ended list, it will definitely be very long, and it will feel scary. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with this to-do list; instead, you put the tasks from the open list into a limited number of closed lists (up to ten). You need to follow a rule: only complete a task before adding a new task to it (perhaps you also need a third list of “on hold” tasks that need to be answered by someone else).
2. Focus on one thing: intentionally postponing other tasks before completing one task
By the same token, you need to focus on one big project at a time (at most, one work project plus one non-work project) before moving on to the next one.
3. First things first: decide in advance which tasks to give up
You will always have shortcomings, which is inevitable because people’s time and energy are limited. But the biggest benefit of underperforming strategically (planning ahead of time what you don’t need to do well) is that you can focus your limited time and energy.
4. Focus on completion: focus on things that have been completed, rather than only focusing on things that have not yet been completed.
If anything, the pursuit of getting it all done is never-ending, so it’s easy to despair and feel sorry for yourself: you can’t feel good about yourself until it’s all done, but there’s always work, which means you can never let it go. Mentality gets better.
5. Focus: Concentrate your limited attention
In order to make a difference, limited attention must be focused.
6. Embrace boring: Choose boring, single-purpose technology
You can make your device as dull as possible—first, delete social media apps, even email if you want, and switch the screen from color to black and white mode. “When I switch to black and white mode, I don’t suddenly become a different person, but I feel like I have more control over my phone. It now looks like a tool, not a toy.”
7. Find novelty: Experience daily life more deeply
As the years pass, the experience becomes routine. Conventional advice to combat this phenomenon is to fill your life with novel experiences. This works, but it can lead to another problem, which is “existential overwhelm.” The search for novelty is not to do something completely different, but to dive deeper into the existing. Here is the text reformatted and converted to Markdown format:
8. Be curious: be a “researcher” of interpersonal relationships
Staying curious is key to forming deep connections with others. When you communicate with others, keep an open mind and pay attention to their stories, interests, and perspectives. View relationships as a continuous process of learning and discovery, and you’ll be able to create richer and more meaningful connections.
9. Instant generosity: unleash your kindness immediately
Kindness and generosity are important factors in making relationships more harmonious. Don’t wait for the “right time” or conditions, express your kindness and generosity immediately. Whether it’s a compliment, a small gift, or a favor, instant generosity will have a positive impact on others while also strengthening your connection with them.
10. Silence and inaction: Practice doing nothing
Strictly speaking, it is simply impossible to do nothing: as long as you are alive, you are breathing, your body is maintaining certain postures, and so on. Therefore, training yourself to “do nothing” means training yourself to resist the urge to control the people and things around you and let things appear as they are. This practice of silence can help you cultivate inner stillness and peace while reducing unnecessary worry and anxiety.
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Douban address https://book.douban.com/subject/36093214/
Introduction : If you live to be 80 years old, your time on earth will be barely more than 4,000 weeks. Life should be more than just fast forward, leading Guardian psychology columnist Oliver Berkman draws on insights from ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists and spiritual teachers to reject the modern notion of “getting it all done” Futile Obsession sets aside superficial efficient solutions and introduces readers to ways to build a meaningful life by accepting the finitude of time and self, freeing us from the endless conveyor belt of time and freeing us from anxiety, distraction, Lack of patience and other negative states, re-recognize your true self and choose the way you want to live.
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