How Writers and Creatives Can Master Productivity with Oliver Burkeman

One of the most impactful books I've read about productivity and time management is the best seller, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. The book proposes that the average human lifespan is just 4,000 weeks long, which is a blip in the grand scheme of things.

Oliver also writes about how we're just 35 lifetimes separated from the ancient Egyptians.

He uses these types of numbers to put in a framework what it means to try and get more things done and why this is a fool's errand.

I'm a former productivity nerd. I still like testing the latest productivity software and dipping in and out of the occasional book about productivity. I even wrote a column for Forbes several years ago, all about this exact topic.

These days, I think less about productivity and getting more done than I think about the right things or creative projects to work on.

In this book, Oliver proposes many different questions and ways that all types of people — including creatives and writers — can figure out what they want to work on and what they should just let slip.

It's a thought-provoking book if you've ever wondered how you're spending your time or if you've been obsessed with productivity, efficiency, and getting things done.

It's also a fantastically written non-fiction book that resonates with people from all industries.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Whether you should commit to a writing or research system
• The Zettelkasten method
• Oliver's approach to research
• Using a newsletter to interact with your audience
• Working as a columnist for a busy newspaper
• Olivers next project

Resources:

Oliver's Website

What Is The Best Zettelkasten Software?

11 Creative Rules For Creator Economy Workers

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