Submitted By: Ganelon Ruel
Profession/Background: Mid-level marketing manager
Book Title: 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Author: Oliver Burkeman
Before Reading the Book:
For years, I was on a never-ending quest to master time. I believed that with the right planner, the perfect routine, or the most efficient productivity app, I could finally “get on top” of everything. I read blogs, listened to podcasts, even attended a few online workshops about time-blocking, prioritization, and “crushing” my goals. But no matter how much I optimized, the anxiety never went away. In fact, it got worse. I was constantly measuring myself against some imaginary standard of efficiency, and I always came up short. Even my weekends were full of guilt — either I was overbooking myself or I was “wasting time” trying to rest. Life felt like one giant to-do list, and I was terrified I was failing at it.
Discovering the Book That Changed Everything:
A friend mentioned “4000 Weeks” to me during a late-night phone call. We were both venting about how tired we felt, and she casually said, “You should read this book. It’s not like the others — it actually made me feel human again.” The title struck me immediately. Four thousand weeks — that’s all we get if we’re lucky. I did the math. I was already over 1,800 weeks in. I ordered the book that same night.
From the first few pages, I could feel something was different. Oliver Burkeman didn’t try to sell me a new system to squeeze more productivity out of my life. Instead, he gently — and sometimes bluntly — pointed out that my desire to “get everything done” was the real problem. He made me realize that I was trying to conquer time itself, as if I were somehow above its natural limitations. It was humbling. And freeing.
After the Book:
Finishing the book felt like waking up from a long, anxious dream. Instead of pushing me to do more, “4000 Weeks” invited me to do less — but with purpose. I began re-evaluating how I spent my time. I didn’t need to fill every hour with activity. I didn’t need to feel guilty for not being “productive” all the time. Most of all, I didn’t need to try to “master” time — I needed to learn how to coexist with it.
I made small but powerful changes. I stopped checking my email first thing in the morning. I deleted three productivity apps I hadn’t opened in weeks. I created space in my schedule for “non-urgent but meaningful” things — like reading, cooking slowly, or just taking a walk without headphones. For the first time in years, I gave myself permission to be present rather than always preparing for what’s next.
The Transformation:
The transformation wasn’t immediate or dramatic, but it was profound. I no longer approach my day as a battle. I’ve accepted that I’ll never get to everything — and that doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I’m human.
I started having honest conversations with my team at work about bandwidth and boundaries. I noticed that once I let go of the illusion that I could do it all, I was actually more effective — because I was focused, calm, and intentional. I now build my days around what matters most, not what feels most urgent.
Outside of work, I’m more present with my family. I’m less likely to cancel dinner plans because “I have too much to do.” I’ve stopped multitasking when I’m with people I love. Even leisure feels different — more nourishing. I’ve let go of the pressure to optimize every moment.
My Favorite Line & How It Helps Me Every Day:
“The real measure of any time management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things.”
This line stays with me every day. It gives me the courage to say “no” without guilt. It reminds me that choosing what not to do is just as important — if not more — than choosing what to do. We all have limits. Time is finite. And that’s not a flaw in the system — it’s the point of it.
To Anyone Considering This Book:
If you’re exhausted by the pressure to be endlessly productive, read this book. If you’ve tried every planner, every calendar hack, and still feel overwhelmed, read this book. But don’t expect a list of tips or shortcuts. “4000 Weeks” is not a guide to doing more — it’s an invitation to live differently. More honestly. More gently. More human.
This book gave me back my life — not by adding anything, but by helping me let go of the impossible expectations I had carried for so long. And that has made all the difference.