Not doing more, but doing what matters first (Four Thousand Weeks #2)

About this episode

Do you often feel you'll never get everything done? You plan your time carefully, boost your efficiency and use all kinds of productivity tools, yet still never seem to have enough time.

In the second episode of the Four Thousand Weeks series, we talk about this: the truth about time management isn't doing more; it's doing what truly matters first.

This episode covers three principles of time management: First, pay yourself first. Give the best hours of your day to what truly matters.

Second, limit your work in progress. Do one thing at a time, because multitasking is often just an illusion of efficiency.

Third, resist the middling priorities. Some things look pretty good — and precisely because they're "pretty good," they're the most likely to steal the life that really matters to you.

Finally, I'll also talk about the "paradox of choice": why more choice doesn't necessarily mean more freedom, and can actually make us more anxious and less satisfied.

If you often feel short of time, overloaded, and like your life is filled with trivia, this episode will help you rethink: in a limited life, what should you save your time for?

The episode is in Mandarin Chinese. These notes are translated from my original show notes.