Prioritising the URGENT over the IMPORTANT
4000 weeks to live, are you still going to make that to-do list?
Hello my lovely reader!!!
It’s been a minute since I last wrote. What better way to start a week than this topic.
For those of you who follow me on my IG @urmimenon, you know I am doing a 21 day process to explore a better version of myself.
Just when I thought I have gotten it all figured out with my 21 day process and commitment to non-toxic productivity, I came across something else that really put my assumptions into a tizzy.
Have you ever felt like you're constantly spinning your wheels, checking off items on your to-do list but never truly feeling satisfied? You're not alone. In our fast-paced, productivity-obsessed culture, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more is always better. But what if the secret to true fulfilment lies in doing less?
The To-Do List Illusion:
For years, I was a devout to-do list junkie. I believed that by meticulously planning my days and checking off tasks, I was maximising my time and achieving my goals. But as I delved into Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks, I began to question this assumption. Burkeman argues that our obsession with productivity is misguided, as it often leads us to prioritise the urgent over the important.
The Dangers of Email Obsession:
One of the most relatable examples in Burkeman's book is the email inbox. We often feel a sense of accomplishment when we clear our inboxes, but this can be a deceptive metric of success. Burkeman points out that constantly responding to emails can be a drain on our time and energy, and it can also lead to a sense of urgency that can be difficult to shake.And by responding to that you will build a reputation of someone who responds immediately. So guess who will get those after hours emails? You my friend, the anxious and prompt responder. I realised all this goodwill we build up at the workplace of being prompt, reliable is a big farce to keep us enslaved to an identity of ours which brings nothing but sustained slavery because we cannot step aside from who we are. We become to attached to our work identity.
As a to-do list enthusiast, I've always prioritized external tasks. Emails from IT, expired passwords, overdue library books—these all take precedence over my important projects as they require my ‘full focus’ . And before I know the day has just passed by doing all these small tasks which I decided to check off the list. And by that time I am already drained and settle for some well-deserved scrolling after all that ‘productivity’. And despite being ‘productive’ that day, the next day again the inbox is filled with these ‘small tasks’ and years pass by before I devoted that time to something that’s important to me.
The Art of Delaying:
The key to breaking free from the productivity trap is to learn the art of delaying. This doesn't mean procrastinating or neglecting your responsibilities. Rather, it means being intentional about how you spend your time and prioritizing the tasks that truly matter to you.
This revelation has been a game-changer for me. I'm learning to prioritize what truly matters, to be okay with missing out, and to resist the urge to always be available. It's a liberating realization that productivity doesn't always pay off.
Click here to see a glimpse of my 21 day process
Great read, Urmila, and so true! Often been guilty of looking at inboxes after "normal" working hours but happy to say I've (almost) given it up 100%. That and leaving my 'phone in my living area rather than next to my bed.. To do lists are great, it's just getting the priorities right.