8 Lessons • 40m • Oliver Burkeman

Productivity for Mortals

Everywhere we turn, we’re surrounded by polished images of how life should look, and even knowing perfection isn’t real can leave us feeling stuck. In this class, Oliver Burkeman invites us to see through that illusion and embrace our limitations, revealing a more grounded path to productivity that actually works for real, imperfect people.

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A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a receding hairline is smiling, wearing a dark t-shirt against a light blue background.

Productivity for Mortals

Explore a more humane, realistic approach to productivity that replaces constant striving with focus, creativity, and peace of mind.

Let Go of Perfectionism

Understand why real progress and satisfaction come not from getting everything right, but from showing up imperfectly and doing what counts today.

Reset Your Standard to Avoid Self-Sabotage

Cultivate a mindset of adequacy and sufficiency over obligation. Focus on achieving a few meaningful outcomes each day.

Push Through Awkwardness to Achieve Growth

Reframe awkward feelings as opportunities for growth and connection. Make new tasks manageable.

Act from a Place of Sanity

Align your actions with your ideal identity. Reimagine your to-do list for greater impact.

Rethink Distractions

Adopt a balanced productivity approach. Protect focus time for deep work and stay open to surprises.

Develop a Taste for Life’s Problems

Let go of indignation when problems occur. Enjoy the process of figuring things out.

Make Concrete Progress on a Handful of Things

Make intentional choices about what you can realistically accomplish. Experience greater enjoyment and performance in your work.

Everywhere we turn — social media, ads, TV — we’re surrounded by polished images of how life should look. Even though we know perfection isn’t real, it can still leave us feeling stuck. “Why even try?” we wonder as we face our messy, imperfect lives. Oliver Burkeman challenges this mindset, urging us to see through the illusion and embrace our limitations. Not just because as finite humans, we have no other choice, but because doing so can unlock freedom and a path toward achieving what matters most. It’s still a productivity approach, just one designed for real, imperfect people.

Learning Objectives

Release the constraints of perfectionism that hold you back.
Adopt a balanced, sustainable approach to productivity.
Prioritize a few meaningful outcomes that matter – today.
Reframe discomfort as a nudge toward growth.
Live your ideal identity now while making room for serendipity.

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