“The average human lifespan is absurd, terrifying, insultingly short. But that isn’t a reason for unremitting despair or for a living in an anxiety-fueled panic about making the most of your limited time. It’s a cause for relief. You get to give up on something that was always impossible – the quest to become the optimized, infinitely capable, emotionally, invincible, fully independent person you’re officially supposed to be. Then you get to roll up your sleeves and start work on that’s gloriously possible instead.” 

In the information era, it’s natural that everyone talks about productivity, time management and how to get things done. But Oliver Burkeman has a different take: “actually, you can’t do anything and you need to come to terms with that …” 

Key Takeaways

In this second part of my conversation with Oliver, we discussed:

• How Oliver manages his worries, fears, and anxieties
• How Oliver deals with negative thoughts
• What bothers him about self-psychology
• What emotions are 
• His thoughts on the notion of work-life balance

This conversation with Oliver reminds me of that and the preciousness of being alive.