Four Thousand Weeks

Life quickly passes when we measure it in weeks. Instead of feeling limitless, we might notice we're barreling through our days, racing to achieve more. Yet taking a hard look at our actual lifespan, which is roughly four thousand weeks, can be jarring. This perspective invites us to question how we’re spending our time.

Many of us have been schooled in the productivity gospel: keep optimizing, tweak our schedules, and somehow fit everything in. But inevitably, we find ourselves juggling overflowing to-do lists. Rather than taming the chaos, our frantic pace often adds new layers of stress.

Realizing our finite life can feel humbling, even intimidating. Yet it’s also liberating. When we admit that our time is limited, we begin to shake off illusions about doing it all. Instead, the focus shifts to enjoying the path we choose at any given moment.

We often believe if we can simply master our time—cross off every task, manage every interruption—we'll finally feel in control. Yet this chase never ends. Emails keep arriving, meetings multiply, and social obligations expand. Our own urge to remain ‘on top of things’ is the real fuel that keeps the cycle going.

It’s like an endless treadmill: the more we speed up, the quicker the belt seems to run. Every new productivity hack might help momentarily, but soon we’re adding even more tasks. In the end, we’re not actually calmer or freer.

Letting go of total control can be surprisingly calming. The point isn’t to be disorganized, but to accept we can’t force reality to match every plan. Projects may demand extra time. Unexpected obstacles arise. By loosening our grip, we adapt, refocus, and discover new ways to handle challenges.