Do the math and a normal lifespan comes out to about four thousand weeks. That’s it. That’s the whole allotment. Burkeman spent years writing a productivity column, running every system going, and finally decided the entire project is a trap. You can’t get on top of it. Getting faster just pulls in more work — empty the inbox and the world sends more email. Efficiency is a hamster wheel with better branding. His fix isn’t a better system. It’s dropping the fantasy that you’ll ever do it all, because you’re going to neglect most of what you could do no matter what, so you may as well choose what you neglect. He runs it through Heidegger and Seneca without making you eat your vegetables. Pick a few things. Do them imperfectly. Let the rest go undone.