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The clocks are changing this weekend which makes me think about time.  But I think about time and maximising time and wasting time and making time and having enough time ALOT.

So does Oliver Burkeman who is an author and journalist whose work interests me.  I have mentioned him and his book “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals”, before. 

In fact when I mentioned the book previously, I admitted that I was being so time productive that I actually hadn’t read the book but instead listened to a podcast where the author was interviewed about the book whilst I was also vacuuming and cleaning my house.

Now I have read the book and it was worth reading…

Oliver Burkeman’s column for the Guardian newspaper was initially about better time management and being more productive.  He admits to having tried multiple and varied productivity hacks over many years.

Some of these techniques work but what Oliver has discovered is that when we get more done, it means we do even more and then we feel even busier.  “Our days are spent trying to ‘get through’ tasks in order to get them out ‘of the way'” but there are always new tasks getting added to the list.  Oliver goes on to say “the day will never arrive when you finally have everything under control.” 

Oliver humorously explains that being efficient isn’t necessarily the solution and actually has its own draw backs.  “Acquire a reputation for doing your work at amazing speed, and you’ll be given more of it.”  “Every time you reply to an email, there’s a good chance of provoking a reply…and so on and so on”.  

He advises that one of the most effective time management techniques is “just facing the way things truly are”, and that is  – it is impossible to get everything done.

This means we plan our days knowing that we won’t get everything done.  We actively choose what we neglect and make peace with that reality.

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The four thousand weeks in the title of the book refers to the average life span.

Oliver thinks that one of the reasons why we tend to spend time clearing the decks before we do the thing that we really want to do, is it gives us a sense of control over our own mortality or what Oliver calls “finitude”.

If we haven’t yet got to the thing that we really want to do, perhaps we feel there’s a long life stretched out in front of us with plenty of time to get to the thing we want to do. 

However, if we feel like we have infinite time, none of the decisions we make have much meaning because we believe we have time to change our minds or do something different.

People who have faced life or death situations or those who survive accidents, illness or other tragic events often experience a renewed attitude to life, feeling grateful for every precious minute and being much more aware of human finitude.

Oliver urges that if we can feel even a portion of this attitude, we will focus on what is important to us.

“The exhilaration that sometimes arises when you grasp this truth about finitude has been called the “joy of missing out”, by way of a deliberate contrast with the idea of the “fear of missing out”.  It is the thrilling recognition that you wouldn’t even really want to be able to do everything.  In this state of mind, you can embrace the fact that you’re foregoing certain pleasures, or neglecting certain obligations, because whatever you’ve decided to do instead – is how you’ve chosen to spend a portion of time that you never had any right to expect.”

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“The problem with trying to make time for everything that feels important—or just for enough of what feels important—is that you definitely never will. The reason isn’t that you haven’t yet discovered the right time management tricks or supplied sufficient effort, or that you need to start getting up earlier, or that you’re generally useless. It’s that the underlying assumption is unwarranted: there’s no reason to believe you’ll ever feel ‘on top of things,’ or make time for everything that matters, simply by getting more done.” Oliver Burkeman

“One can waste years this way, systematically postponing precisely the things one cares about the most.”
 Oliver Burkeman

“The real measure of any time management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things.” Oliver Burkeman

September always has a back to school vibe, it’s when people might start studying a new course or students return to their learning.

A key aspect of learning is paying attention… read on for some thoughts about the value of attention.

Sinead

Recently, I listened to the first 5 episodes of a Podcast on Spotify which is called “Dear Phone, It’s Not Me, It’s You“.  The presenters are Emer & Julie and they are talking about their experiences as they try to be less addicted to their phones.  They are following the advice in the book “How To Break Up With Your Phone: The 30 Day Plan To Take Back Your Life” by Catherine Price.

On average we spend close to 3 hours a day on our phones, which when multiplied by 7 days in the week, means we are close to spending 1 full day per week paying attention to our phones.

The hosts think their unhealthy phone relationship has led to poorer concentration and an uneasy feeling, whereby they are constantly needing to check their phones, in case they’ve missed something.

I could identify with the phrases “doing the rounds” or “App loop” which I interpreted as the behaviour I have myself of doing laps of my Apps – checking news sites, social media and emails periodically during the day.

The hosts accurately point out that the reason we can have so many free Apps is that we are paying for them with our attention.

In following the 30 day plan, outlined in Catherine Price’s book, the hosts are taking actions to put themselves back in charge of their phones.  Their goal is to resist the constant lure of the shiny device delivering instant gratification and dopamine hits.  

In addition to some of the more usual advice, the hosts have taken bolder steps such as deleting the browser on their device and taking a 24 hour break from the phone.

I particularly liked the suggestion of setting the screensaver as “What are you avoiding?” as we so often pick up our phones to divert or entertain ourselves.

If we are always distracting ourselves, or as Pema Chodron puts it, “if there’s never any pause—we will never be able to relax. We will always be speeding through our lives.”

I am learning a lot from the podcast and rethinking aspects of how I use my phone, even if ironically, I’m using my phone to listen! 

The podcast episodes are relatable, thought provoking and just 12 minutes each,  I recommend it to you and I’m looking forward to future episodes to hear how Emer and Julie are getting on.

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“Pay attention”, is a common phrase that is heard in the context of education.   

I wonder why we don’t say “give attention or be attentive”?  Is it because our attention is a type of currency?  When we pay attention to something we give it value.  

Maybe the next time you find yourself paying attention to something worthless, scrolling through social media, engaging in idle gossip or worrying about something that might never happen, pause and consider that your attention is a currency with value.  

I’m sure you would like to spend it wisely.

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 “Smartphones also talk back at us. They nag us. They disturb us when we’re working. They demand our attention and reward us when we give it to them. Smartphones engage in disruptive behaviours that have traditionally been performed only by extremely annoying people.” Catherine Price

“So when you pay attention to something you don’t especially value, it’s not an exaggeration to say that you’re paying with your life.” Oliver Burkeman

“In fact, to take time to think is to gain time to live.” Nancy Kline

Have we become so time-pressed, systematic and organised in some of the things we do, that we’ve managed the fun and joy out of daily activities? 

Are we overly reliant on modern convenience in all aspects of our lives?

As the summer continues, maybe we can store up our joy reserves with simple outdoor pleasures, like sitting in a garden? 

Or enhance our sense of accomplishment by enjoying a view after we’ve climbed the hill to get to it?

Have a good month
Sinead

Shunmyō Masuno is a Japanese Monk and Garden Designer who has an interesting approach to life and our environment. 

Shunmyō is famous for his garden designs.  Before he starts working, he sits in silence to listen to the space in order to hear from it what it needs.

He is also an author having written a number of books about the art of living simply.  One of his books is called “The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy”.  In it, he offers easy to follow advice such as the following:

Lining up your shoes after you take them off can bring order to your mind.Going outside to watch the sunset can make every day feel celebratory.

Planting a flower and watching it grow can teach you to embrace change. 

In addition to his writing and designing gardens throughout the world, Shunmyō has delivered lectures at various universities.  I think there is a lot to learn from his philosophy on life

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In early June, I read an article in the Financial Times by Jemima Kelly, “We should stop worshipping at the altar of convenience” .  Jemima was writing about the introduction of new rules in France outlawing internal flights for trips where a train journey is available.  Using internal flights is an example where human convenience can come at the cost of the environment. 

Jemima’s overall point was broader than environmental concerns and I was reminded of it recently. 

I visited Blarney Castle and heard a fellow visitor wish there was a lift to go to the top of the castle instead of having to climb winding narrow steps. 

Sometimes, the convenient route is the one that denies us the pleasure of achievement or pride in our accomplishments.  

Perhaps the reason a home cooked meal tastes better than a Deliveroo dispatch is the addition of the flavour of time and effort.  Maybe the view from the top of a hill looks better because the eyes have been washed clean with the beads of sweat rolling down the forehead from the climb.

As Jemima comments “the main problem with convenience is that too much of it saps the joy out of life.”

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“Life requires time and effort. That is to say, when we eliminate time and effort, we eliminate life’s pleasures. Every so often, experience the flip side of convenience.” Shunmyō Masuno.

“It’s precisely the inconvenient stuff that gives life its meaning and richness.” Jemima Kelly

“Striving for efficiency too much — getting things done, not wasting time — will make people miss the joy of serendipity and deprive them of psychological richness.” Shige Oishi Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago (From Jemima Kelly’s FT article 1st June 2023)

“Summer time and the livin’ is easy” is the first line from “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy & Bess”  written by George Gershwin in 1935. The song is a lullaby which is a celebration of the summer. 

Hopefully you are getting the chance to celebrate this season and have a more relaxed pace of living as we enjoy summer in the northern hemisphere. 

Until next month,
Sinead

Jim Kerr, currently the lead singer of the band, Simple Minds, was born in Glasgow on 9th July 1959 and suffered with speech stammering in his younger years. 

He credits this impediment as being a factor in his success as a song writer.  When he was young, he was too embarrassed to talk so instead spent his time listening and observing.  He thinks those experiences helped develop his imagination and writing skills.

Jim Kerr and his then (and now) best friend, Charlie Burchill, started the band in 1977.  Close to 50 years later, they remain together continuing to tour and release new music.

The band, Simple Minds have sold more than 60 million albums. Their most famous song “Don’t You Forget About Me” featured in the 1985 movie, “The Breakfast Club”.

Another of their famous songs was “Belfast Child” released in 1989.  It was a ballad reflecting the sadness caused by violence in Northern Ireland.  It’s nice to think that this year marks the 25 year anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement which was signed in 1998 to end “The Troubles” mentioned in the Simple Minds song.

Simple Minds are due to announce another tour shortly and whilst I admire their energy and longevity, I can’t help hoping that they get time to rest too.

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I have mentioned the newsletter do5ive written by Page Grossman before. Page is a writer and content creator who shares lots of wisdom via her emails.

Recently, she wrote about taking breaks and incorporating rest into our hectic lives. I think that message is very appropriate this month as many of us have holidays from work or school.

As part of her newsletter, Page highlighted 5 things about rest, on which I share my own slant (with some synopsising and paraphrasing).

1.She highlighted the concept of Bare Minimum Mondays (BMM) made popular by TikToker Marisa Jo Mayes.
2.Page advocates that we shouldn’t need to “earn” rest, it is a necessary part of our lives.
3.Taking rest does not mean you are lazy.
4.Trying to make your rest time productive by squashing in loads of hobbies/tasks/socialising etc. actually means it’s not rest time.
5.Rest allows for creativity and allows our imagination to have some freedom

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“We need to resist the hustle culture that’s in the water we drink every day.” Page Grossman

“When I’m touring, everything is so structured and I’m surrounded by people all the time, so I love walking on my own in the open air in the countryside..” Jim Kerr

“Take it easy.” Cadbury Caramel Bunny

As the Glastonbury festival takes place this weekend, this month’s newsletter has a focus on music and sound !

I hope you enjoy it.
Sinead

Tina Turner passed away last month at the age of 83. 

Although she never played at Glastonbury, she was a legendary singer and performer.  Her brilliance made all the more extraordinary because of the hardships she overcame.  

In addition to her music, Tina wrote 3 books, the latest of which “Happiness Becomes You: A Guide To Changing Your Life For Good” was published in December 2020 when Tina was 80.

The book’s 8 chapters loosely follow the 8 decades of Tina’s life.  Tina’s goal with the book was to offer hope and inspiration and she shares some of the Buddhist principles which helped her along the way.

In an interview with US TV show Today.com in 2021, Tina was asked to sum up her life in 3 words.  She replied with “Hope. Resilience. Victory”.

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Tina was inspired by Buddhist teachings and for about 50 years, Tina practiced Nichiren Buddhism. Nichiren was a Japanese religious leader born in 1222.

Perhaps it says something about her musicality but she credited chanting with being very helpful for her mental health. Her Nichiren chant “Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō” translates as “I devote myself to the mystic law of the lotus”.  It is used to affirm that all of us have the capacity to overcome any challenges that we are faced with.  This was also the chant repeated by singer, Boy George, (who performed at Glastonbury in 2010) when he was part of an ITV reality TV show set in the Australian jungle.

One of the most famous Glastonbury performances in recent times, was that of Sir Paul McCartney last year.  At 80, he was the oldest headline act in the history of the festival which first started in 1970.  Sir Paul practices transcendental meditation (TM), which he has often spoken about.

In TM, practitioners repeat a mantra in their heads whilst staying silent.  This type of meditation was promoted in the 1950s by Indian Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.  In this case, the chant is usually a word like “om” which is considered a sacred sound.  The Beatles and others made this type of meditation popular from the 1960s onwards.  

There are many other famous musicians and singers known to practice chanting and different types of mindfulness and meditation.  Perhaps, we’ll get the benefit of their talents if we tune into Glastonbury TV footage over this weekend?  Of if you are lucky enough to be at the Glastonbury festival, I hope you enjoy a great weekend of live music!

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“I was a victim, I don’t dwell on it” Tina Turner

“Transcendental Meditation gives me an island of calm in the midst of so much turbulence” Sir Paul McCartney

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” Plato

As some of you might already know, I love word puzzles and I am a daily Wordle-er.

I also appreciate the beauty and balance in mathematical concepts like symmetry and correlation.

Right now, I’m enjoying Ed Sheeran’s new album and his documentary on Disney+, not just for their content but also for their titles !

Whether or not you switch to the next song or to a different radio station when you hear Ed, you might like to read about “The Struggle Switch” made popular by Dr. Russ Harris and introduced to me via Padraig O’Morain’s book “Acceptance“.

Have a good month !
Sinead

Ed Sheeran released his latest album at the start of this month.

The majority of Ed’s albums to date are called after mathematical symbols: ➕ (plus), ✖ (multiply),➗ (divide), ➖ (subtract) and his documentary on Disney ➕ (where else?😉) is called “The Sum of it All“.  There is correlation between mathematics and music given the repeating patterns and formulaic progressions found in music compositions.  Ed’s lyrics show him to be a skilled writer, maybe he is also a maths genius?

I have only seen some of Ed’s documentary so far but he does seem to have mastered “The Struggle Switch” (more below).  His focus and drive appear to have superseded any daily frustrations, doubts or second guessing of himself.  I’m half way through the series, and whilst I can’t tell (yet) if Ed is as skilled with numbers as he is with words, he does come across as a very down to earth, relatable guy.  

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Padraig O’ Morain is a Mindfulness Trainer who has written two books on the subject.

Padraig’s newest book “Acceptance” was released earlier this year.

Page 96 of that book introduced me to the idea of “The Struggle Switch” (attributed to Dr. Russ Harris).

When your struggle switch is turned to “on”, everything is a struggle, every minor inconvenience causes hardship and frustration.  However, maybe we can do something to address that by turning the switch to “off”.  When we switch to “off”, we can just accept the irritating things and try to get on with our day without being frustrated by the traffic or the weather or other elements that are outside our control.

I loved Padraig’s personal comment, “At the end of a challenging day, I imagine a row of those switches and flick them off in my mind quite calmly saying “Off… off… off… off”.

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“You make a choice about whether to react or not by accepting that not everything will go your way. And that not everything can be, or needs to be, fixed.” Padraig O’Morain
 

“Be yourself. Embrace your quirks.” Ed Sheeran

“The more we try to avoid the basic reality that all human life involves pain, the more we are likely to struggle with that pain when it arises, thereby creating even more suffering.” Russ Harris