Oliver Burkeman on Perfection, Pressure & the Permission to Stop

Today’s conversation is with someone whose work has truly shaped the way I think about time, productivity, and what it means to live a meaningful life. I’m joined by Oliver Burkeman — author of the best-selling Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology behind our need for control — how it shows up in our perfectionism, our people-pleasing, and our constant striving to stay ahead of life. We talk about why so many of us feel the pressure to optimize every moment, and how that pressure can leave us more disconnected from ourselves than ever.

This is a rich and honest conversation about learning to live with our limitations — and even finding freedom in them. Oliver shares his own struggles with deficit thinking, the myth of the “perfect day,” and what it really means to rest without guilt. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in that mindset of “just get through this and then I’ll live,” this episode is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and let go — even just a little. I really loved this one, and I think you will too.

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Find Oliver:

Website: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ 

Books:

https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals 

https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks

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