Kendal Johnson-Final Report

 Rediscovering Rest 

   

  Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals is an introspective look at how people spend the time they have on Earth and the ways they could spend it more effectively. Four thousand weeks is the average amount of time people have before they die, and Burkeman wants people not to focus on that horrifyingly short time and embrace the time they do have. My focus was on Chapter 9, "Rediscovering Rest," which explains how people are unable to allow themselves true, time-wasting rest. 

    Burkeman begins his assessment of the ways of rest by starting with the idea that people do not think their leisure time is essential outside of how it aids the time they spend being productive. It makes people uncomfortable to take time for themselves, since we live in a society that mainly awards people for participating in what is called grinding culture. A mindset in the minds of many that focuses on constant productivity and low hours of rest for the reward of money and success. To illustrate his point, Burkeman takes us back to the time before the Industrial Revolution, when rest was mandated. Many holidays made it so time off work was mandatory, Burkeman even noting that “Some historians claim that the average country-dweller in the sixteenth century would have worked for only about 150 days each year” (57), showing that rest was prioritized over working. However, Burkeman argues that mandated fun would begin to feel like work due to the pressure to join in on whatever festivities were happening at the time. So, further down the timeline, Industrialization took away the burden of all fun and no work. There was barely any required time off, so when people could take time off work, they could do as they pleased as long as it improved their performance on the job. The introduction of the “eight-hour workday and the two-day weekend” (55) cemented how modern-day people spend their leisure time, since one of the main arguments was that people on their weekends will spend them to better themselves; essentially saying that workers deserve time off so when Monday rolls around, they can be even more efficient at their job. 

           After examining some of the historical factors that influence how people allocate their leisure time, Burkeman concludes that many individuals who immerse themselves in their work are actually trying to escape something in their lives. This can be coupled with his next section, "Rules for Rest," where he suggests that people establish a rigid schedule for when they should rest. If someone is trying to ignore the problems happening in their personal lives, a good way to combat it would probably be to face them head-on and enjoy rest for its own sake, realizing that "that your days aren't progressing towards a future state of perfectly invulnerable happiness" (104). Having this detached approach will make the rules someone sets up for themselves easier to follow because the worry of wasting time will be less pronounced, although not completely gone.

Additionally, Burkeman warns against using free time as another way of contributing to the capitalist cycle that everyone is sucked into. What he means by this is that when someone chooses to become involved in a hobby, they are often advised to figure out a way to monetize their hobby. Burkeman wants people to start activities without the pressure of becoming amazing at them. He even engages in activities like walking to clear his mind, not for any other reason, such as weight loss. Monetizing activities used to relax and take the mind off work and other stressful responsibilities can add to the stress and make the person’s leisure time feel like work. People should allow themselves the freedom to relax and exist without external stressors. 

Burkeman also explores how society's attitude towards rest affects people's perception of their relationship with themselves. The constant push for productivity creates an inner guilt that makes it hard for people to allow time to do nothing. Even short periods of leisure create restlessness and a fear of falling behind. By recognizing this pattern, people can begin to reconstruct their relationship with rest to make one that is healthier. People should realize that the time they have here on Earth shouldn't be used only for work, but also for fun activities or simply taking a nap. Embracing rest in this way would be an act of self-care and a show of resistance to society's harmful pressures to be constantly busy, thereby forming a healthier relationship with time and oneself. 

Furthermore, getting more rest helps with forming relationships with other people. Being overly work-focused, relationships can become neglected or even transactional. Rest opens up time to become more connected with people, which isn't a meet-up being squeezed into a tiny time slot that doesn't allow for an actual connection to be formed or to become stronger. Burkeman's urge for us to take more time to rest highlights that truly meaningful experiences can come from unscheduled moments. 

This chapter features Burkeman offering guidance on why people shouldn't strive to be productive twenty-four seven. The time they have is limited, so they should try to put some of their energy into doing nothing or perhaps into a hobby, but not one for profit. He wants people to realize that being productive all of the time is not worth it, and taking a break will not hinder anyone's success.