I haven't read this book yet but have heard lots of good things, so I think I need to. I so agree that we can get stuck in the planning zone then nothing ever really happens. It's only when I started to take imperfect action and kind of learn as I go that things started to change for me. And I realised that everything I had planned for didn't really happen anyway!
I agree, planning is all well and good, but you can kinda end up in stuck. And that's great to hear that you decided to take 'imperfect action' - I love that!
I’ve just switched over to Audible, and what should meet me on the home page? A recommendation for the very book that you’re recommending here! Needless to say, I used a credit on it 🙌🏼
I loved Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks. Highly recommended.
What I really enjoyed about Meditations is that you can dip in and out of it. Most of the chapters take less than five minutes to read, so you can pace it how you like. And oh yes, Four Thousand Weeks is incredible. And you have reminded me to re-read it ☺️
Haha! Yes I am!! You know I’ve said before about the lack of Audible time I have now? I am currently on a break following a deal period of £2.99/month! I still have one credit left.
It's similar for me. I don't have much commute time, especially when it's too dark to walk to my teaching job. I've been doing the same, keep cancelling and holding out for the best possible offer I can. I tend to use it for listening to new publications and use borrow box for older stuff (also your excellent recommendation!).
I loved Four Thousand Weeks and this is on my list! May 2025 be the year of kayaking! And maybe a bit row boating (did I just make up a verb? ha!) like someone else said in the comments.
Oh man, I've hardly been on Substack over the kids' Christmas holidays and I missed your guest post! Heading over there now!
And I love the kayak/super-yacht analogy. I plan to spend time on both this year, but first I have to stop building sandcastles on the shore 😊. Enjoy your journeys on both! 💕
Burkeman makes a great analogy about the idea of time/travel, and I really like Suzanne's addition of a small motorboat too. And sandcastles are cool too!
I love the comparison between the kayak and the yacht (being an avid kayaker here!). I’m often challenged with advising folks to “take their hands off the wheel” and learn to go with the current. 😊.
If I may suggest a third alternative… a small motorboat, one where you could float with the current (as we do when fishing) but then engage the motor when you see your next destination to move toward or to get past a dangerous situation. Sometimes there is a current heading toward the rocks (like listening to others’ opinions rather than our own intuition) that could take us entirely off track, and we need that little extra push to get through and back on to our “flow”. 😉
Thanks Suzanne - and with your experience as a kayaker you have great experience to add here!
Oh and I like the idea of a small motorboat, especially when we want to move forward (and perhaps faster) and to get past a particular situation. That makes sense that sometimes do need a push to get us past things (psychologically/emotionally).
I haven't read this book yet but have heard lots of good things, so I think I need to. I so agree that we can get stuck in the planning zone then nothing ever really happens. It's only when I started to take imperfect action and kind of learn as I go that things started to change for me. And I realised that everything I had planned for didn't really happen anyway!
I agree, planning is all well and good, but you can kinda end up in stuck. And that's great to hear that you decided to take 'imperfect action' - I love that!
I’ve just switched over to Audible, and what should meet me on the home page? A recommendation for the very book that you’re recommending here! Needless to say, I used a credit on it 🙌🏼
I loved Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks. Highly recommended.
Haha that is a lovely coincidence!
What I really enjoyed about Meditations is that you can dip in and out of it. Most of the chapters take less than five minutes to read, so you can pace it how you like. And oh yes, Four Thousand Weeks is incredible. And you have reminded me to re-read it ☺️
I loved Four Thousand Weeks too. Are you back to playing the merry Audible dance (like me) of trying to get the best offers from them?! 😂
Haha! Yes I am!! You know I’ve said before about the lack of Audible time I have now? I am currently on a break following a deal period of £2.99/month! I still have one credit left.
It's similar for me. I don't have much commute time, especially when it's too dark to walk to my teaching job. I've been doing the same, keep cancelling and holding out for the best possible offer I can. I tend to use it for listening to new publications and use borrow box for older stuff (also your excellent recommendation!).
I loved Four Thousand Weeks and this is on my list! May 2025 be the year of kayaking! And maybe a bit row boating (did I just make up a verb? ha!) like someone else said in the comments.
I agree - 2025 should be the year of kayaking/row boating 😆
Oh man, I've hardly been on Substack over the kids' Christmas holidays and I missed your guest post! Heading over there now!
And I love the kayak/super-yacht analogy. I plan to spend time on both this year, but first I have to stop building sandcastles on the shore 😊. Enjoy your journeys on both! 💕
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and NY!
Burkeman makes a great analogy about the idea of time/travel, and I really like Suzanne's addition of a small motorboat too. And sandcastles are cool too!
I love this, Sarah. I like to think I know my destination, but certainly prefer to kayak my way there. 😊
Thanks Maria ☺️
I love the comparison between the kayak and the yacht (being an avid kayaker here!). I’m often challenged with advising folks to “take their hands off the wheel” and learn to go with the current. 😊.
If I may suggest a third alternative… a small motorboat, one where you could float with the current (as we do when fishing) but then engage the motor when you see your next destination to move toward or to get past a dangerous situation. Sometimes there is a current heading toward the rocks (like listening to others’ opinions rather than our own intuition) that could take us entirely off track, and we need that little extra push to get through and back on to our “flow”. 😉
Thanks Suzanne - and with your experience as a kayaker you have great experience to add here!
Oh and I like the idea of a small motorboat, especially when we want to move forward (and perhaps faster) and to get past a particular situation. That makes sense that sometimes do need a push to get us past things (psychologically/emotionally).
Congratulations on your guest post, that's brilliant!
I haven't read Oliver Burkeman's latest book but I bought it for my brother for his birthday. Perhaps I should nick it back when he's finished!!
Oh definitely - grab it from your brother when he's finished!
And thank you about the guest post 😀