Perspective, Perspective, Perspective-We Are Finite Humans

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the story of the wise man teaching his disciples about the importance of prioritizing. Days later, I encountered Oliver Burkeman in his class on Time Management on BBC Maestro using the same story to illustrate efficiency, prioritization and the management of time. However, elements of it were changed: a professor and his students instead of the wiseman, and sand instead of water to stand for the seemingly unimportant things in our days.

Perhaps, my yoga instructor preferred the wise man version, given the profoundly meditative environment of the class, while Burkeman talks about a professorial setting, where the students appear purposefully less intelligent to demonstrate a point. Perhaps the original version of the story isn’t important, but its core is: humans' need to prioritize.

Burkeman emphasizes the finite number of rocks used by the professor (also applicable to the wiseman version) to symbolize the elements that bombard our world every day. This, however, is a shortcoming. In today’s reality, the factors that fill our inboxes, our phone interactions, are infinite. Thus, it takes a great deal of discipline and practice to sift through and practice a method of prioritizing those that are truly important and working towards our long- and short-term goals.

Oliver Burkeman emphasizes several key points in his class.

1. The Efficiency Trap. We instinctively try to fit more into our schedules, equating efficiency with productivity. However, as we increase our capacity to handle tasks, even more demands arise, making us feel overwhelmed and rushed.
2. The Importance Trap. Burkeman highlights how the finite number of "rocks" (important tasks) in the story doesn't reflect reality—our distractions and tasks are endless. We must deliberately filter what truly matters amid the constant influx of information and obligations.
3. How to Prioritize Effectively. We can’t erase all tasks, but we can schedule the most important ones first. The key is to recognize that the most meaningful tasks will always need to be done alongside smaller distractions. Rather than cramming more in, we must accept that some things must be postponed deliberately.
4. Fixed Volume Productivity. Assign specific time slots for important tasks rather than working endlessly. Decide what to prioritize, when to do it, and for how long—this is an emotional skill requiring discipline.
5. Adapting Time Management to Real Life. Strategies must be flexible and personalized to our unique circumstances. Success comes from making intentional choices about what gets done and what gets postponed.

In the end, whether we hear this lesson from a wise man, a professor, or a bestselling author like Oliver Burkeman, the message remains the same: time is finite, and what we choose to do with it shapes our lives. The challenge isn't just managing time efficiently but doing so meaningfully, ensuring that the rocks in our jars truly reflect our deepest priorities.

So, as we navigate our packed schedules, perhaps the real question isn’t just how to fit more in, but what we’re willing to leave out. How do you decide what truly matters in your day? Share your thoughts below.