188 | THE BRUTAL TRUTH ABOUT TIME

This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting

Last week I talked about the Bean Soup Theory - the idea that effort spent is not a debt owed to the future and that not everything you start deserves to be finished. Please go back and check it out if you think it may be of interest.

Today I want to talk about time itself - how we think about it, how we waste it, and how we can come to terms with the fact that we don't have enough of it.

This episode The Brutal Truth About Time is inspired by Oliver Burkeman's book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. The title refers to the average human lifespan - about four thousand weeks. That's it. That's all we get. Burkeman's book isn't another productivity manual promising you'll finally get on top of everything if you just follow the right system. It's the opposite. It's a philosophical, sometimes brutal look at what it means to have finite time in a world that demands infinite output.

For us as creative people, this book offers something rare - permission to stop trying to do it all, and focus instead on what actually matters.

I'm going to share nine lessons from Burkeman's work that may prove useful for those of us trying to build creative careers. Some of them are very on theme for this season and some of them you may recognise from other shows.

LESSON ONE: ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL

Time is finite and you will never, ever get on top of everything. The to-do list will never be finished. The inbox will never be empty. There will always be another project, another opportunity, another thing you could be doing.

Burkeman starts his book with this hard truth because it undercuts everything we've been sold about productivity. We think if we just get better systems, better habits, better discipline, we'll finally catch up. We won't. It's not possible.

Imagine a filmmaker who's also going to write, direct, and produce their own short films, whilst they maintain a blog, network and raise funds, and keep on top of all the other elements that need to come together to make a film. They're drowning, and they blame themselves for not being efficient enough. That’s like me with these podcasts, it’s a vast job, really you wouldn’t believe the time and energy I put into this – whilst at the same time running a film company, writing scripts, fight directing multiple action sequences on multiple large scale productions. The problem I have isn't efficiency - it's that I’m trying to do six jobs at once.

This isn't a failure. It's reality. For creative people, this is actually liberating. It means you can stop beating yourself up for not doing everything and start choosing what matters. You're not behind. You're just human. The game isn't to clear the list - it's to make sure the right things are on it.

LESSON TWO: PRIORITIZE RUTHLESSLY

Second up - the more you try to do, the less you actually accomplish. Burkeman is talking about the trap we fall into when we say yes to everything. Multiple projects, side hustles, favours, collaborations - and we end up spreading ourselves so thin that nothing gets our best work.

The reason I have prioritised getting season 15 out and I’ve put aside the screenplay I’m working on for a full 3 moths is that this if done properly will play out for weeks whilst I do other things and no longer interfere. All my high priority actions this last few weeks have been entirely geared towards writing recoding and promoting this season.

The solution isn't complicated - identify what's truly meaningful to you right now and give those things your full attention. Let the rest go. It doesn't mean you'll never do them. It means not now.

LESSON THREE: STOP CHASING PERFECTION

Third on my list, and one I’ve visited many times before on this show, is that perfectionism is one of the biggest productivity killers for creatives, and Burkeman argues that perfection is an illusion we use to avoid starting.

We wait for the perfect moment, the perfect outline, the perfect conditions - and nothing gets made. Imagine a writer who's been researching their screenplay for two years, reading every book on the subject, watching every film in the genre, but they haven't written a single scene yet. They're waiting to know enough, to be ready enough, to guarantee it'll be good. That guarantee never comes. Looking back I definitely recognise this in certain parts of my life.

Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time, and done is definitely better than perfect. The script doesn't have to be flawless before you show it to someone. The edit doesn't have to be perfect before you get feedback. Start messy. Start now. You can refine later, but you can't refine nothing.

LESSON FOUR: LEARN TO SAY NO

This was the topic of the 2^nd show I ever did on this podcast and this is crucial - every yes to one thing is a no to something else, usually something that matters more but doesn't shout as loud.

Burkeman talks about the importance of boundaries, and this is where a lot of creatives struggle. We say yes because we're afraid of missing out, afraid of seeming difficult, afraid the opportunity won't come again. But every time you say yes to something that doesn't serve your goals, you're saying no to something that does.

Imagine a filmmaker who agrees to edit a friend's wedding video, help another friend shoot their corporate promo, and consult on someone else's passion project - all while their own feature script sits untouched. None of these things move them forward, but they can't say no because they're nice, because they want to help, because they feel obligated.

Saying no might mean turning down a project that doesn't align with your goals. It might mean saying no to distractions, to people who don't respect your time, or to opportunities that sound good but don't serve where you're trying to go. This isn't about being difficult. It's about protecting what you're trying to build.

LESSON FIVE: FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME

Fifth up - multitasking is a myth. Burkeman is clear on this. When you try to do multiple things at once, you're just switching between tasks badly, and every switch costs you focus, energy, and quality.

For creatives, this means immersing yourself in your current project without hopping between tasks, checking your phone, or letting your attention fragment.  It’s like me trying to write a new episode of this show while also answering emails, checking social media, following up on WhatsApp messages and answering calls at the same time. I wouldn’t be doing any of it well – I’d just be busy

Deep work happens when you're fully present. That doesn't mean you only ever work on one project - it means when you're working on something, you're actually working on it. Close the tabs. Silence the phone. Be where you are. When I write and episode I switch stuff to silent, I don’t look at it at all.

LESSON SIX: MAKE PEACE WITH PROCRASTINATION

Burkeman suggests that procrastination isn't always laziness.  It's often a sign that you're scared of failure or overwhelmed by the size of the task. Instead of fighting it, use it as a signal.

If you're procrastinating, ask why. This could be me needing to edit a film. I’ll reorganize my workspace, answer emails, start on something else - anything but actually begin the edit. The real issue isn't laziness - it's that I’m terrified I won't like what I have got, that everything I’ve shot is rubbish, that I won't be able to deliver something good enough, and after all the bother of writing it and shooting it I have a real fear that its simply going to be bad.

Once you know what's actually stopping you, you can address it. Break the task into smaller steps. Clarify what you're trying to do. Accept that the first edit is supposed to be rough. Procrastination isn't the enemy. Ignoring what it's trying to tell you is.

LESSON SEVEN: REST IS NOT WASTED TIME

This one matters more than most of us admit - rest is essential.

In a culture that glorifies hustle, Burkeman reminds us that rest isn't a luxury you earn after the work is done. It's part of the work.

For creatives, downtime isn't just recovery - it's where inspiration happens. Your brain needs space to process, connect ideas, and recharge.

If you're always grinding, you're not being productive - you're running on fumes. Rest allows you to return to your work with clarity, energy, and fresh perspective. It's not wasted time. It's investment.

LESSON EIGHT: EMBRACE UNCERTAINTY

Creative work is inherently uncertain, and Burkeman encourages us to embrace this rather than letting it paralyze us.

Will the script sell? Will the audience connect with your work? Will this project lead somewhere or disappear into nothing? You can't know. Imagine a playwright finishing a new piece. They have no idea if it'll get produced, if critics will love it or tear it apart, if audiences will show up. That uncertainty is terrifying, and it's also unavoidable.

Creativity thrives when you take risks, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. You can't control how people respond to your work. You can only control whether you make it. The uncertainty isn't a sign you're doing it wrong - it's proof you're doing something that matters.

LESSON NINE: BE PRESENT

Burkeman's final point here is about living in the moment, and for creatives that means fully engaging with your art, your process, and your life.

Don't get so caught up planning for the future that you miss what's happening right now. Imagine a director on set, already thinking about the next project, worrying about whether this one will get into festivals, mentally rehearsing their pitch for the next funding round. They're not actually directing the scene in front of them - they're somewhere else entirely.

The work you're doing today matters. The person you're talking to matters. The moment you're in matters. If you're always somewhere else in your head, you're not really here - and that's where life actually happens.

Burkeman's book is a reminder that life is finite, and that's exactly what makes it precious. You don't have time to waste on things that don't matter. You don't have time to wait for perfect conditions. You have now, and that's enough.

Here's your call to action for this week. Identify one project or task that truly matters to you. Dedicate focused time to it this week - without distractions, without guilt. And let go of one thing that doesn't align with your priorities to make space for what does.

Thanks for listening once again to Film Pro Productivity. I am so grateful for your time and your energy and for those of you who continue to share and recommend these episodes to new listeners. That action the time that you take to share means a great deal to me and I am very grateful for it.

In next week's show I'll be talking about how being nice can work against y ou. Not kindness or decency, but approval-seeking, boundary-free niceness that leads to resentment, loss of momentum, and eventually loss of faith when effort isn't reciprocated. That's No More Mr Nice Guy, and if that sounds like you then tune in next week to find out more.

Now, take control of your own destiny. Keep on shootin' and join me next time on FILM PRO PRODUCTIVITY!

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This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting who have been supplying SAs to the screen and media industry throughout Scotland for over 20 years.

We know our people and we know when they’ll fit for you.

https://www.gbmcasting.co.uk/

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