Oliver Burkeman: Why Embracing Imperfection is the Secret to a Better Life
Podcast: Self-Conscious with Chrissy TeigenPublished On: Thu Oct 09 2025
Description: Chrissy sits down with Oliver Burkeman, author of Meditations for Mortals to explore why the obsession with “finally getting everything done” is a trap. Burkeman explains how embracing imperfection and accepting our limits can help us stop chasing control, start finishing things imperfectly, and actually live with more presence and ease. Five Key Takeaways:The Finish Line Myth: The to-do list will never be empty—your job isn’t to “catch up,” but to choose the next thing that matters.Imperf-Perfectionism: Starting and finishing something—messy or not—is better than waiting until it’s perfect.Small, Realistic Goals: Swap “do it perfectly” for “do it regularly” (like 20 minutes of writing or one load of laundry).Three Good Hours: Most of us only have three focused hours a day—use them for what matters most, and let the rest be messy.Celebrate Done, Not Perfect: Keep a “done list,” make small decisions to move forward, and see problems as part of real life—not signs of failure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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