Why You Can’t Stop Your Productivity Addiction - Oliver Burkeman - #1061

Feb 19, 2026 · 1h 32m

Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, a writer for The Guardian and an author. How does the insecure overachiever evolve? You think success will quiet the doubt, then you hit 30, and it’s still there. More achievement, more stress. So how do you feel proud of what you’ve built without always fearing it’s not enough? Expect to learn if it possible to be the best in the world and relaxed at the same time, how to deal with uncertainty more effectively, the biggest changes insecure overachievers will face as they age, the cost of constantly asking, “Am I living my best possible life?“, how to know when it’s a good time to settle and much more… Timestamps: (0:00) The Hidden Trap of Tying Your Worth to Success (6:31) How to Accept You Can't Control Everything (15:25) Why Nothing Going Your Way Might Be a Gift (19:04) The Real Cost of Trying to Control Everything (24:27) Why You Should Do It Anyway (30:41) Can You Actually Design Fun? (41:03) Is AI Just Another Control Fantasy? (46:26) The Insecure Overachiever Paradox Explained (55:14) Is Optimising Your Life Making You Miserable? (58:41) Do High Performers Create Their Own Problems? (01:05:19) How to Handle Criticism and Let Go of Control (0…

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