"Synthetic Obstacles" (Patreon)

Patreon Exclusive. Joshua and Ryan talk about recognizing and managing what we perceive to be obligations and responsibilities, and they answer the following questions:

What’s so attractive about success? (03:46)

What is non-attachment? (10:00)

Why are we addicted to busyness? (15:24)

How do we get good at saying, ‘no’?

How do we identify and address obligations? (19:01)

Why do we seek out the news when it increases our stress? (23:45)

What are the Hadza? (27:41)

What is the difference between natural obstacles and synthetic obstacles? (30:28)

What is the hidden cost of being busy? (35:11)

Why are we uncomfortable with stillness? (37:54)

How do I appropriately and effectively ask for space—personally and professionally—in a very busy world? (44:19)

What is the difference between a community and a tribe? (51:16)

What do you view as the difference between busy and productive? (55:02)

How do you prioritize if everything seems essential or urgent? (58:01)

What is essential? (1:02:43)

Is being “too busy” a product of poor planning? (1:08:20)

What should I be doing when I have “nothing to do”? (1:14:35)

How do we deal with the busyness resulting from unforeseen obligations and responsibilities? (1:16:35)

LINKS

Article: Five Reasons Everyone Is So Busy

Book: A World without Email

Book: Minimalist Rulebook

Book: Stillness Is the Key

Essay: Minimalism Is Not

Explore: The Eisenhower Matrix

Instagram: Max Lugavere

Instagram: Jordan Moore

Instagram: Podcast Shawn

Instagram: Jess Williams

Patreon: The Minimalists

Podcast: Broken News

Podcast: Ryan Holiday

Podcast: How to Love

Podcast: Christopher Kelly

Podcast: Dr. Damon Korb

Podcast: Too Busy

Resources: The Minimalists

Subscribe: The Minimalists

Text: 937-202-4654

Tour: The Minimalists

Watch: Less Is Now

Watch: Let’s Talk About Being Busy

MAXIMS

“Busyness is avoidance.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“When I say, ‘I’m busy,’ I’m saying my life is out of control.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“Busy apes the form of productivity.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“If you focus solely on not letting others down, you’ll let yourself down.” —Ryan Nicodemus

“Every obligation is an obstacle.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“An empty calendar is true freedom.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“The pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of misery.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“We are too busy only because we don’t understand why we are busy.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“Busy is an excuse, not a lifestyle.” —Ryan Nicodemus

“We’re not obligated by obligations.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“You can’t task-list your way to a deeper understanding.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

“Our ‘have-to’s’ lead us to misery; our ‘get-to’s’ lead us to experience.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

This Maximal episode corresponds with Minimal episode 279.