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امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم: رهایی از اضطراب شلوغی، در دنیایی که هر روز شلوغتر میشود
امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم عبارتی آشنا برای همه ما انسان هاست که با وجود جستجوی مداوم کمال گرایی برای بهینه کردن زندگیمان و داشتن عملکردی عالی، همچنان بیشتر کار میکنیم، زندگی سختی را میگذرانیم و تنهاتر و عصبیتر میشویم. میخواهیم در تمام جنبههای زندگی خود خوب باشیم و از خودمان غافل میشویم. چرا دست نگه نمیداریم و در شرایط خود تأمل نمیکنیم؟
ما هر روز با فهرستی بلندبالا از کارهای ضروری مواجهیم. امور خانوادگی، ورزش، نظافت، کارهایی که نمیخواهیم انجام دهیم و کارهایی که علیرغم اهمیت کنارشان میگذاریم. حتی روزهایی هم که خیلی کار میکنیم، کارهای انجام نشده باعث عذاب وجدان، اضطراب و ناامیدی میشود.
اعتیاد به بهرهوری
اکثر ما به بهرهوری اعتیاد داریم. اگر انسان مدرن به تمام کارهایش نرسد، خود را یک شکستخورده میداند. ترس از پایین بودن بهرهوری و مدام در پی کمال بودن ما را به اهدافمان نمیرسد. برعکس، انگیزه ما را کاهش داده و بر اضطرابمان میافزاید. وقتی چنین انسانی نمیتواند چیز جدیدی خلق کند، به اهدافش برسد یا به اندازه کافی سختکوشی داشته باشد، دچار عذاب وجدان بهرهوری میشود. حتی وقتی به نتیجه میرسد، باز هم با خود میگوید که «کارهای بیشتری برای انجام دادن وجود دارد».
در اکثر موارد، این افکار از درون ما ناشی میشود. دیگران ممکن است شما را به عنوان فردی با بهرهوری بالا ببیند که به نتایج شگفتانگیز میرسد و برای تیم یا شرکتش هر کاری میکند، اما عذاب وجدان بهرهوری دست از سر شما برنمیدارد. همچنین این احساس زمانی به وجود میآید که نتایج خود را با همکارانتان مقایسه میکنید. منطقی است؟ قطعاً نه! هیچکس در جهان استعدادها و ظرفیتهای شما را ندارد.
مدلین دور مدتها درگیر فشار بهرهوری بوده است. او در مسیر رسیدن به همه کارها هر راهی را برای بهینه کردن روز خود امتحان کرد اما در نهایت فقط عقب ماند و پیشرفتی نداشت. با صدها متفکر و متخصص مصاحبه کرد تا راز بهرهوری را پیدا کند. او به چیزی جذاب رسید: ارزش روزها بیش از کارهای انجام داده یا نداده است.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم نوشتۀ مدلین دور مقابلهای است با وسواس ما برای رسیدگی به همهچیز
فصلهای کتاب در روزهای پرتلاطم همراه ما بوده و به روشهای مختلف مواجهه ما با عذاب وجدان بهرهوری میپردازند، نظیر مقایسه با دیگران، تلاش برای رسیدن به کمال و انتظارات بزرگ. وقتی دیگر در مورد لحظات خود قضاوت نکنیم، میتوانیم از چرخه باطل بهرهوری خارج شویم و به زندگی واقعی خود پا بگذاریم.
هرکسی که نگران زمان تلف شده یا تردید و دلمشغولی است میتواند از این کتاب برای افزایش ارتباطات خود و همچنین خلاقیت و کنجکاویاش استفاده نماید. مفاهیم بهرهوری و موفقیت اینقدر درهمتنیده بوده که اگر کسی بگوید هرچه بیشتر کار کنیم، بیشتر موفق خواهیم بود، با او هیچ مخالفتی نخواهیم داشت.
همه به نوعی عذاب وجدان بهرهوری را تجربه میکنند. تکتک ثانیههای خود را با کارها، پروژهها و جلسات مختلف پر میکنید. انجام این همه کار به دغدغه اصلی ما تبدیل میشود. باز هم وقتی روز تمام میشود، احساس میکنید به اندازه کافی کار نکردهاید. در نتیجه فهرستی طولانیتر و جدید میسازید و به خود قول میدهید که بهرهوریتان را بالا ببرید. اما عذاب وجدان دوباره روز بعد به سراغ شما میآید و این چرخه تکرار میشود.
همیشه کارهای زیادی برای انجام دادن وجود دارد. به همین دلیل، بسیاری اوقات راهحل در دنبال کردن بهرهوری نیست، بلکه در پیدا کردن هدف در کارهایی است که از قبل انجام دادهاید. اگر مدام سرتان شلوغ است و صندوق ایمیلتان هم پر است از نامههای باز نشده، شاید بهتر باشد به جای جستوجوی بیجهت برای کسب آرامش نگاهتان را عوض کنید.
با این کار، علت رضایت شما دیگر انجام کارهای بیشمار نخواهد بود، بلکه چون کارهایی که انجام دادید برای شما مهم بودهاند. با هرکاری که میکنید، هرچقدر هم که کوچک باشد، زندگی خود را میسازید. پس خود را در این فرایند گم نکنید. به خاطر داشته باشید که بهترین کار این است که خودتان باشید.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم؛ الهامی برای کنار گذاشتن کمال گرایی
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم به شما میگوید که میتوانید زمان خود را بهتر مدیریت کنید و انتظارات بهتری داشته باشید، اما در نهایت باید مراقب خود باشید. باید از شر وسواسهایی که نسبت به کارهای ضروری دارید خلاص شوید و سلامت روانتان را حفظ کنید. هر زمان تنها میتوانید یک کار انجام دهید، این حقیقتی مسلم است. به جای مقصر دانستن خود برای کارهایی که انجام ندادهاید، به خاطر کارهای انجام شده احساس غرور کنید.
مدلین دور پس از پنج سال جستجو برای پیدا کردن راز بهرهوری، فهمید که چنین رازی اصلاً وجود ندارد. در عوض، چیزی جز شکست در انتظارمان نیست. کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم الهامی برای کنار گذاشتن افراط نسبت به بهرهوری، مقایسه کردن خود با دیگران، روتینهای عجیبوغریب و انتظارات نامعقول از روز خود است. اینگونه است که میتوان به استقبال آشفتگیها و نامعلوم بودن روز خود رفت.
هرکسی که برای انجام کارهای بیشتر و موفقیتهای بیشتر احساس فشار میکند، باید امکان خطای خود را در نظر بگیرید، نه اینکه مدام در جستجوی کمال باشد. این کتاب به شیوهای گویا سعی داشته تا ما را از شر عذاب وجدان بهرهوری نجات دهد. همچنین خیلی خوب به مفهوم روتین، تصمیمگیری، مقایسه خود با دیگران و بیهوده بودن برخی مشغلهها میپردازد. مدلین دور در این اثر از هوش و اشتیاق خود استفاده کرده و به ما کمک کرده تا به جهان نگاهی متفاوت داشته باشیم و با خود و زندگیمان مهربانتر شویم.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم؛ اهمیت لذت بردن از چیزهای کوچک
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم برای همه افرادی که بیشازحد درگیر برنامهریزی، سازماندهی و استرس، فرسودگی، سرخوردگی و لذت نبردن از چیزهای کوچک و ساده ...
ما هر روز با فهرستی بلندبالا از کارهای ضروری مواجهیم. امور خانوادگی، ورزش، نظافت، کارهایی که نمیخواهیم انجام دهیم و کارهایی که علیرغم اهمیت کنارشان میگذاریم. حتی روزهایی هم که خیلی کار میکنیم، کارهای انجام نشده باعث عذاب وجدان، اضطراب و ناامیدی میشود.
اعتیاد به بهرهوری
اکثر ما به بهرهوری اعتیاد داریم. اگر انسان مدرن به تمام کارهایش نرسد، خود را یک شکستخورده میداند. ترس از پایین بودن بهرهوری و مدام در پی کمال بودن ما را به اهدافمان نمیرسد. برعکس، انگیزه ما را کاهش داده و بر اضطرابمان میافزاید. وقتی چنین انسانی نمیتواند چیز جدیدی خلق کند، به اهدافش برسد یا به اندازه کافی سختکوشی داشته باشد، دچار عذاب وجدان بهرهوری میشود. حتی وقتی به نتیجه میرسد، باز هم با خود میگوید که «کارهای بیشتری برای انجام دادن وجود دارد».
در اکثر موارد، این افکار از درون ما ناشی میشود. دیگران ممکن است شما را به عنوان فردی با بهرهوری بالا ببیند که به نتایج شگفتانگیز میرسد و برای تیم یا شرکتش هر کاری میکند، اما عذاب وجدان بهرهوری دست از سر شما برنمیدارد. همچنین این احساس زمانی به وجود میآید که نتایج خود را با همکارانتان مقایسه میکنید. منطقی است؟ قطعاً نه! هیچکس در جهان استعدادها و ظرفیتهای شما را ندارد.
مدلین دور مدتها درگیر فشار بهرهوری بوده است. او در مسیر رسیدن به همه کارها هر راهی را برای بهینه کردن روز خود امتحان کرد اما در نهایت فقط عقب ماند و پیشرفتی نداشت. با صدها متفکر و متخصص مصاحبه کرد تا راز بهرهوری را پیدا کند. او به چیزی جذاب رسید: ارزش روزها بیش از کارهای انجام داده یا نداده است.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم نوشتۀ مدلین دور مقابلهای است با وسواس ما برای رسیدگی به همهچیز
فصلهای کتاب در روزهای پرتلاطم همراه ما بوده و به روشهای مختلف مواجهه ما با عذاب وجدان بهرهوری میپردازند، نظیر مقایسه با دیگران، تلاش برای رسیدن به کمال و انتظارات بزرگ. وقتی دیگر در مورد لحظات خود قضاوت نکنیم، میتوانیم از چرخه باطل بهرهوری خارج شویم و به زندگی واقعی خود پا بگذاریم.
هرکسی که نگران زمان تلف شده یا تردید و دلمشغولی است میتواند از این کتاب برای افزایش ارتباطات خود و همچنین خلاقیت و کنجکاویاش استفاده نماید. مفاهیم بهرهوری و موفقیت اینقدر درهمتنیده بوده که اگر کسی بگوید هرچه بیشتر کار کنیم، بیشتر موفق خواهیم بود، با او هیچ مخالفتی نخواهیم داشت.
همه به نوعی عذاب وجدان بهرهوری را تجربه میکنند. تکتک ثانیههای خود را با کارها، پروژهها و جلسات مختلف پر میکنید. انجام این همه کار به دغدغه اصلی ما تبدیل میشود. باز هم وقتی روز تمام میشود، احساس میکنید به اندازه کافی کار نکردهاید. در نتیجه فهرستی طولانیتر و جدید میسازید و به خود قول میدهید که بهرهوریتان را بالا ببرید. اما عذاب وجدان دوباره روز بعد به سراغ شما میآید و این چرخه تکرار میشود.
همیشه کارهای زیادی برای انجام دادن وجود دارد. به همین دلیل، بسیاری اوقات راهحل در دنبال کردن بهرهوری نیست، بلکه در پیدا کردن هدف در کارهایی است که از قبل انجام دادهاید. اگر مدام سرتان شلوغ است و صندوق ایمیلتان هم پر است از نامههای باز نشده، شاید بهتر باشد به جای جستوجوی بیجهت برای کسب آرامش نگاهتان را عوض کنید.
با این کار، علت رضایت شما دیگر انجام کارهای بیشمار نخواهد بود، بلکه چون کارهایی که انجام دادید برای شما مهم بودهاند. با هرکاری که میکنید، هرچقدر هم که کوچک باشد، زندگی خود را میسازید. پس خود را در این فرایند گم نکنید. به خاطر داشته باشید که بهترین کار این است که خودتان باشید.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم؛ الهامی برای کنار گذاشتن کمال گرایی
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم به شما میگوید که میتوانید زمان خود را بهتر مدیریت کنید و انتظارات بهتری داشته باشید، اما در نهایت باید مراقب خود باشید. باید از شر وسواسهایی که نسبت به کارهای ضروری دارید خلاص شوید و سلامت روانتان را حفظ کنید. هر زمان تنها میتوانید یک کار انجام دهید، این حقیقتی مسلم است. به جای مقصر دانستن خود برای کارهایی که انجام ندادهاید، به خاطر کارهای انجام شده احساس غرور کنید.
مدلین دور پس از پنج سال جستجو برای پیدا کردن راز بهرهوری، فهمید که چنین رازی اصلاً وجود ندارد. در عوض، چیزی جز شکست در انتظارمان نیست. کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم الهامی برای کنار گذاشتن افراط نسبت به بهرهوری، مقایسه کردن خود با دیگران، روتینهای عجیبوغریب و انتظارات نامعقول از روز خود است. اینگونه است که میتوان به استقبال آشفتگیها و نامعلوم بودن روز خود رفت.
هرکسی که برای انجام کارهای بیشتر و موفقیتهای بیشتر احساس فشار میکند، باید امکان خطای خود را در نظر بگیرید، نه اینکه مدام در جستجوی کمال باشد. این کتاب به شیوهای گویا سعی داشته تا ما را از شر عذاب وجدان بهرهوری نجات دهد. همچنین خیلی خوب به مفهوم روتین، تصمیمگیری، مقایسه خود با دیگران و بیهوده بودن برخی مشغلهها میپردازد. مدلین دور در این اثر از هوش و اشتیاق خود استفاده کرده و به ما کمک کرده تا به جهان نگاهی متفاوت داشته باشیم و با خود و زندگیمان مهربانتر شویم.
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم؛ اهمیت لذت بردن از چیزهای کوچک
کتاب امروز به کارهایم نرسیدم برای همه افرادی که بیشازحد درگیر برنامهریزی، سازماندهی و استرس، فرسودگی، سرخوردگی و لذت نبردن از چیزهای کوچک و ساده ...
222 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
January 13, 2022
A nice but not groundbreaking addition in the emerging "anti-productivity" genre.
See also (in order from best to worst; the author cites several of these in this book as well):
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (5/5 stars)
- Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen (4/5 stars)
- A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload by Cal Newport (3/5 stars)
- Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price (2/5 stars)
- Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking (2/5 stars)
- How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jennifer Odell (2/5 stars)
Obviously the "pro-productivity" genre contains its share of gems, doozies, and lots in between as well. I'm glad we're now having both sides of that conversation.
See also (in order from best to worst; the author cites several of these in this book as well):
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (5/5 stars)
- Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen (4/5 stars)
- A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload by Cal Newport (3/5 stars)
- Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price (2/5 stars)
- Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking (2/5 stars)
- How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jennifer Odell (2/5 stars)
Obviously the "pro-productivity" genre contains its share of gems, doozies, and lots in between as well. I'm glad we're now having both sides of that conversation.
February 22, 2022
One star because Dore needs an editor. This thing is 3x as long as it needs to be, and a solid quarter of it seems to be quotes and explenations of quotes. There's not really a narrative or any sort of story.
BUT! A bonus star because it gave me the strength and inner peace to Let Go of Productivity Guilt and stop reading halfway through. I'm still going to mark as complete because this is my life and i make the rules.
BUT! A bonus star because it gave me the strength and inner peace to Let Go of Productivity Guilt and stop reading halfway through. I'm still going to mark as complete because this is my life and i make the rules.
January 22, 2022
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up, i liked the concept but if i got one more quote i was going to throw my phone
March 19, 2022
I didn't finish the book today, nor any other day;
Empty rhetoric is redundant to sway.
Gathered aspects to say, scant pages can weigh.
Readers of literature play;
non-readers grab this book to pray.
Empty rhetoric is redundant to sway.
Gathered aspects to say, scant pages can weigh.
Readers of literature play;
non-readers grab this book to pray.
February 9, 2022
Boy oh boy did I hate this.
If I had a quarter for every time the author uses the words, “we,” “our,” or “us,” I could live off that for a few months.
I so appreciate the premise, and I was ready to love this book. I was picturing a more practical Laziness Does Not Exist, and while it gave those vibes, it did not live up to them. It just felt like a word salad. At first, I thought it was me, I thought when I got out of quarantine I would enjoy reading it again, but nope, by the end I was skipping each chapter as soon as it became the exact same thing the previous chapter had been. “When we x to y, we often miss z or T, and if the T is x, then we realize we must y.” Some version of that was repeated countless times. I just. I don’t understand. I feel so bad because at the beginning, it sounded like the author had put a lot of research into it and interviewed a lot of people, but that didn’t seem to pan out.
If I had a quarter for every time the author uses the words, “we,” “our,” or “us,” I could live off that for a few months.
I so appreciate the premise, and I was ready to love this book. I was picturing a more practical Laziness Does Not Exist, and while it gave those vibes, it did not live up to them. It just felt like a word salad. At first, I thought it was me, I thought when I got out of quarantine I would enjoy reading it again, but nope, by the end I was skipping each chapter as soon as it became the exact same thing the previous chapter had been. “When we x to y, we often miss z or T, and if the T is x, then we realize we must y.” Some version of that was repeated countless times. I just. I don’t understand. I feel so bad because at the beginning, it sounded like the author had put a lot of research into it and interviewed a lot of people, but that didn’t seem to pan out.
February 13, 2022
This book uses so many quotes from people. It's more of collection of quotes with 50% author translation than a book.
There are some good quotes in there.
I do like the sentiment of wobbling. I envision like wobbling forward like a bicycle between productivity and rest.
There are some good quotes in there.
I do like the sentiment of wobbling. I envision like wobbling forward like a bicycle between productivity and rest.
July 8, 2025
Second time reading I Didn't Do The Thing Today and it is still soul-healing 🥰
February 25, 2022
For my first book about productivity guilt, I found this to be very well researched book, with a lot of references to other very successful people.
There are definitely gems of reminders that we can only accomplish so much in a day and sometimes we need to accept we cannot do it all.
There are definitely gems of reminders that we can only accomplish so much in a day and sometimes we need to accept we cannot do it all.
January 5, 2023
This book felt like a hug. Beyond being thought-provoking and well-organized, it gets bonus points for not making up a new word every page (like most self-help books) and instead relying on well-established terms. I checked this one out from the library, but I think I'll get my own copy!
January 14, 2022
I included this release in my book feature for the January 2022 issues of Naples, Johns Creek, Buckhaven, and Alpharetta Lifestyles magazines
Do you struggle to complete a never-ending daily list of tasks? Do you push yourself to do more and more, but somehow no matter what you accomplish, you still feel disappointed and guilty at the end of the day? Do you think you should always be doing more because there is always more to do? Wondering how other people seemed to have it all figured out, Madeleine Dore spent five years interviewing people she admired in an attempt to uncover their secrets for being more productive, successful, and prolific. She learned there isn't a perfect recipe for getting things done, the ideal routine that maximizes every minute of the day is a myth, and constantly holding ourselves to unattainable daily standards is simply exhausting us. In I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt, Dore shares many of the insights she gleaned from her interviews in order to help us stop comparing ourselves to others, to become more realistic about our expectations, and overcome our constant worry about wasted time. Letting go of your productivity guilt and embracing the unexpected creative moments that each day brings you can broaden your definition of a day well spent, bringing deep connection and fulfillment to your daily life.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
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Do you struggle to complete a never-ending daily list of tasks? Do you push yourself to do more and more, but somehow no matter what you accomplish, you still feel disappointed and guilty at the end of the day? Do you think you should always be doing more because there is always more to do? Wondering how other people seemed to have it all figured out, Madeleine Dore spent five years interviewing people she admired in an attempt to uncover their secrets for being more productive, successful, and prolific. She learned there isn't a perfect recipe for getting things done, the ideal routine that maximizes every minute of the day is a myth, and constantly holding ourselves to unattainable daily standards is simply exhausting us. In I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt, Dore shares many of the insights she gleaned from her interviews in order to help us stop comparing ourselves to others, to become more realistic about our expectations, and overcome our constant worry about wasted time. Letting go of your productivity guilt and embracing the unexpected creative moments that each day brings you can broaden your definition of a day well spent, bringing deep connection and fulfillment to your daily life.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
August 18, 2022
4.5⭐️
• self help for type a friends
• inspiring, practical, gently encouraging
• lots to ponder, underline, and return to
Reminded me of:
The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking
Howevers:
• maybe TOO many words of wisdom from famous folks / experts at certain points (sometimes disrupted the flow and there’s only so many deep, incredible thoughts a person can process on a page)
Lines I underlined:
“Our days don’t need to be optimized but simply occupied - that is, lived in, tended to, renewed.”
“We don’t have to make grand creative gestures to find poetry in our daily lives.”
“Perhaps instead of filling time, we can inspect whether what we fill it with creates a sense of fulfillment.”
“Sometimes we have to let go of what we want to be in favor of what we are becoming.”
• self help for type a friends
• inspiring, practical, gently encouraging
• lots to ponder, underline, and return to
Reminded me of:
The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking
Howevers:
• maybe TOO many words of wisdom from famous folks / experts at certain points (sometimes disrupted the flow and there’s only so many deep, incredible thoughts a person can process on a page)
Lines I underlined:
“Our days don’t need to be optimized but simply occupied - that is, lived in, tended to, renewed.”
“We don’t have to make grand creative gestures to find poetry in our daily lives.”
“Perhaps instead of filling time, we can inspect whether what we fill it with creates a sense of fulfillment.”
“Sometimes we have to let go of what we want to be in favor of what we are becoming.”
March 20, 2022
i loved this book and think anyone would get some kind of wisdom out of it. i'm a hugely productive person, well-read and also a curious learner. it's the book i wish i wrote myself and yet i'm glad dore has already put this out into the world. and what an inviting and gorgeous cover!
and i'll have to say i'm baffled by some of the harsh reviews - it seems like there's frustration about the incorporation of quotes and pulling together other information - the desire for listicles and shortform over a book? a comparison of other self-help and work-related books. i don't get it. in fact, i read a lot in the working better genre and hearing the same ol' case studies can get to me, too (it's almost like every author feels like they discovered growth mindset!) i appreciated how dore made sure not to belabor these examples and just touched on them as practical strategies instead.
onto what i enjoyed! the author is straight about what this book is, which is why i find reading introductions immensely important. she cares about the topic herself and spends a few years interviewing creatives to gain understanding on what works and how creatives find value in their days/weeks/years/lives. she's not proclaiming herself as a productivity or unproductivity expert - she's more of an explorer... the term 'day artist' didn't jive with me, but otherwise i found myself smiling and nodding as i turned the pages. she pulls quotes from so many authors and interviewees, with many unexpected voices. in fact, i always have 3 or 4 books i'm reading at a time and i felt tickled that she quoted brandon sanderson, since i just finished rhythm of war - a serious fantasy book and so different from this one.
i don't think every book written needs to offer a revelation. writing books is about offering perspective, news ways of seeing things and expanding our worldviews. in this way, i didn't do the thing really ticks the boxes. i'd meander through the book like you might do when hiking outdoors, letting your attention settle on whatever captures it. in the same way, you might explore news ways of looking at how your spending your time, where you place your focus and most importantly, how you treat yourself and others. i believe any person reading the book in this way will encounter ways to feel more meaning, focus, grace and appreciation in life.
and i'll have to say i'm baffled by some of the harsh reviews - it seems like there's frustration about the incorporation of quotes and pulling together other information - the desire for listicles and shortform over a book? a comparison of other self-help and work-related books. i don't get it. in fact, i read a lot in the working better genre and hearing the same ol' case studies can get to me, too (it's almost like every author feels like they discovered growth mindset!) i appreciated how dore made sure not to belabor these examples and just touched on them as practical strategies instead.
onto what i enjoyed! the author is straight about what this book is, which is why i find reading introductions immensely important. she cares about the topic herself and spends a few years interviewing creatives to gain understanding on what works and how creatives find value in their days/weeks/years/lives. she's not proclaiming herself as a productivity or unproductivity expert - she's more of an explorer... the term 'day artist' didn't jive with me, but otherwise i found myself smiling and nodding as i turned the pages. she pulls quotes from so many authors and interviewees, with many unexpected voices. in fact, i always have 3 or 4 books i'm reading at a time and i felt tickled that she quoted brandon sanderson, since i just finished rhythm of war - a serious fantasy book and so different from this one.
i don't think every book written needs to offer a revelation. writing books is about offering perspective, news ways of seeing things and expanding our worldviews. in this way, i didn't do the thing really ticks the boxes. i'd meander through the book like you might do when hiking outdoors, letting your attention settle on whatever captures it. in the same way, you might explore news ways of looking at how your spending your time, where you place your focus and most importantly, how you treat yourself and others. i believe any person reading the book in this way will encounter ways to feel more meaning, focus, grace and appreciation in life.
May 31, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ a brilliant read! This is exactly what I needed to read to validate my fear of never being productive enough - recommend!
May 13, 2024
I picked up this book every time i didn’t want to do the thing in the past few weeks. It turned out to be the perfect antithesis to productivity books. Just a gentle permission to step off the productivity treadmill and not tick off yet another item from the endless to do list. Perfect bed time reading too, thoughts about things you should’ve done that day won’t bother you anymore 😁
January 24, 2024
¡Buenísimo!
Me he sentido identificada con tantísimas frases, párrafos enteros... Calcos de mis pensamientos de bloqueo y autocastigo por no cumplir mis propias "tareas y rutinas" autoimpuestas.
Habla sobre la búsqueda la perfección (que no existe), sobre los días "no tan buenos" donde no somos tan productivos, sobre la rutina ideal (que no puede mantenerse a diario), las comparaciones, el estar "muy ocupado", las distracciones...
Muy recomendable si estás siempre preocup��ndote por estas cosas en tu día, pensando en todo lo que no has hecho, tus listas de tareas y culpándote por ello.
Muestra (entre muchas otras cosas) que no solo importa que los días sean productivos, sino que produzcan crecimiento; que debemos aceptar que no todos los días pueden ser iguales; dejar un hueco a nuestra imperfección; que no hace falta optimizar los días; disfrutar del proceso más que del resultado...
Y un largo etc. Yo he subrayado muchísimas frases, me ha resultado una lectura realmente liberadora y motivadora.
Me he sentido identificada con tantísimas frases, párrafos enteros... Calcos de mis pensamientos de bloqueo y autocastigo por no cumplir mis propias "tareas y rutinas" autoimpuestas.
Habla sobre la búsqueda la perfección (que no existe), sobre los días "no tan buenos" donde no somos tan productivos, sobre la rutina ideal (que no puede mantenerse a diario), las comparaciones, el estar "muy ocupado", las distracciones...
Muy recomendable si estás siempre preocup��ndote por estas cosas en tu día, pensando en todo lo que no has hecho, tus listas de tareas y culpándote por ello.
Muestra (entre muchas otras cosas) que no solo importa que los días sean productivos, sino que produzcan crecimiento; que debemos aceptar que no todos los días pueden ser iguales; dejar un hueco a nuestra imperfección; que no hace falta optimizar los días; disfrutar del proceso más que del resultado...
Y un largo etc. Yo he subrayado muchísimas frases, me ha resultado una lectura realmente liberadora y motivadora.
July 11, 2025
Ik zou durven zeggen, het favoriete boek van dit jaar. deze kon op geen beter moment komen en raakte me juist waar ik het nodig had. Dankbaar voor de rust en inspiratie die alle inzichten met zich mee namen. Ik kijk er al uit om hem in de toekomst opnieuw vast te nemen.
December 14, 2022
It is what you’d expect it to be.
July 28, 2024
this book should've been a post it note
March 8, 2024
A delight to listen to as an audiobook while moving slowly through difficult days. Lots of books have been published around this theme of challenging productivity culture in recent years, but this is the first I "read" cover to cover. It is a gentle reflection on what makes our lives meaningful, and a comforting salve for anyone who is feeling a bit lost or unable to live up to the standards of productivity that we (and/due to societal norms) set for ourselves. While not every single suggestion resonated or felt like it would fit for me, there are certainly interesting actionable tips here (though I do think they are more actionable for those with financial security and/or working a job with flexible working hours, than those in an office 9-5 or working on minimum wage, for example). Overall, for me personally, the overall message is very valuable, and specific chapters (especially those comparison, busyness, denial of limitation, discipline and perfection - lol just listed about half the book) addressed me in ways that assured me I'm not alone.
August 5, 2024
I enjoyed slowly making my way through this one. I'm not a huge self-help person, but this book did help assuage some of the guilt I feel around not being productive enough or having a set routine at this point in life. The writing was conversational and reminded me in some ways of Austin Kleon's books, one of my favorite authors/artists/creators ever. However, this big difference between Kleon's work and Dore's is that Kleon's books are snappy, while Dore's writing was quite wordy and filled with quotations. Still, there was a lot to take from this book, and if you're reading it slowly like I was, the wordiness may not bother you too much. Though a little long, I found this to overall be uplifting.
July 15, 2025
کتاب خوبی بود
November 7, 2023
یه کتاب درباره مشغله روزانه که دغدغه این روزهای خیلی از افراده.
انتظار داشتم اصولیتر باشه و راهکارهای عملی بده اما بیشتر تجربیات نویسنده یا نقلقولهای افراد دیگهس که خب جملات قشنگی داشت بهخصوص صفحات آخر کتاب.
عواملی که مانع رسیدن به برنامه درست میشن رو نام برده و در آخر به این نتیجه رسیده بود که اشکالی نداره اگه به همه کارهامون نرسیدیم و مهم لذت بردن از لحظههاست.
انتظار داشتم اصولیتر باشه و راهکارهای عملی بده اما بیشتر تجربیات نویسنده یا نقلقولهای افراد دیگهس که خب جملات قشنگی داشت بهخصوص صفحات آخر کتاب.
عواملی که مانع رسیدن به برنامه درست میشن رو نام برده و در آخر به این نتیجه رسیده بود که اشکالی نداره اگه به همه کارهامون نرسیدیم و مهم لذت بردن از لحظههاست.
February 12, 2024
Really lovely and soothing and genuinely helpful! I've seen so many reviews talking about how this book has far too many quotes in it, but I found the quotes made for a really thoughtful, meandering path through Dore's advice and experiences. I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed dipping in and out of it based on the themed chapters, and would go back and get this as a physical copy to keep better track of the different strategies and suggestions. I found it a bit difficult at times when so many ideas had their caveats and that made listening to it at times frustrating, but that was mostly towards the start and when I got into the flow I could let myself enjoy things just being rather than being THE ANSWER. Liked it.
September 18, 2023
While this book wasn’t completely life-changing, it was a good read that did inspire me to shift my thinking on productivity. I listened to the audiobook while doing my daily “chores”, and that alone really boosted my productivity. I think our society values productivity more than happiness and this book addresses that for sure. I enjoyed the snippets of advice from people the author has interviewed. I liked that the book wasn’t about “how to be more productive”, but rather how to prioritize a life well lived. Would recommend!
May 2, 2022
I love the way Dore begins and ends her book:
I didn't do the thing today.
I didn't rise before seven. I didn't change.
I didn't pen lines of stream of consciousness.
I didn't take my time with a purposeful ritual.
I didn't diligently complete my tasks.
I didn't move stridently around the park.
I didn't write. I didn't start; I didn't finish.
I didn't achieve; I didn't progress.
And it didn't matter. For doing the thing today
Isn't the measure of the day.
I didn't do the thing today.
I didn't lament how the hours unfolded.
I didn't worry about wasted time.
I didn't allow my expectations to spoil what I have.
I didn't compare myself to others.
I didn't dwell in the undone.
I didn't strive; I didn't try to be perfect.
And it mattered. Because in all that I didn't do
I found my own measure of the day.
I didn't do the thing today.
I didn't rise before seven. I didn't change.
I didn't pen lines of stream of consciousness.
I didn't take my time with a purposeful ritual.
I didn't diligently complete my tasks.
I didn't move stridently around the park.
I didn't write. I didn't start; I didn't finish.
I didn't achieve; I didn't progress.
And it didn't matter. For doing the thing today
Isn't the measure of the day.
I didn't do the thing today.
I didn't lament how the hours unfolded.
I didn't worry about wasted time.
I didn't allow my expectations to spoil what I have.
I didn't compare myself to others.
I didn't dwell in the undone.
I didn't strive; I didn't try to be perfect.
And it mattered. Because in all that I didn't do
I found my own measure of the day.
April 12, 2023
Endless quotations does not a book make! I also just find a source of endless frustration when authors make an active choice to name drop- and even more so when the name dropping comes from situations and interviews they weren’t even involved with.
That said, I do think there is value in the kindness facet of this book, and in the facet that discusses being a better person to oneself. That is a perpetual struggle- but I would have appreciated more from the author herself on the subjects rather than every man and his dog!
That said, I do think there is value in the kindness facet of this book, and in the facet that discusses being a better person to oneself. That is a perpetual struggle- but I would have appreciated more from the author herself on the subjects rather than every man and his dog!
January 24, 2022
I liked this book, but not as much as I thought I would. It did what it promised, but it's not groundbreaking. There were lovely bits and helpful reminders to slow down, be kind, and be flexible. And I loved to read about a few different routines. But I missed something actionable or some kind of self-reflective practice that would help me to get this perspective to posterity. However, I recommend it, especially if you haven't read many or any anti-productivity books.
March 16, 2022
An anti self help book. Basically do whatever you want.
June 20, 2022
The 3.5 star pep talk I needed to hear, especially during this season of my life.
July 20, 2022
not going to be a one stop fix but it was some help. agree with other reviewers that the page count could be halved without the real message being lost.
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