← Back
⚡ 63 words · 21 sec
PUBLIC
🐧 EVERYDAY LIFE⚡ 21 SEC

There are too many big rocks, so choose a few and let the rest go 🪨

A chubby matte plastic model kit penguin holding one big smooth stone over a real terracotta clay pot that already has three stones in it
The Jar Story

There is a famous story: "Put the big rocks in the jar first." It means, "Do the important things first."

Too Many Rocks

But really, there are too many big rocks to fit.

⚡ TRY IT
Fill your jar
All 6 rocks are important. Tap them to put them in the jar.
0/3
Tap the big rocks to put them in the jar.
Good. Is there room for more?
The jar is full. Close the lid?
🫙💦 It does not fit! Impossible things are impossible. (Hint: it is in the name.)
You chose 3. The others are still important… just not today. That is the rule. 🐧
Choose Some

So choose the most important ones, and be ready to leave the other important ones.

Best Trick

Burkeman calls this his best trick: "Impossible things cannot actually be done. (Hint: it is in the name.)"

📚 I learned this from Oliver Burkeman's newsletter. Read the original (English)
← Back to all works