Join us for an evening in conversation with Oliver Burkeman, best-selling British author and journalist, as we explore the ideas behind his acclaimed book Four Thousand Weeks.

This event is being delivered as part of the CPTH GP Education Programme. It is open to GPs and ACPs working in Primary Care in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

In a profession defined by time — ten-minute appointments, growing inboxes, endless demand — many GPs live with the persistent feeling of being behind. We are trained to believe that if only we were more efficient, more organised, more productive, we might finally feel on top of it all.

Four Thousand Weeks begins with a simple, disarming truth: If we’re lucky, we each have around four thousand weeks on this planet. Rather than offering productivity hacks, Burkeman invites us to consider something more radical — accepting our limits, choosing what truly matters, and learning to care deeply without being consumed.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we’ll explore:

  • What it really means to accept limitation in a healthcare system that seems unable to do so
  • How to work meaningfully when the inbox never empties
  • The tension between boundaries, guilt and moral responsibility in medicine
  • How Burkeman’s ideas might translate into the consulting room — supporting patients struggling with overwhelm, perfectionism, anxiety and chronic stress

This promises to be a thoughtful, honest and practical discussion about time, medicine and what makes a meaningful working life.

Whether you’ve read the book or are simply curious about a different way of thinking about time, we hope you’ll join us for what will be a reflective and restorative evening.

 

This event is taking place via Zoom. Once booked you will find the zoom link in your booking confirmation email.

Bookings:

This education event is funded by the Training Hub, please only book if you are sure you can attend. If you do book and later find you are unable to attend for any reason, please cancel in your account or email us to cancel.