In the ruthless monetisation of all things, it feels capitalism has done to our behaviour/thoughts/habits what it has done to any other resource - how can I maximise financial output from this thing at the cost of something else?
Battery farming and animal welfare.
Public transport and social mobility.
Processed food and nutritional value.
The human mind is just the next frontier where the battle to make everything you do something that is “valuable” where value = economic output.
I’m stressed because I’ve been in that place for too long. I started the year reading James Clear’s book only to immediately follow up with 4000 Weeks as the antidote.
Atomic habits are great if you want to push the boundaries of human achievement. The big realisation for me (and perhaps many of us) is “I’m not trying to do that”.
All the good books on performance, habits, marginal gains reference all the contexts where pushing boundaries is the normal state - Formula 1 pit crews working together to minimise time, Southwest Airlines and their 20min turn arounds, the British Cycling team and the pursuit of TdF/Olympic success.
My personal belief is we’re inviting in a dangerous logic to one of the few remaining bastions of our humanity. Float. Be free. Don’t force your mind to do something it cannot or does not want to do. Sure there’s a balance, but there is a threshold beyond which you’re deviating from your natural wants and wishes which equates to stress. Too much of that and you’re going to have a bad time.
Battery farming and animal welfare.
Public transport and social mobility.
Processed food and nutritional value.
The human mind is just the next frontier where the battle to make everything you do something that is “valuable” where value = economic output.
I’m stressed because I’ve been in that place for too long. I started the year reading James Clear’s book only to immediately follow up with 4000 Weeks as the antidote.
Atomic habits are great if you want to push the boundaries of human achievement. The big realisation for me (and perhaps many of us) is “I’m not trying to do that”.
All the good books on performance, habits, marginal gains reference all the contexts where pushing boundaries is the normal state - Formula 1 pit crews working together to minimise time, Southwest Airlines and their 20min turn arounds, the British Cycling team and the pursuit of TdF/Olympic success.
My personal belief is we’re inviting in a dangerous logic to one of the few remaining bastions of our humanity. Float. Be free. Don’t force your mind to do something it cannot or does not want to do. Sure there’s a balance, but there is a threshold beyond which you’re deviating from your natural wants and wishes which equates to stress. Too much of that and you’re going to have a bad time.