Loved this so much! And at the risk of defending the biohacking type, I don't think slowness and optimization are mutually exclusive. The feeling of boredom has been found to have an adaptive function; it's designed to signal us to look for opportunities. If we never slow down--if we're never bored--what signals us to pursue the things that excite us?
Ok, love this and totally agree. Boredom is an *evolutionary gift* like the brain's way of saying "hey, maybe don't do this forever?”
What gets me is that the current discourse around “optimization” doesn’t leave much room for that kind of blank space. You’re not supposed to be bored—you’re supposed to cold plunge, microdose, red light your face, and optimize the inefficiency out of your soul. If you’re bored, it’s your fault. Not a signal, but a glitch.
but these are semantics, so yes im on board (bored?) with you -- Slowness and optimization can coexist. I just wish more of the biohacking crowd would optimize for a little stillness
I find myself uneasy with a phrase like "slowness as rebellion." On the one hand, does that phrase imply passivity in resistance? What good does ducking one's head down and resting mean when confronted with economic, social, and political challenges? Can slowness and rest truly be weapons that combat inequality or injustice? On the other, especially in the sense of labor resistance, I see great value in a literal reading: weaponized slowness that disrupts the circuits of exchange and commodification. On the social side of this dynamic, I like this idea of rest and recovery as challenging highly Capitalistic notions of "productivity" engrained within (especially) American culture. I don't know quite how to work through it, but your essay here gives some good food for thought. I'd love to see an expanded version of this that probes those politically charged questions!
Loved this so much! And at the risk of defending the biohacking type, I don't think slowness and optimization are mutually exclusive. The feeling of boredom has been found to have an adaptive function; it's designed to signal us to look for opportunities. If we never slow down--if we're never bored--what signals us to pursue the things that excite us?
Ok, love this and totally agree. Boredom is an *evolutionary gift* like the brain's way of saying "hey, maybe don't do this forever?”
What gets me is that the current discourse around “optimization” doesn’t leave much room for that kind of blank space. You’re not supposed to be bored—you’re supposed to cold plunge, microdose, red light your face, and optimize the inefficiency out of your soul. If you’re bored, it’s your fault. Not a signal, but a glitch.
but these are semantics, so yes im on board (bored?) with you -- Slowness and optimization can coexist. I just wish more of the biohacking crowd would optimize for a little stillness
So much resonated this week. The time in the market. A spring morning as a pregnant pause. Choosing passivity and letting it work on you. Imy!
Imy too!! So glad it’s resonating 🫶🫶
gorgeous !! “what it means to look” ❤️
I find myself uneasy with a phrase like "slowness as rebellion." On the one hand, does that phrase imply passivity in resistance? What good does ducking one's head down and resting mean when confronted with economic, social, and political challenges? Can slowness and rest truly be weapons that combat inequality or injustice? On the other, especially in the sense of labor resistance, I see great value in a literal reading: weaponized slowness that disrupts the circuits of exchange and commodification. On the social side of this dynamic, I like this idea of rest and recovery as challenging highly Capitalistic notions of "productivity" engrained within (especially) American culture. I don't know quite how to work through it, but your essay here gives some good food for thought. I'd love to see an expanded version of this that probes those politically charged questions!
A remarkable and very thoughtful piece