Has Lockdown Taught us That De-Optimisation is the Way Forwards?

Life is pretty well optimised for most of us. With a couple of digital finger taps we can do a surprising amount of stuff.

Apps like Uber, Netflix and Just Eat have made it easier than ever to give us everything we want, anytime, anywhere. We have become the on-demand generation. The generation where everything has become minutely and finely tuned for optimisation. Everything is designed to get the most possible done in every minute of every day. After all, if we have limited time, does it not make sense to optimise and make effective use of it?

But can this really be a good thing. Even the word optimisation sounds like a techy software programme, trying to increase its processing power. With a greatening desire to optimise, are we becoming more like a computer, a machine? 

Optimisation relies on the fact that the quicker and faster things are done the better. Yet, we all know that this doesn’t lead to greater satisfaction or fulfilment.

The lockdown has enabled everyone to do some much needed and prolonged de-optimisation. Hectic school runs and busy jam-packed commutes have been put on pause, being replaced with a slower pace of life, where people can get enough sleep, take the time to read books, sit in the garden, go for walks and take time away from technology. Multi-tasking whilst changing trains on the way to work, reading emails, listening to music and grabbing a coffee, has been swapped with a more sensible wake up time, exercise and a healthy breakfast.

Technology is likely to challenge this needed shift towards de-optimisation. Yet, we can all choose to make the choice to de-optimise in ways we can and recognise the benefits in doing so. Making sure we are spending time in the right way and not having the constant struggle of maximising every second will lead to a better life.