The Joys of Inefficiency
Take the scenic route
I have had a need for efficiency since I was a kid. I struggle to do something inefficiently in the same way people can’t stand a crooked picture on the wall or a typo in an email. It is a form of perfectionism for me that is so hard to shake, even though I really don’t have to be as efficient anymore.
While parenting, efficiency was a life-saver. Life was one big rush and being efficient meant you could achieve MORE. I see my neighbors now who still have kids at home, driving recklessly in the neighborhood because they’ve got to get their kids to softball practice or chess lessons or SAT class or whatever. Those days were tough days and it felt like everything was so important.
Now that the rush is no longer essential for me, I still have it. It’s hard to shake. I still seek efficiencies like trying to get to places quickly, eat quickly, talk quickly. It’s a hard habit to break but one I really want to break because I do feel like it’s stealing the joy from my life. My desire to be efficient has stopped me from taking the scenic route, blocked me from going to the grocery store that was further away, going into the city and just doing one thing at a time. Below are just some examples of how I am bringing more inefficiency into my life.
Examples of joyful inefficiency:
Shop at Farmers markets
Schlep to the grocery store for the one ingredient you need to make the recipe your wanting to make right now
Take the slower more scenic route
Meet in person instead of on the phone
Do one thing at a time rather than multi-tasking
Do something without a clear goal of being productive (e.g. puzzles, slow leisurely walks to nowhere)
Take your time petting your dog or cat without feeling like you need to do 10 other things
Re-watch a series before the next season or re-read a book before reading the sequel
What are ways you can be more inefficient? Share below:
How can you manage your time differently? Become more inefficient when possible? Slow Down? Here are some links to blogs I have written in the past which you may find helpful in your journey:
If you need support slowing down, I may be able to help. Schedule a free consultation with me here.
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The Upper Best Side: European-ish Red Clay and French Pastries
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an exceptionally nice guy with a fantastic sense of humor and incredible photography skills, it turns out he’s also a terrific writer. His new substack that he writes with his friend describes their love of playing tennis and eating delicious food in NYC. Even if you’re not a tennis player, a lifelong New Yorker or a foodie, you will love being on this journey with them. Trust me on this. Just read it.Troubleshooting and Fixing an Extended Job Search
Career Sherpa is a wonderful newsletter for job seekers. Hannah Morgan gives great advice on how to keep going in this tough job market
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The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER! | "A riveting exploration of midlife yearning." —People
The Last Thing He Told Me meets Fleishman Is in Trouble in this page-turning story of a couple who flee winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.
Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their "separate but together" partnership is running up against the realities of late middle age: Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.
When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying outcomes: either Grant is truly lost, or this time, he’s really left her.
Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be—and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.
Love your list! I would add that allowing myself to cook or go for a walk without listening to a podcast or professional-development thingy on my headphones has been a big deal for me. I need to just give myself back those activities without needing to 'learn something' while doing them. :)
I like this. Enjoy the scenic route.