Efficiency

"Efficiency has been oversold as a virtue."

-- Bill McKibben

Bill's right -- it has. But isn't it cool how he made his point so efficiently -- an entire thought captured in only seven words!

Efficiency is all about time and motion. Our culture has its own hidden value system which we hardly ever question, hardly even see. Efficiency is a prime virtue in that system. It is deemed virtuous to spend as little time and energy as possible on any one thing. Why? I guess so you can do more things. All easier and faster, of course.

But do we really want lives based on speed and ease? Do we just want to do more and more useless shit faster and easier? Both Wall Street and Silicon Valley are betting we do. That's what technology is all about. And some of it is great -- including this MacBook on which I write this blog. But way too much of technology is just another waste of resources.

Here's the cultural and economic heresy of the day: Efficiency is not always the best way. Sometimes it's more interesting, more exciting, or more fulfilling to take the scenic route rather than the Interstate. Some days are meant to be wasted. The fastest way to orgasm isn't usually the most pleasurable.

I could go on and on. My point is that efficiency is a mediocre virtue at best. Our attempts to be efficient are many times just ways to avoid being fully engaged in the task at hand. Efficiency of that ilk requires that we bring less consciousness to the present rather than more. Let the machines do it, and we can zone out into our fantasy lives, whether they be in our heads or online.

And then there's fun. The efficient way is rarely the "fun-est" way to do something. Think laughter, think quality of life, think joy. When was the last time that efficiency elicited from you a deep belly laugh?

I'd like to suggest that you try on a different standard, an alternative perspective to efficiency. This standard is sometimes called The Joy Filter. It works like this. For any significant act that you are about to undertake, instead of asking "Is this the most efficient way that I can do this?" ask "Will what I'm about to do bring me joy?" If the action gets a thumbs up from The Joy Filter, have at it. If, instead, it is deemed efficient but joyless, rethink your options.

Heretical statement of the day number two: Most things can be done joyfully! Today you are challenged to find joy. As efficiently as possible, of course!