Introduction
Part of our difficulty in building habits is the environment around us. As humans, we have a defaulting tendency towards the easiest process available. We enjoy the comforts provided by our livelihood and seek change only when utterly necessary. Some may even suggest that it is only when we experience fear, worry, or anxiety that we think of change.
I know I am guilty of this behavior as I have repeatedly avoided setting up an appointment to check my wrist. I fell a couple of weeks ago while roller skating. Yet amidst the discomfort I’ve experienced, calling the doctor, making an appointment, going to it, and following whatever my physician recommends seems like a dread. Instead, I’ve been applying home therapy to my wrist and going through my day the best I can.
In the video above, there are some excellent suggestions in regard to creating habits, maintaining them, and executing a plan. In order to create a slower life, however, we have to make some environmental and tool changes.
Tech
It is no secret that technology occupies a large part of the conversation in our current milieu. It demands workers’ attention, steals hours from those who continually scroll, and creates unstructured communication between friends, employers, and strangers. Moreover, it focuses on improving the speed at which results are given, items are delivered, and life occurs. Before the rise of the smartphone and hyperconnected messengers, Americans used email, wired telephones, and instant messengers as their forms of communication.
After our digital slabs arrived, however, the rise in hyperconnected users has been astronomical. A short luster (five-year period) has seen an increase of 30% of our total population in social media use.1 That’s about 100 million people who are now tethered to a screen for the purpose of instant communication, publicizing their lives, or sending pictures to each other. While there are some benefits to our social needs and connectedness, the rate of information transmission is higher than it used to be. Thus, it is no wonder that we are overloaded with new feelings, anxieties, and mental challenges. Work, life, social media, email, and the endless feeds that we participate in are creating an unsustainable pace for human flourishing.
At this juncture, we have an environmental decision to make. Are we going to continue to succumb to the pressure and pace that society casts upon us or will we create our own? A couple of suggestions for those of you that feel overwhelmed or in need of a change are as follows:
Get a secondary basic phone for after hours. I know many have the need for a smartphone for work, international chats, etc. Yet, it doesn’t have to rule your every hour. Grab a “dumbphone,” get an after-hours number so your boss doesn’t bother you, and disconnect every day for a set amount of time.
Plan a personal retreat. I have not taken one in 2 years, but I am ready for the next time I will. I am heading to Michigan in October for 1 week where I will not check my phone for work and enjoy nature only. This time will be expressly to read, explore, and reconnect with the things that matter.
Find your time leaks. A slower pace of life cannot come by accident. Therefore, analyzing our schedules, creating times for deep work2, and planning breaks during our days are essential. For more on planning your day, check out the book 168 hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.
Travel
The second area of today's newsletter is slowing down and minimizing travel time. I am sure it is not possible for every reader to accomplish a full transition to functional slow travel via public transport, biking, or walking. The nature of city design and work in the 21st century has made most locations, even rural ones, car-dependent.3 However, one can experience the mental, physical, and organizational benefits of slowing down travel by planning in advance.
When cars run our world, the sense of immediacy and “independence” increases in our lives. We can go places, travel to faraway lands, and create adventures. However, this so-called independence is illusory given that now we are constrained by gasoline, insurance, local regulations, and mechanics to run the object that seemed to provide freedom. Moreover, being behind the wheel requires our full attention in order to avoid fatal crashes with pedestrians, bikes, or other cars. Sadly our current technology habits (read: distracted driving) have increased the number of injuries and fatalities with no sign of slowing down.4
Tech and car travel do not seem to be meshing together, but we keep trying to connect them. Driverless cars, new auto assist features, and higher speeds appear to be the targets coming from car companies at the expense of the environment and better opportunities through walkable, bikeable, and more accessible cities to all. While it may not seem obvious to all of us, cars have a huge expense in our lives. According to Forbes, the lifetime cost (50 years) of car ownership is $689,000.5 That's a single-family home in most parts of the United States and a fancy one at that. Not only are cars costly to our pockets, but also to our time budgets. Take some time to average your commute in terms of the time wasted behind the wheel and the stress added to your life. It's just one of those things that could be replaced with healthier alternatives.
Again, I am sure some of these arguments are not convincing to you to drop your car or are impractical due to your current situation (kids, work far from home, etc.). Therefore, I’ll suggest three ideas to improve your productivity through travel or the lack of it:
Ask for a remote day. Many places have some sort of paperwork day or flexible scheduling. See if it’s a possibility for your line of work and ask for one day to work from a remote location. Do not work from home, but rather a nearby coffee shop, park, or somewhere that you can get stuff done without the crazy commute.
Take public transport. If public transport is available in your area, take it once per week and enjoy the ride. You can listen to a podcast, get some work in while you sit on the bus/train, or read the latest book in your library. Bring some headphones and relax.
Leave 30 minutes earlier. If you must use your car due to distance or other practical reasons, leave a bit earlier than you are used to. The extra time will allow you to not rush, avoid traffic, and get to work when no one is there. You can even go a bit slower and economize your fuel consumption.
Conclusion
Tech and travel bring a lot of turmoil into our lives. However, adopting a conscientious approach to them can maximize the latest advancements without sucking up our time. Take some time this week to organize your tech and travel habits. It can provide extra time for your week and new approaches to health and wealth.
See and compare the reports here: https://datareportal.com/digital-in-the-united-states-of-america. Also, see the figures compared to 2004, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2004/09/01/how-americans-use-instant-messaging/.
A phrase coined by Cal Newport in his book Deep Work which refers to multiple sessions of uninterrupted time that optimize productivity, reduce inefficiencies, and create more free time to focus on what really matters.
There are a few notable cities in the United States and countries in Asia or Europe that have made improvements towards biking and public transport, but by and large around the world, cars dominate as the transportation method of choice.
See this compilation: https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/distracted-driving-statistics/
Have you ever engaged with Albert Borgmann? He talks about the joy of [good] burdens, which is...as strange as it sounds, but so good. He's also (and I apologize if you're already familiar) a philosopher of technology, so right up your alley.
https://shows.acast.com/the-jomocast-with-christina-crook/episodes/24-thejoyofgoodburdens-withalbertborgmann