The Quantification and Optimization of Life

In his latest salon, host Scott Davies discusses our fixation with optimizing and quantifying every aspect of our lives, how things got this way and how we can push back against this trend.

From the workplace and in our professional lives as well as increasingly in our personal lives too, our lives are increasingly becoming optimized. From the rise of hustle culture and productivity porn to an ever-expanding suite of productivity hacks and tools, an ever-increasing premium is being placed on the maximization of personal optimization, efficiency and productivity.

In every aspect of our lives, metrics and quantification are also becoming increasingly prevalent alongside the increasing push toward optimization and productivity. We often assume that this approach is, if not always enjoyable, at least effective. But is this the case? Does this approach leave us more fragile, vulnerable and cause long-term issues with opportunity loss, burnout and more?

In this Salon, we will explore this issue and share some of our stories of how this push toward optimization has affected our lives, both positively and negatively, as well as discuss questions including:

How can we have a more balanced and sustainable approach to efficiency, optimization and self-improvement?

What are the cultural and economic factors that are contributing to this issue?

How the push toward optimization and quantification has moved into leisure and hobbies

Does the relentless drive of quantification and optimization actually cause work performance and productivity?

Suggested reading list:

• https://nesslabs.com/the-benefits-of-slowing-down
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-mindset/201910/the-rise-and-grind-hustle-culture
• https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/business/against-hustle-culture-rise-and-grind-tgim.html
• https://critter.blog/2020/08/06/productivity-porn/
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tracking-your-steps-and-other-behaviors-isnt-always-the-greatest-idea/

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