Warning: Boishakhi rant coming up
I think we have a serious problem with background narrative that is holding the current generation. We do not notice it, like fish in water, or a human breathing in air. In science these are called axioms, truth that you just cannot question - otherwise everything else falls apart. Assumptions that allow us to begin our inquiry. We form our opinions about what to value– on top of such axioms in everyday lives without ever spelling it outright.
Here's the narrative about reality that I find problematic–- that an individual is only as good as his or her utility to the world and hence, one must always be becoming more and better - at the expense of personal comfort and enjoyment if needed. No one talks about it this way - but it is a background base on which most of the other motivational narrative is standing.
So, in home quarantine, unless you are learning a new language, picking up a new skill, or doing online courses, you feel like you are falling behind, even though you are stationary.
It criminalizes time off unless it is just rest before hustle. criminalizes enjoying tv and other things unless it "adds value" - in longer life or more money in future.
But the pleasure we experience in being lazy is true in all subjective judgement. In your conscious mind, your feelings are just as real as any other observable object.
The fun of being lazy should not be discarded as anything less than the pleasure of a hard-earned paycheck, or an award or recognition.
If you are unable to take time-off, that could be sign of other problems too. As one writer puts in Guardian:
Have a lazy Pohela Boishakh everybody. Live a little.
শুভ নববর্ষ!
I think we have a serious problem with background narrative that is holding the current generation. We do not notice it, like fish in water, or a human breathing in air. In science these are called axioms, truth that you just cannot question - otherwise everything else falls apart. Assumptions that allow us to begin our inquiry. We form our opinions about what to value– on top of such axioms in everyday lives without ever spelling it outright.
Here's the narrative about reality that I find problematic–- that an individual is only as good as his or her utility to the world and hence, one must always be becoming more and better - at the expense of personal comfort and enjoyment if needed. No one talks about it this way - but it is a background base on which most of the other motivational narrative is standing.
So, in home quarantine, unless you are learning a new language, picking up a new skill, or doing online courses, you feel like you are falling behind, even though you are stationary.
It criminalizes time off unless it is just rest before hustle. criminalizes enjoying tv and other things unless it "adds value" - in longer life or more money in future.
But the pleasure we experience in being lazy is true in all subjective judgement. In your conscious mind, your feelings are just as real as any other observable object.
The fun of being lazy should not be discarded as anything less than the pleasure of a hard-earned paycheck, or an award or recognition.
If you are unable to take time-off, that could be sign of other problems too. As one writer puts in Guardian:
These days, I am unable to confront even natural breaks in the working day without preplanned diversions. A walk from one meeting to the next has to be filled with a playlist or podcast. I have had to start keeping my phone in the boot of my car to stop me checking my emails at the lights.However, if being lazy only makes you miserable in the long run, you need to rethink your lazy strategy. Here is a helpful note from Leo Babauta, my favorite minimalism guru:
Doing nothing, in the true sense of the word, can be overwhelming if you attempt to do too much nothing at once. Do small nothings at first. Focus on 5-10 minutes at a time, and start your practice sessions in a safe place.And if in doubt, revisit the old gem of a poem Slow Dance by David L. Weatherford.
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn't a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.
Have a lazy Pohela Boishakh everybody. Live a little.
শুভ নববর্ষ!
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| Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash |