Our family recently went on vacation… and nothing spectacular happened. We didn’t complete any bucket list challenges and none of our photos made their way to social media. We sat on a beach, roasted a few marshmallows and watched lightning bugs illuminate Lake Huron. It’s an odd feeling to unplug from the modern world for a couple of days and slow down. But maybe that’s the key to survival.
The business world today is too complex and it moves much too rapidly. The internet has given us instant access to limitless information, and we demand it in real time. But it’s a double-edged sword. The companies we do business with demand the same of us in return. Take a look at your weekly trip to the supermarket. It’s no longer enough to grab milk and eggs. Rather, you need to ensure your eggs are free range organic, and that your milk was produced by ethically sourced almonds. The plot thickens when you get to the register. Did you enter your super saver club member ID? Did you remember to scan the digital coupons for deeper discounts? Oh, and don’t forget the survey!
What should take minutes ends up taking hours. And your precious time gets whittled away bit by bit. Author Scott Galloway says “squander your money, you can earn it back. Squander time, it is gone forever.” Gas stations are no different. Download the app. Log into the app. Set up your new profile in the app. And that’s all before you get to select the octane that best matches your astrological sign. No. I don’t want a car wash today. No. I don’t want a receipt either. Why do companies make the transacting of goods and services so painful?
Perhaps the problem is that we’ve lost sight of simplicity. Everything now requires an app, or a membership, or just our personal data. We’ve become so conditioned to the complexification of daily life that we don’t even question it anymore. The more features a product has, the better it’s supposed to be. In reality these layers of complexity add stress to our lives and consume our most valuable resource: time.
Our vacation, devoid of notifications, emails and endless updates is a reminder of what truly matters. We need to find a balance between the conveniences of modern technology and the peace that comes with slowing down. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate how we spend our time. Instead of seeking the next big thing, we should appreciate the small moments. Instead of adding more to our lives, we should consider what we can remove. Sometimes, doing nothing can be the most fulfilling experience of all. The next time you’re caught in the whirlwind of modern life, remember that it’s okay to unplug and roast a marshmallow.
After all, life’s greatest moments are often the simplest ones.
