A year or two ago I read Jenny Odell's "How to do Nothing", and it had a profound impact on me. I've always been the person to say "yes" and tackle every project. Now, I'm more and more saying "no". A colleague asked if I wanted to do a presentation on...something at a conference. I told her that I didn't have the mental bandwidth for it. She replied, "Yeah I wouldn't do it either. Okay." And that was that
This is something I've been trying to impress upon my students. We discuss readings about hustle culture and we read Odell. But, it clashes with their reality where they have to work to help support their parents, and they're the first in their family to go to college so they have to take a full schedule of classes, but then they're falling asleep in those classes....It's a lot. I hope in our discussions they learn to carve out space for themselves and to burrow
Immensely grateful for this read, besides Currently reading the letter to a young poet, the part about focus , self trust and finding it hard to saying no because one feels like they are missing out really resonate with my life right now. Hope ill be able to get all my answers within.
Superb read! I resonated with the points in this on so many levels. Also, the perspective on reduction as a way to become more yourself is so refreshing.
Most people just say yes to what comes at them, which is why most people end up living very similar lives to each other. The world is not conducive to focus—it is conducive to creating entropy, and swallowing your priorities amidst the chaos it generates. --> I'm a fan of your words Isabel. I'm in awe with your level of deepness. I want to be your friend!
having options, and being spoilt for choice is a good position to be. but its even better albeit much harder in saying no to all else in order to focus and wholly commit on the few you find to be genuinely meaningful or essential.
I've been kinda experiencing and learning the lesson that less is indeed more but i couldnt quite express that idea well. thank you for articulating it.
You remind me of Naval Ravikant’s adage, that no one can compete with you on being you. The only way to succeed in the long term and outrun competition is to double down on what you are uniquely good at and enjoy. Also loved the Rilke quotes, “loving the questions like locked rooms..”
“Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing” - Ron Swanson
A year or two ago I read Jenny Odell's "How to do Nothing", and it had a profound impact on me. I've always been the person to say "yes" and tackle every project. Now, I'm more and more saying "no". A colleague asked if I wanted to do a presentation on...something at a conference. I told her that I didn't have the mental bandwidth for it. She replied, "Yeah I wouldn't do it either. Okay." And that was that
This is something I've been trying to impress upon my students. We discuss readings about hustle culture and we read Odell. But, it clashes with their reality where they have to work to help support their parents, and they're the first in their family to go to college so they have to take a full schedule of classes, but then they're falling asleep in those classes....It's a lot. I hope in our discussions they learn to carve out space for themselves and to burrow
Immensely grateful for this read, besides Currently reading the letter to a young poet, the part about focus , self trust and finding it hard to saying no because one feels like they are missing out really resonate with my life right now. Hope ill be able to get all my answers within.
The first 10 years of your career - say yes. After that first decade, get really good at saying no
Superb read! I resonated with the points in this on so many levels. Also, the perspective on reduction as a way to become more yourself is so refreshing.
how relaxing reading this... this read is a whole snack!
Most people just say yes to what comes at them, which is why most people end up living very similar lives to each other. The world is not conducive to focus—it is conducive to creating entropy, and swallowing your priorities amidst the chaos it generates. --> I'm a fan of your words Isabel. I'm in awe with your level of deepness. I want to be your friend!
You are SPITTIN
Exquisite as always, Isabel. Think I highlighted half the essay. Thank you for sharing.
having options, and being spoilt for choice is a good position to be. but its even better albeit much harder in saying no to all else in order to focus and wholly commit on the few you find to be genuinely meaningful or essential.
I've been kinda experiencing and learning the lesson that less is indeed more but i couldnt quite express that idea well. thank you for articulating it.
You remind me of Naval Ravikant’s adage, that no one can compete with you on being you. The only way to succeed in the long term and outrun competition is to double down on what you are uniquely good at and enjoy. Also loved the Rilke quotes, “loving the questions like locked rooms..”