On the nature of the Internet
It’s easy to get stuck inside a hamster wheel of *doing* when making things on the internet.
There’s this productivity idea that in order to be the best versions of ourselves, we must stick to strict processes and routines.
Wake up before sunrise, dunk your face into an ice bowl, optimize your mitochondria. Do more, be more. Go, go, go!
For sure there’s value in having discipline and powering through whatever challenges come our way, but I see little being talked about the compassionate, loving care we must also have for ourselves.
We’re human after all.
Would it be nice to have perfect streaks and gold stars every day? Maybe! But I much rather have peace of mind and a restful heart in the days when I don’t.
Willing myself into always being “on” is, ultimately, detrimental for my creativity, and for my life in general. I become anxious — a constant weight under my eyes, strained muscles under my skin.
So, I now try and let myself be “off”. Don’t shy away nor judge myself for it. Ironically, I’ve noticed that allowing this demands a deeper trust in myself.
In a way, it requires even more discipline than hacking my way across productivity tactics.
Rather than clinging to impossible ideals and freaking out when they don’t work, I’m learning to trust that giving myself exactly what I need at any given moment leads to better results.
And even if the results don’t end up being on par with whatever societal ideals, at least I’d have lived in accordance with what was best for myself.
Sergio Camalich Morales
I am Mexican Graphic Designer, Photographer and Artist, writing about the underlying craziness of reality, and other stuff.
