You're Already Doing Just Fine: Thoughts on Self-Optimization

This talk takes a look at the quantified-self and self-optimization movements and the ways we track and measure our bodies and activities. It looks into the ways that culture and politics influence the need for self-improvement and argues for a gentler, more compassionate approach — one defined by our own values, not someone else’s.

Transcript

1. you’re already doing Just Fine Thoughts on Trying to Track, Do, and Be All the Things Noelle Daley @elnoelle April 2018
2. We are obsessed with self-improvement
3. We are obsessed with optimization
4. Optimizing our bodies
5. Optimization
6. Optimization
7. Optimization
8. Optimizing our time
9. Optimization
10. Optimization
11. Every day we’re told we can be smarter more productive healthier
12. Every day we’re told we can be smarter more productive healthier ...as long as we have discipline and data!
13. How did we get here?
14. How did we get here? We’re naturally hardwired to be self centered Culture teaches us we are rational and must strive to be our best
15. How did we get here? NEOLIBERALISM!!!! Hypercompetitive global economy requires we improve ourselves to remain relevant
16. How we do it?
17. How do we know when we’re Smart Productive Healthy enough?
18. HOw do we know we’re enough? 10,000 steps? 4 hour workweek? Only eating vegetables? Daily meditation?
19. How do we know when we’re enough?
20. My story
21. My Story Fitness trackers Food journals Bullet journaling Goal/habit tracking
22. What did I find?
23. My Story This led to: - Obsession - Stress - Feeling inadequate - Feeling lost - Exhaustion
24. Sometimes you can do all the “right” things and it just doesn’t work.
25. Sometimes data is just...data.
26. This is not a failure on your part.
27. How do we know when we’re enough?
28. Let me tell you
30. What if you’re already doing enough?
31. What if everything you’re doing right now is exactly what you need to be doing? Sara Hendren
32. What if you trusted yourself?
33. What if you stopped worrying about making the best decisions?
34. What if you just made decisions and lived with them?
35. Or, if you’re morbid... You’re gonna die someday. You might as well enjoy the person you ARE rather than battle yourself every single day
36. This doesn’t mean Giving up Being self-destructive Burning all fitness trackers
37. This does mean Defining what ‘enough’ means to you Prioritizing your values vs. other peoples
38. This does mean Embracing the radical motherfucking notion that you are worth more than your data more than your labor more than your body
39. What if I’m already doing enough?
40. Links not in any particular order, and not exactly a gospel, but - Sara Hendren Improving Ourselves to Death - Alexandra Schwartz